Geese behave much differently than chickens. First, you'll never be able to sneak up on her at night. They can see almost as well as during the day. Second, if by some chance you are able to get close to her, she'll still know that you're there. It will cause all sorts of commotion, scattering both "her" hatched babies and those that you've saved. You'll take the chance that they'll all get lost or chilled. Geese are extremely intelligent, and have social behaviors that are so much more advanced than that of any chicken flock. Probably one of two things happened with this clutch. Either she is an inexperienced mother, and her instincts were satisfied by hatching the first few, even though more were coming, or, two, there were other females who had access to her nest, and they layed after she began setting, so there are actually multiple eggs with varying hatch dates. I have had good luck both ways, introducing newly hatched goslings to a mother even several days after her true brood had hatched, or also introducing young started birds to the group when they were several weeks old. I've even had my flock take in newly hatched babies when there was no female setting. I would introduce them all to the entire flock first thing in the morning when you have a few hours to watch closely that everything is going OK. In most cases it will take only a minute or two before you know if they'll accept or reject them. I've never had well adjusted (non pet) males cause any problems with babies in my flock. The only time that there were issues was when I had too many males, and squabbles between the males who were in the group and those who were kept out have sometimes inadvertently caused problems with young chicks that got caught up in the fighting. Even that has usually worked itself out in a few minutes. All this happens in a pen of almost 3/4 an acre, and I'm sure that plenty of space is a factor in allowing everything to work itself out.

Sorry, I have been running around lately getting supplies and selling plants. A change of venue worked wonders. Canal Winchester 7/11/2012 5-7P.M. $8 total (4 plants for $2 each, sold as a 2 for 1 deal) Bexley 7/18/2012 4-7P.M. $108 total ($4 freshly cut plant, 12 plants for $5, and a bulk sale to the health store of 11 plants for $4 per plant) I sold several plants to a local natural market /co-op health store for $4 per plant. They also hold a farmer's market on Wednesdays, and I sold potted plants for $5 per pot. Finally, I sold a freshly cut anise/licorice (?) basil for $4. One of my fellow vendors at the first farmer's market suggested that I should try the Bexley locale; I actually met him first at the yard sale earlier this summer. He also started this year, but he grows peppers, tomatoes, oregano, thyme, etc. He always charges $5 for each mature potted basil plant, but I was desperate for a sale in Canal Winchester and dropped my prices too low when I noticed no one was buying. I also confirmed that basil likes deeper pots vs. wider ones (assuming same volume of media). I have many varieties, so the intense purple ones sold out first and then the sweet mammoth and Thai Siam Queen. A few sweet and Italian Large leaf ones were also gone by 7:00P.M. The lemon and lime varieties were not as popular since many people have them already. Indeed, many people already told me they have tons of basil and can't turn it all into pesto, but many of the people that bought plants from me told me they have a few other big plants in their gardens. I have concluded that people who really love basil and can afford it (in terms of sunny window or space in the garden) will collect different varieties. Additionally, I started growing more of a rare basil from organic seed as there seems to be a market for the dried leaf for medicinal purposes.

Hello, I am new to this forum and wanted some ideas for some of the materials I need for an organic herb business I am starting from my home. Please forgive the long post. I wanted to know if anyone knew where I could purchase growing media locally (around Columbus, OH) in bulk for herbs. At the moment, I am just growing basil, to make pesto until the end of time. I have bought a few thousand plastic containers to supply nurseries and local garden centers. These I fortunately got in bulk at a reasonable price per unit, and I wanted to do the same with the growing media. I am looking at 150 cubic feet of growing media for my basil crop. I have already grown around 600 plants (about 18 different basil varieties - some were not too hardy) in custom mixes, Organic Choice (Miracle Gro), and Pro-Mix. Eventually, I want to plant my other 50 varieties. I started in late March and am still doing research with books from the public library and the help of Google and youtube while I get the hang of this. Pro-mix has given me the healthiest-looking and fastest-growing plants, so I would like to keep using it, or a similar mix I can make on my own (my back just wants to spasm when I think about that). Also, Miracle Gro had too many large pieces of bark and sticks that were a nightmare for seeding, so I want to avoid it if possible. Local retailers, like Straders, charge about $17 for 2.5 cubic feet of Pro-Mix with Mycorrhizae or the less cost-effective $29 for a 3.8 ft^3 bale. I will try a few other distributors today, but it seems that most function exclusively as wholesalers. Their retailers also have a two to three week lead time, which shortens my growing season. Online I read about farmer's supply stores in other states, but who do I contact here? Although I have plans to eventually bring a few hundred of my plants indoors (unused portions of the garage and basement - I can purchase the remaining grow lights and shelving units with relative ease) to endure the cold winter ahead and get a head start next year, I want to get as many started in the sun room and the backyard now while it is still warm. I would appreciate any advice on who to contact in order to purchase the following: CHOICE A *150 cubic feet of Pro-Mix� HP Mycorrhizae� (this one has more perlite than the one I have used, but this may be more suitable for me as it has been raining frequently lately and currently I have set out most of the pots in the backyard) CHOICE B (my poor imitation of CHOICE A) *100 cubic feet of peat moss or coconut coir (or cocopeat?) *50 cubic feet of perlite (horticultural grade or any other suitable *Sufficient wetting agent (Yucca extract or biodegradable polymers) compatible with organic crops *Sufficient Mycorrhizae inoculate (endomycorrhizal fungi, such as, Glomus intraradices) *Sufficient dolomitic lime (or similar pH adjuster) *Sufficient organic seaweed fertilizer (or similar product) for at least 4 applications (once per month) My goal is to get each cubic foot of growing media, either custom-made or professional grade, costing me no more than $4 per cubic foot. This must include taxes and freight shipping (or me just driving back and forth to pick it up 100 miles away with my brother's help). Again, I would appreciate any helpful suggestions, and I will keep searching online and asking local merchants if they can work out a large order deal (or free shipping).

That is so cool you got to see the fledges and all five of them too! I am only seeing four of the six from the first nesting, so I am guessing two didn't make it. Donna