The three geese are laying, the eggs of the two first year geese are smaller than the eggs of the second year goose. The eggs of the goose that has started her second year of lay started at around 200g but are now around 180g. The photo below shows the 1st 2 eggs of the season from the 2nd year bird on the left and the 3rd and 4th eggs laid by a young goose in lay for the first time on the right. It does illustrate why experienced breeders recommend waiting to hatch from birds in their second year of lay.
Some Rhodebar/RIR and Cream Legbar x Welsummer/Cuckoo Maran chicks are growing well with feathers to protect them now from the worst of the weather. They are staying cheerful even though the weather is cold, wet and windy. One broody has begun to lay again and has just moved back in with the mature birds. Another first time broody has got 3 Cuckoo Cochin chicks. Another has just hatched 3 female Pilgrim goslings and then taken on some 2 day old Rhodebatr/RIR chicks too. None of the broodies have been used before and are doing an excellent job.
The ducks are laying well, so there are handfuls of eggs to collect when they are let out in the morning.
The trouble with being the biggest is that, even if you're the youngest, they all think you know what you're doing.
He was still going to bed with them in a little broody house when the broody bantam wasn't as high as his knees but there weren't even accidental injuries.
Lucky has gone to join a goose friend in Cornwall. He travelled in a dog crate and we wouldn't have known he was there he was so quiet and no trouble. I wish all my passengers were as good. Then he walked out of the crate and saw the sea! There was no aggression at all joining the goose and her parent geese.
STEEPLE DUCKS
LATEST 15th May 2012
Dave & Lizzie's pair of Pilgrim goslings just hatched
3 female Pilgrims within an hour of hatch.
The first time broody took on 5 two day old chicks also the next day, see below - what a star.
Another first time broody with 3 Cochin chicks.
Tony's two male Pilgrim goslings at a few days old
3 female Pilgrims at 24 hours starting to check what's edible ...
....................not broody mum's comb!
The broody took on 5 two day old chicks also and they already have an idea what to eat and drink.
2 male Rhodebar chicks
Eggs from a second year goose
Eggs from a first year goose
Janet's birds near Welshpool. A broody hen hatched 2 females earlier in the year. The hen now spends the day with them but returns to the hen house at night. The parent pair have hatched 5 male and 2 female goslings now so the older youngsters cannot go in with them or the parents would chase them away. So the older 2 have had to be given the run of the garden....