Soon to be new Goslings...

[Kymarose]

.... or so I think. Our China geese have tried to hatch little ones for the past two years... but something wasn't right and the eggs didn't hatch. This year seems to be different... and I'm hoping the 7 eggs she is now sitting on will mature to live little goslings. The question I have is: should I do anything special to protect them after they hatch or just let mother goose take them out into the field with the ducks and chickens. When a hen hatches babies I usually keep them locked up for two weeks as added protection. But with geese I know they eat mostly grass. I would provide water and Flock Raiser for them if I kept them locked inside. So the question is should I lock them up or let them field run right out of the egg?

Thanks in advance for your replies.

[Evy]

If your other birds are safe from predators, the geese can probably do a good job themselves. My only concern would be hawks. I've had a Sharpie or Cooper's take a duckling from practically under MY feet...that is not 2' away from me.

[HRR]

Better to be a little over cautious than the throw all caution to the wind, or predators. At least in the beginning I would say.

[Oregon Swedes]

I would keep them in and hand tear some fresh grass for them. Is the goose accustomed to eating grain, or would you be changing her diet? I don't consider abrupt changes in diet to be good management.

Just filling both my hands with grass takes a few seconds and seems to be enough to make the geese happy. Or you can run a strimmer over a few few of lawn and rake that up for her.

[Kymarose]

Thanks. I will keep her and her babies in for a couple of weeks. She is used to eating layena, grain and sunflower seeds. I will keep that up. We have plenty of grass around here, will pull some daily for her and her little brood. I hope, so much... this works this year. Last year my pond wasn't in operation... I blamed the infertile eggs on not having a pond for them to mate in. This year they have had the pond. These geese are from Holdereads.. 2006 goslings. Crossing my fingers for a good hatch.

I love the geese and plan not to replace ducks as they thin out. Just get more geese of a different breed. People ask me if my geese are mean... they are not. I'm thankful for that. I take credit.. I think it is all in the training.

Thanks again for your comments.