Goslings - Leg Rings and Water Access Related Questions

[Spela]

Hi,

we've had our first five goslings hatched two days ago. I would like to somehow tag them to know who's who (or better who's what - boys vs. girls ) and I figured the simplest and least invasive way is to put leg rings of different colours on them.

My questions regarding this are:

• Since there is no waterfowl professional to get here to sex the goslings, what method do you propose for a newbie like me (I read about auto sexing and vent sexing... is there any other way)?
• When (or better, if ) I manage to determine their sex, what size should a leg ring for a couple of days old middle sized breed gosling be?
• How often should I change the leg rings due to goslings' growth?

Our geese have free access to running water (a stream behind our house). It's not a big stream but the water can get quite high during heavy rain and mr. and mrs. Gossmann have had some trouble navigating it when they first went for a swim (prior to moving in with us they never had access to "real" water). They now have no problem swimming in it and know when the water is too high and fast to swimm in.

My question is:

• Should I worry about goslings getting in the water before they can manage it, or should I trust their parents (they are superb parents, both of them) to know when the time comes?

 

[dorsetduckowner]

Lovely babies!!!
I am sorry to say that I have NO idea how to sex geese!!! They are very difficult to sex.
Please let us know how you get on! Hopefully a goose expert will know?
zo
x

 

[Spela]

Thank you, dorsetduckowner ! I too am looking forward to some goose expert advice .

 

[Spela]

Hello all ,

just wanted to let you know that the "should-I-keep-the-goslings-out of-water" dilemma resolved itself within a few days from posting .

On the fourth day after hatching the parents took them to the creek and let them fool around a bit in a shallow watter, a day or two later, they were already swimming - no problems whatsoever .