The Accidental Smallholder Forum
Livestock => Poultry & Waterfowl => Topic started by: minibn on August 09, 2014, 05:06:18 pm
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Hi
As a follow on from my previous post (stray young gosling- advice please) I need some more advice. Im pleased to say the gosling seems to be doing well. Enjoying its food especially greens and meal worms. I have introduced it to my pair of adult geese and my female goose has taken well to it. She seems quite protective of it. It has now started to get a few feathers and growing up quite quickly. When can it be left outside? My two other geese have the run of the garden and the use of a laege deep pond. I left it with them today for a few hours and it went swimming withthe two adults ( although it was swimming round in circles) is this normal? can it be left out over night yet? The two adults sleep on the pond atnight Although I am worrried as we have alot of foxes about, if they would protect the gosling overnight? Any advice welcomed.
Thank u
Emily
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Goslings can be let outside after 2 weeks, although if the weather is bad you might want to wait for a few days. I always make sure that mine have shelter until all their feathers come through, although they often don't use it. I also shut them up at night until they are fully feathered. HTH :)
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I'd wait until it's fully feathered if it's likely to spending the night on the pond - you could put it out by day and bring in at night until then. Otherwise it could get chilled. I've also heard of a surprising number of goslings drowning so I'd keep a close eye on it for a while too.