More sebbies!

I have some really exciting news!  As you know, my geese hatched 5 goslings this spring.  They are doing very well and getting huge!  They are almost ready to go out into the big wide world, but since I lost a hen to an eagle yesterday, they will stay in a locked pen a while longer.  Mom, dad and aunt pace the outside of the gosling pen, but this way they are safe.

Sebastopol geese come in colors besides white.  They come in buff, gray, saddleback and some others too.  I have been wanting some colored sebbies for a while now.  I found a breeder in Florida who breeds colored sebbies, with reasonable prices and will ship them in a healthy way and I bought three yesterday!  I bought two dark gray girls and a boy who will likely be lighter colored, like a lavender or splash.  They are 2 weeks old and will ship to me next week.  I am so excited!  Here are some pictures of them.

The two girls.  I decided to name them Sassafrass and Poppyseed.

Here is the boy.  I know it's not a very good pic, but she promised to take more soon.  His name will be Pish Posh.

Here is a picture of what the girls will look like. (and this is Pish Posh's dad)

Isn't he gorgeous?  He is flapping his wings if you wondered...

I will update you if I get more pictures and of course, when they arrive.  Happy Spring!

Sebastopol Goslings 2012

This year I took 6 eggs from my sebbie geese and let them have the rest to set on.  Well I hatched 3 out of 6 eggs in the incubator and they were adorable!  They imprinted on us and we had so much fun spending time with them, but they were presold.  So yesterday the new owners picked them up.  The house is really quiet.  Here are some pictures of them.

Here they are when they first came out of the hatcher and they were still a little wet.

Here they are on day 2. They are nice a fluffy and very curious!  So cute.  They follow us around and come when you call.  They also call for me occasionally.

Here they are on day 4 playing outside in the sunshine.  The adult geese were nearby and honking and the babies would look up like who said that?  te he

Then my goose, Snow White set on 8 eggs and she hatched 5 goslings under her!  They are cute and not friendly, but that is okay, it makes them integrate with the geese much easier.  Snow White is doing a good job taking care of them.  They are about 1 week old now.
Here are some pics of them.

My other goose, Baby Nibbles was setting on 6 eggs too, but she decided she would rather help take care of the 5 goslings instead and abandoned her nest.  That is okay with me, 5 goslings is enough to add to our flock. Now Nibbles is helping Snow take care of the babies.   Happy Easter everyone!

Feeding and Watering your flock

Here is a quick way to make a water warmer.  It will keep your water bowl or fountain from freezing during winter.  (unless you have extreme temperatures)
http://eggcartonlabels.blogspot.com/2011/11/make-cookie-tin-waterer-heater-under-10.html

Here is a DIY project to make a chicken feeder;  http://eggcartonlabels.blogspot.com/search/label/PVC%20feeder%20DIY

Here are some projects you can do with those feed sacks that ad up: http://eggcartonlabels.blogspot.com/search/label/feed%20bag%20tote
and  http://sherryscrazymenagerie.blogspot.com/2012/03/feed-sack-tote-bags.html

Here is a recipe and info on mixing your own organic feed:
 http://www.examiner.com/article/create-your-own-chicken-feed

And here is a DIY make a chicken waterer with a bucket.
http://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.352805971448136.87854.100001562094838&type=1