Ok, I have my Shetlands currently in 2 groups:
A. Pair of 3 yr old geese. One of which sat for the first time and hatched one baby, and rest of eggs were duds (from the 1 yr old geese I had in there). I took the yearling birds out , plus one 3 yr old female and put in another pen when she started to set. The baby with the 2 older pairs is now about 3 weeks old.
B. Younger group has 1- 3 yr old female that tried to set, (eggs were exploders, not the cleanest nest). 1 -2 yr old female and the rest are 1 yr olds (gandars and gooses).
I have 2 babys a week or so old now, and wonder if I should try to foster them with the older group with the baby or the younger group with the older female who tried to set.....the Gandars there are all 1 yr . ...because she 'tired' and would like babies and no competition? Or the older 2 pair, because they are already 'parents'.... If so . I could rig a brooder light in the 4X5 goose house that has a wire door, in their pen....for a week? never introduced young babies before, but did have introductions by puttting babies outside in a day playpen and the geese got to know them, then one day I put them in pen next door, then I let everyone come together in day yards. But these are a lot younger...really don't want to keep in hot garage this June (Georgia) for a couple more weeks. Quite warm now, mid 80's , but in 60's at night so a bit chilly to leave in house outdoors without a lamp or parent to keep warm. We also are having lots of rain, so don't want them outdoors unless they have shelter from popup storms...
Or I could take them out in daytime in a 'day-yard" in the turnout goose area... and bring in at night....
Of course all the geese go meet at the fence sto 'see the baby' everyday--(they were all together until they started setting).
Both goose night yards, have a 4X 5 house with fencing in door and up high under roof for ventilation..... but group B yard only has a hotwired 2x4 dog fence around it, the group A yard has 2x@ wire with hotwire..... so I may need to add chickenwire to outside of group B's night yard.... cause babies Might squeeze out? (not much longer)
Or should I wait until they are 2 or more weeks? (Can only keep in house another week maybe then they need to move to garage or outdoors) they are 7 & 10 days old.
A. Pair of 3 yr old geese. One of which sat for the first time and hatched one baby, and rest of eggs were duds (from the 1 yr old geese I had in there). I took the yearling birds out , plus one 3 yr old female and put in another pen when she started to set. The baby with the 2 older pairs is now about 3 weeks old.
B. Younger group has 1- 3 yr old female that tried to set, (eggs were exploders, not the cleanest nest). 1 -2 yr old female and the rest are 1 yr olds (gandars and gooses).
I have 2 babys a week or so old now, and wonder if I should try to foster them with the older group with the baby or the younger group with the older female who tried to set.....the Gandars there are all 1 yr . ...because she 'tired' and would like babies and no competition? Or the older 2 pair, because they are already 'parents'.... If so . I could rig a brooder light in the 4X5 goose house that has a wire door, in their pen....for a week? never introduced young babies before, but did have introductions by puttting babies outside in a day playpen and the geese got to know them, then one day I put them in pen next door, then I let everyone come together in day yards. But these are a lot younger...really don't want to keep in hot garage this June (Georgia) for a couple more weeks. Quite warm now, mid 80's , but in 60's at night so a bit chilly to leave in house outdoors without a lamp or parent to keep warm. We also are having lots of rain, so don't want them outdoors unless they have shelter from popup storms...
Or I could take them out in daytime in a 'day-yard" in the turnout goose area... and bring in at night....
Of course all the geese go meet at the fence sto 'see the baby' everyday--(they were all together until they started setting).
Both goose night yards, have a 4X 5 house with fencing in door and up high under roof for ventilation..... but group B yard only has a hotwired 2x4 dog fence around it, the group A yard has 2x@ wire with hotwire..... so I may need to add chickenwire to outside of group B's night yard.... cause babies Might squeeze out? (not much longer)
Or should I wait until they are 2 or more weeks? (Can only keep in house another week maybe then they need to move to garage or outdoors) they are 7 & 10 days old.
