[Anke]

My two goslings are now nearly two weeks old and eating me out of house and farm on bread soaked in milk plus some nettles... BUT they still look as fluffy as on day 1, so when do goslings start to grow feathers? Needless to say there are still in the upstairs study/guest room and it is becoming quite smelly in there, but I cannot take them off the lamp until they start to feather up...

[lilfeeb]

We have one 10 day old gosling and a 4 week old gosling which Womble ( on here) kindly provided as a companion for our single successful hatchling. the 4 week old gosling has a few feathers developed  but is still covered in fluff but was already off the heat.  we had the same problem with mess as we had them in a large dog cage with a solid tray covered in newspaper at the bottom. However we have  moved them the night before last into a  hut with the heat lamp fastened to the roof   and onto wood shavings and they are happy and cosy and much cleaner and drier.

[hughesy]

We hatched a few a bit over 3 weeks ago and they're just starting to show a bit of white. They're off heat and outside and seem to be doing well. I've never seen anything grow so fast.

[goosepimple]

Yup, about 3 weeks Anke, bit chilly out there anyway so best keep them in for another week and then lamp in the night.  Are they sticking their wee necks out yet? 

[Anke]

Yup, about 3 weeks Anke, bit chilly out there anyway so best keep them in for another week and then lamp in the night.  Are they sticking their wee necks out yet? 

Well they race round their Ikea-under-bed-box and as it is sitting on a wood floor it sounds like 10 goslings marching round from downstairs... eating lots and splashing it all over the place... The splint on the one with splayed legs has come off and s/he is fine.
How do you tell the males from the females? One of them is a lot darker (incl the feet) than the other... so I was wondering if I had a pair (not for breeding obviously).

[goosepimple]

Hmm, would like to think it was that simple.  Both Jaykay and I have gone by the size of the head and leg thickness in the past but I must say I think I have 2 ganders now when I though I only had one.  You can squeeze their underside (youtube vidoes for this) but think you only do it at day old and when they are older. 
 
Another post here said that the males stick their necks out more (?). 
 
I have 3 year old females and 1 year old females and male(s) - I can tell the youngsters from the elders (although I have to look carefully even for that) but I have real trouble telling the younger ones apart.  Any chance of eggs from your other source?  I have only 2 fresh eggs, nothing added in the past 3/4days to the nest so they probably have stopped laying now.  Bought some goose leg rings on ebay the other day so I can start to ring them as it will be more difficult to tell who's who next year. 
 
My lot travel quite a distance so hopefully it will stop them from being shot at too.