The Poultry Keeper

hch4971 · Joined: 27 Apr 2008 Posts: 24 Location: North Yorkshire

they are currently in a 4x4 pen in my daughters bedroom and I think they are too warm. We have one that is almost 2 weeks and the other 2 older, 3/4 weeks, one has its feathers coming through. They are not going under the heat day or night despite the heating in the house being off so I have switched it off through the day. Im going to make a safe pen so they can be out on the grass this weekend but would prefer to move them into the garage at night, would they need the heat back on at night? Our garage doubles up as a barn for hay/feed storage and is joined on to the stables, open at the joists. When I bought the goslings I was warned to watch out for rats getting to them by a man at the auction, I dont think we have any rats, certainly havent seen any evidence but this has put me off moving them to the garage 'just in case'. At what age are they safe from rats? How long before they are safe to free range without birds trying to get them. I am so protective and have got myself panicking about all the dangers they face in the big wide world!! I am completely new to geese/poultry keeping so all advice will be very welcome.

debcat · Posted: Thu May 08, 2008 12:10 pm Post subject:

mine is nearly 4 weeks old, he goes outside in the day now but comes back in at night, if he wasn't on his own I'd put them in the barn at night