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Author Topic: Ideas for nests.  (Read 2238 times)

graham-j

  • Joined Jul 2012
  • Canterbury Kent
Ideas for nests.
« on: February 11, 2013, 07:28:05 pm »
Hi has any one got any ideas for making nests for some geese that live out in an open paddock.These geese live completely outside 24/7 with no cover.I was wandering how to encourage them to build nests.The paddock is pretty much bare so I will need to give them what ever they need.Someone suggested old car tires and straw.Any advice welcome.

Graham.
Graham.

vfr400boy

  • Joined Jan 2013
  • one life live it
Re: Ideas for nests.
« Reply #1 on: February 11, 2013, 08:13:58 pm »
45 galon drum ?

darkbrowneggs

  • Joined Aug 2010
    • The World is My Lobster
Re: Ideas for nests.
« Reply #2 on: February 11, 2013, 08:29:20 pm »
I give mine old wooden barrels.  They are heavy enough not to move around when the geese get in or get blown around in gales.  :thumbsup:
To follow my travel journal see http://www.theworldismylobster.org.uk

For lots of info about Marans and how to breed and look after them see www.darkbrowneggs.info

goosepimple

  • Joined May 2010
  • nr Lauder, Scottish Borders
Re: Ideas for nests.
« Reply #3 on: February 11, 2013, 08:41:23 pm »
Our geese are out like this - they look for places to hide to nest, much the same as free range chickens would.  You could encourage them by having nice soft hay (instead of straw) somewhere where there is semi-shelter.  Our geese have nested in the same places the past 2 years - one under a bizarre house we inherited made of straw bales - she just pecked out a lot of the straw and made a nest in the (large) gap between the underside of the house and the ground.  The other made a nest from soft dried grass she gathered into the centre of a prickly gorse bush.  Both nests gave hatchlings successfully.  I think they need the following for it to be a success:
 
Access to soft bedding and plenty of it - they will cover their eggs when they come off for a break
Semi-cover - so they can see who and what's around, but they feel they can't be seen (foliage)
Reasonably near a food source - don't put food near them, this attracts vermin and other birds, but they won't want to go too far from their precious eggs
Perhaps a choice of places at different levels - one at ground level, one a little higher (but not too high, they are a bit clumsy footed)
 
We do pen ours once the goslings are hatched so that they don't haul them all over the place, goslings legs are quite weak so it's best if they have a smaller zone to live in for the first 2 weeks.
 
Car tyres and hay may be good, but I'd try ones without the tyres too - just get lots of branches and foliage around them for a good den.  If you do it now they will be starting to look for nesting sites in about a month and they need to know the site they pick is permanent and part of the landscape.
 
Exciting, let us know how you do  :D
registered soay, castlemilk moorit  and north ronaldsay sheep, pygmy goats, steinbacher geese, muscovy ducks, various hens, lots of visiting mallards, a naughty border collie, a puss and a couple of guinea pigs

graham-j

  • Joined Jul 2012
  • Canterbury Kent
Re: Ideas for nests.
« Reply #4 on: February 11, 2013, 09:47:23 pm »
Hi,thanks what do you do with the wooden barrels or 45 gallon drums can you be a bit more specific please.
I have got a grown out hedgerow to cut back,mainly hazel,and cherry,I can put all this in for them.They have plenty of hay readily available,they would have more cover if I moved them in to the orchard,large bramleys.

Graham.
Graham.

harry

  • Joined Mar 2009
Re: Ideas for nests.
« Reply #5 on: February 13, 2013, 08:42:00 pm »
i went along this course but found they made there own nests in the bushes.................. theyve managed ok for 1000s of years so let them get on with it just leave a pile of straw somewhere they may use it but probably wont

graham-j

  • Joined Jul 2012
  • Canterbury Kent
Re: Ideas for nests.
« Reply #6 on: February 14, 2013, 09:43:32 am »
Hi,as i said the paddock they live in is pretty much a bare grass field no hedges or anything else,that why I'm thinking I need to give them a helping hand.

Graham.
Graham.

colliewoman

  • Joined Jul 2011
  • Pilton
  • Caution! May spontaneously talk rabbits!
Re: Ideas for nests.
« Reply #7 on: February 14, 2013, 10:31:29 am »
It won't be ready for this season, but how about planting a stand of willow?
They could then find their own spot or you can make them a bower by tying willow into a shelter, still growing. That with maybe few hazels dotted about would be lovely! Good source of poles for the garden and kindling too :thumbsup:
We'll turn the dust to soil,
Turn the rust of hate back into passion.
It's not water into wine
But it's here, and it's happening.
Massive,
but passive.


Bring the peace back

goosepimple

  • Joined May 2010
  • nr Lauder, Scottish Borders
Re: Ideas for nests.
« Reply #8 on: February 14, 2013, 11:11:21 am »
That's a great idea CW, might use that one  :D
registered soay, castlemilk moorit  and north ronaldsay sheep, pygmy goats, steinbacher geese, muscovy ducks, various hens, lots of visiting mallards, a naughty border collie, a puss and a couple of guinea pigs

 

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