When will she lay eggs? What kind of nest box do I need for her?

[Slongest]

The first pic is the one i made when we just had three, LOOK IN THE SMALL ONE GOOSE EGG!!!!!!!!!!

 

[DawnB]

Very cool...I like the little Teepee idea with the tin roof. I have some scrap of that too...hmmmm...ideas!

 

[Miss Lydia]

The first pic is the one i made when we just had three, LOOK IN THE SMALL ONE GOOSE EGG!!!!!!!!!!

How do you keep predators out?

 

[DawnB]

We've got a dog (a house dog, but she roams free on our property most warm days) and 3 male cats. Our dog did good with the birds when they were out free-ranging this fall. She'd just wander around with them. Other than that, we've been lucky. The folks we got the flock from (who lived about 5miles from us) said they never had any problems either. They called the muscovies their "attack ducks" and said they and the gander kept everything at bay.

It's rather odd...the possums that did get in. I had one that curled up in the corner of my coop (we had left the pop door open late one night by mistake...till just after dark). My husband went and closed it...looked around to make sure there wasn't anything around and didn't see anything. The next morning, I went out to feed everyone, opened the coop door and glanced in the corner (where some of my birds like to lay eggs). I saw grey/black (I have barred rocks) and just walked past. It took about 20 seconds for my brain to catch up with my eyes and realize I didn't own a furry chicken. When I looked closer...possum all curled up, dead asleep. My husband and I had to wedge him out with a couple shovels and popped him with the .22. He never touched a bird (and was closed in will all of them all night). I took that as a compliment my coop was cozy. We had just finished it the week before.

The other 2 had just gotten in the run. One made a hole and one climbed the fence. We heard the gander doing his alert honk and when we went out (both times)...neither the ducks or the geese would go by the little shed. Both times, possums were eating out of the leftover feed in the dish. Never touched a bird...

We are talking about getting a new dog here, though...probably in the next month or so (a male). Our lab is getting old (she's 15 in April) and want the new one trained up before summer. We're probably gonna go with another G. Shepard (had one but had to put him down a few years back).

 

[Miss Lydia]

I've never had a problem with Possums either, I haven't even had to kill any, we had one hang around over the winter a few years back would come out and eat the feed during the day with the flock all standing around, I don't think I'd want one in my coop though, Please don't get the wrong idea but i have had Muscovys for almost 9 years now and they are tough on small things like mice and snakes but a full grown predator they would not a match for, nor my geese which i have had for almost 6 years, yes they are big and will make alot of noise if something comes around but again are no match for a real predator. I have seen the heartbreaking posts on here where people have told stories of their geese being killed by foxes, dogs and coyotes even mink and weasels. I would never take the chance.

 

[DawnB]

Nah...I know. We have been lucky. It's why we want to get another dog. I know the ducks won't do much...but it made my kids giggle. They're sweet but still run away from me. The gander does a good job, but if anything bigger comes around...we'll need other options. We'll see how it goes once we have them a full spring/summer season.

 

[Slongest]

I have 5 Great pyrnees that roam and take different shifts literally but these two building are only for my ducks and geese i have a huge 30 by 50 barn for the chickens

 

[Miss Lydia]

I have 5 Great pyrnees that roam and take different shifts literally but these two building are only for my ducks and geese i have a huge 30 by 50 barn for the chickens

I'd say you got the pred problem covered.

 

[Slongest]

Yes I do lol

I'd say you got the pred problem covered. 

 

[Going Bhonkers]

Nope, just got the one goose. Will the gander ever sit the nest? Didn't know if geese shared nest responsibilities

I've read on a couple of threads where ganders will share nest duty, but I think it depends on the gander because it isn't common.