marygreencny
Hatching
- May 26, 2019
- 3
- 1
- 6
We have three goslings - 4 weeks old pilgrim female, 2 weeks old not sure on gender or breed, and almost a week old pilgrim male.
I've done a lot of searching but I feel like I have specific questions that I haven't found an answer for so I'm sorry if my questions are repetitive/annoying.
We've had them inside since the 2 week old was hatched and the poo is piling up, we are washing towels left and right, taking them outside to peck at grass, feeding them non-medicated chick starter, constant water (when they dont tip it over and we keep adding more).
We have a 3 acre yard, a pond with a sizeable island in the middle (probably 20ft diameter circle) with 10ft of pond on each side except the bridge. There's a shed with a large leanto that is not enclosed but could be, but it doesn't get a lot of sun.
There is also a pool area that is fenced in and has grass. As well as coyotes and foxes in the area, and reports of full size ducks being snatched by eagles and hawks. Pond has at least 1 snapping turtle in it.
Over the spring a pair of canadian geese come every year and sit on the island and hatch their babies. We have been putting huge piles of sticks up to protect the bridge entrance to the island and it seems to have helped the mother goose stay on her eggs instead of being chased by predators. First year she has 3-4 babies, last year 9, this year 8.
So I'm trying to figure out where to house them, when I can put them outside unattended and how to protect them when I do. I thought the island with a gate would keep them protected from coyotes/foxes with a house on it. But I read the snapper could get their feet?
I thought about putting something in the pool area where there is grass but that would need some building and I have no idea how to do any of that. We are open to learning but don't want to spend more than we have to.
Last, the shed lean-to could be enclosed with a house in it for them, but I'm not sure how to do this effectively for housing protection.
And how do I keep them safe during the day, while giving them the freedom, but also hoping they will stick around home...
Thank you, I'm very new and appreciate the help.
I've done a lot of searching but I feel like I have specific questions that I haven't found an answer for so I'm sorry if my questions are repetitive/annoying.
We've had them inside since the 2 week old was hatched and the poo is piling up, we are washing towels left and right, taking them outside to peck at grass, feeding them non-medicated chick starter, constant water (when they dont tip it over and we keep adding more).
We have a 3 acre yard, a pond with a sizeable island in the middle (probably 20ft diameter circle) with 10ft of pond on each side except the bridge. There's a shed with a large leanto that is not enclosed but could be, but it doesn't get a lot of sun.
There is also a pool area that is fenced in and has grass. As well as coyotes and foxes in the area, and reports of full size ducks being snatched by eagles and hawks. Pond has at least 1 snapping turtle in it.
Over the spring a pair of canadian geese come every year and sit on the island and hatch their babies. We have been putting huge piles of sticks up to protect the bridge entrance to the island and it seems to have helped the mother goose stay on her eggs instead of being chased by predators. First year she has 3-4 babies, last year 9, this year 8.
So I'm trying to figure out where to house them, when I can put them outside unattended and how to protect them when I do. I thought the island with a gate would keep them protected from coyotes/foxes with a house on it. But I read the snapper could get their feet?
I thought about putting something in the pool area where there is grass but that would need some building and I have no idea how to do any of that. We are open to learning but don't want to spend more than we have to.
Last, the shed lean-to could be enclosed with a house in it for them, but I'm not sure how to do this effectively for housing protection.
And how do I keep them safe during the day, while giving them the freedom, but also hoping they will stick around home...
Thank you, I'm very new and appreciate the help.
We do have raccoons and hawks and fox too...
