Reasons I don’t Ship

Goslings can be shipped in the first day or so of hatching because they are still digesting the yolk so they don’t need food or water for the first three days. So why don’t I ship them?

Those who rescued the early Cotton Patch geese gathered flocks that were as close as they could find to the original geese as they remembered from the 30s and 40s. They bred the best of those flocks to create a composite line of geese referred to as the Walker line. Others were able to find closed flocks like the Philadelphia line. Thankfully this line was not interbred with outside breeds which would have damaged this line. So like those who started rescuing the Cotton Patch geese, I also want to be certain to only pass on the best. For me, this means not selling right after hatch.

The Philadelphia line of Cotton Patch geese has been a closed flock of geese for the last 40 years. The gentleman from whom I acquired them had four years of breeding without genetic problems as did the 2 previous owners that we know of. The gene pool for this line is limited so I need to be certain I am only passing on the best genes. I’ve had limited problems in the 3 years I have been breeding these geese none of which I could attribute to genetic problems but things that simply happen.

Why I don’t ship goslings.

1. I had what seemed like two perfectly healthy goslings in different hatches from different parents. But for some unknown reason they just did not thrive and died by seven days. Had I shipped them out someone would have gotten a gosling that would have died beyond the 3 day guarrantee mark. One hatched two days late compared to the rest which possibly could be a reason but the other had nothing I could point to.
2. Deformity – I had a gosling with a deformity that was my own fault. The gosling seemed to be hatching nicely but then stopped. I wanted to help it so I carefully moistened the membrane just under the shell. I left the moisture soften it, then gently picked back some of the pieces of shell which helped the gosling finish hatching. All seemed to be well and I deemed it a success. I’d read that it wasn’t a good idea to help a stuck baby to finish hatching because there may be underlying reasons as to why they didn’t hatch. But I also read of some having successful hatches. But in less than 2 weeks I discovered why many discourage interferring in hatching. I believe the reason it didn’t finish hatching was because it had a slightly crossed beak which prevented it from being able to hatch by itself. But the beak was vey close to matching right after hatching but as the gosling grew it became more prominant. Had I left nature take it’s course I wouldn’t of had the heartbreak of a gosling being unable to eat. I understand why many people discourage helping a gosling hatch. I may or may not help a stuck gosling in the future but if I do I will certainly keep it a while to be certain it is ok before I’d sell it.