|
|
Post by tenbusybees on Mar 31, 2015 17:37:44 GMT
The first gosling of 2015 is here! Now I need to figure out how to post a picture.  |
|
|
|
Post by aoconnor on Apr 12, 2015 2:54:13 GMT
I would love to see pics!!
|
|
|
|
Post by Mari-in-IN on Apr 12, 2015 15:22:02 GMT
Same here! Hope you can figure it out...Maybe someone can help you on the "Help" board?
|
|
|
|
Post by Wendy on Apr 12, 2015 17:32:58 GMT
Click on the ad attachment when making a post. Then you can upload it from your computer.
|
|
|
|
Post by tenbusybees on Apr 15, 2015 13:58:21 GMT
 These three were the ones still pipping when Mama and new hatchlings got bored and wandered off from the nest. I set up the incubator for them to finish hatching. So far eight goslings hatched. We still have another nest with a setting mama, sometimes two mamas. I suspect that nest will start hatching this weekend, I hope. |
|
|
|
Post by Mari-in-IN on Apr 15, 2015 14:40:34 GMT
Absolutely precious... Thanks for posting! Mari |
|
|
|
Post by Wendy on Apr 16, 2015 4:03:15 GMT
I want baby geese!!
|
|
|
|
Post by bergere on Apr 16, 2015 20:46:39 GMT
They are soooo fluffy!
|
|
|
|
Post by tenbusybees on Apr 17, 2015 19:18:58 GMT
Total 5 goslings. Three from the first nest died. One was a runt and simply failed to thrive. The other two were trampled, I think. The second nest I thought was to hatch last weekend (dates were sketchy) didn't so I was going to wait until this weekend. Went to check on her and she looks terrible. She is standing by her nest just looking at her eggs. One of the eggs broke open and was only liquid. She didn't even bother hissing at me. She is heartbroken. She's been a faithful settter but her guard gander left her last weekend so I kind of suspected.  |
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Apr 19, 2015 4:51:03 GMT
Those are so cute. I am trying to control myself. I hope to get a few ducklings, but those goslings are mighty tempting. LOL  |
|
|
|
Post by tenbusybees on Apr 20, 2015 16:25:13 GMT
My gosling saga continues! I haven't removed the nest or the eggs yet (just the broken one that she removed) because I can't get Mama to leave it. So I was going to wait until today when I'd have help. Went out to let the chickens out and get the am eggs. I'm greeted by a very agitated gander and Mama Goose is still on the nest. But she is in a weird hunchy position...and justa hissing. Between hisses you know what I hear? PEEPING!!! |
|
|
|
Post by manygoatsnmore on Apr 23, 2015 8:22:33 GMT
Hurray! It'll be fun to see how many she has when she finally comes off the nest. Such good news.  |
|
|
|
Post by wombatcat on Apr 26, 2015 0:14:07 GMT
I'm so jealous! We have one female goose (and she has a "gentleman friend"...), and every year she makes a nest and pulls out her feathers and sits for about a day or two--enough to get me hopeful, then gives up and moves on :-( I wanted to try some of her eggs in the incubator this year, but we just had one of those Styrofoam ones, and when I pulled it out of the shed, some mice had chewed a hole in it :-( So I'm thinking no goslings again this year. (They only lay around this time of year, if I remember correctly....right?)
|
|
|
|
Post by snoozy on May 1, 2015 15:30:04 GMT
How long does it take to bring a goose from day old to butcher weight? And geese are mainly grass-eaters? Or does one feed them grain as well?
|
|
|
|
Post by tenbusybees on May 1, 2015 20:08:16 GMT
How long does it take to bring a goose from day old to butcher weight? And geese are mainly grass-eaters? Or does one feed them grain as well? 18 weeks. Yes, they are mostly grazers but they also enjoy dining on scraps with the chickens. I don't intentionally feed them anything commercial but they sneak rabbit pellets or dog food any chance they get. Btw, you'll never, ever see a dandelion again as long as you have geese. Not sure if that is a pro or a con for you.  |
|
|
|
Goslings!
May 2, 2015 15:51:58 GMT
via mobile
Post by snoozy on May 2, 2015 15:51:58 GMT
Amazing that they create such a lot of fat from grass! Do they like/need water as much as ducks?
|
|
|
|
Post by snoozy on May 2, 2015 16:53:20 GMT
VERY IMPORTANT QUESTION!!!
Do geese eat slugs?
|
|
|
|
Post by snoozy on May 2, 2015 17:17:38 GMT
And another question: Do ganders honk like the females? Or are they quieter like drakes vis-a-vis ducks?
|
|
|
|
Post by tenbusybees on May 2, 2015 19:21:56 GMT
I've never had ducks so I can't compare but the very first year we had two and just had 5 gal buckets at each spigot that we kept full for them. They managed to blow out there nostrils and bathe somewhat. The next year we added a kiddy pool for them and they were in hog heaven splashing and splooshing. We also have a pond but they didn't go down there too often. Too far from the house maybe? We now have 5 kiddy pools and there is almost always a goose in at least one of them. They don't really "swim" they bathe and splash a lot....especially when it's hot. I couldn't tell you whose a gander and who isn't except in the spring time. They all honk. Though the emdens (white) seem to be louder and more boisterous than the toulouses (brown). Slugs. I don't know if they eat them or not. We don't have any. My guess is they don't hunt specifically for slugs but the probably wouldn't turn their bill up either if a slug was snacking on a dandelion. |
|
|
|
Post by snoozy on May 5, 2015 20:52:19 GMT
If I had geese, could I skip replacing my dying lawnmower? I mean, do they keep the grass trimmed?
|
|
|
|
Post by allenw on May 5, 2015 22:01:28 GMT
If you have enough. They'll eat what ever is green and tenderest at the time including rose bushes in late winter.
|
|
|
|
Post by tenbusybees on May 6, 2015 11:46:08 GMT
We have had as many as 20, currently we have 13 geese. My oldest boys do some mowing EVERY day in order to keep it managable.
The geese want just new tender growth, not the old established stuff.
|
|
|
|
Post by tenbusybees on May 6, 2015 11:52:47 GMT
We don't have poison ivy anymore either...I haven't seen any in years now that I think about it.
|
|
|
|
Post by aoconnor on May 6, 2015 11:58:29 GMT
Congrats on the goslings! And especially the hissing momma who had given up!! How funny, that is a good story:-)
|
|
|
|
Goslings!
May 6, 2015 15:46:40 GMT
via mobile
Post by jupiter on May 6, 2015 15:46:40 GMT
We plan on getting geese, but I think I'll probably have to wait til next year.
|
|
