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Post by mikemurphy on Dec 11, 2008 13:25:11 GMT 8
As there is no goose board it was suggested I try here. Can anyone confirm that geese need water to mate? I had a batch of a dozen eggs, only one of which proved fertile. As my geese only have a small pond and not a dam or lake it was suggested to me that they need a bigger area of water. Anyone know?
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Post by Cluck N Waddle on Dec 11, 2008 17:45:59 GMT 8
You may have read this on BYP but I'll post it anyway. Here's a sticky from the Waterfowl forum forum titled "Do my ducks or geese need a dam or pond?"
The short answer is no, a bucket or drinker is fine, but they will benefit from a watersource.
Ducks and geese do like to bathe and keep themselves quiet clean. Having a pond (a shell (clam) is all you need, $15.00 from kmart) enables them to preen and oil their feathers more succussfully, keeping their feathers in better condition - They can do all of the above with a bucket of water or a drinker, it just will take them longer and they wont get as much enjoyment.
A pond also helps with breeding, most waterfowl will breed on dry land with a bucket of water, but a pond does help fertility - but is not essential. Some of my geese do not use the ponds for breeding, but most do.
so yes, you can keep waterfowl without needing a dam or pond, but the birds will enjoy it if they do have one. The water can be recycled onto the plants in the garden afterwards.
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Post by mikemurphy on Dec 27, 2008 6:47:59 GMT 8
Thanks for that. I do have a small pond for them but only one can get in it at a time so I thought it wouldn't help much with breeding. I have only once ever seen a pair actively mating but they are still relatively young birds. I have a bucket of water for each of them and replace it sometimes twice a day as they make it so muddy. Maybe we'll get more fertile eggs next season.
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