Too soon to "diaper" goose -- 1 week old?

joya250 said:

okay, snapped a shot w/ my computer… we're just chillaxing tonight!

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That pic is adorable. Can you imagine how stressed he /she would be if you took him back to that farm would he become dinner at some point? not trying to put a guilt trip on you people do this all the time hatch and sell or give away some even abandon them at ponds and lakes when they get tired of them. I know you could never abandon Luz, I get so attached I cannot even part with any of mine so I have to keep them from hatching. or I'd have thousands of ducks and geese now. lol
He is very attached to you I can tell and you to Luz. I hope @The goose girl will comment on this because she has a house goose and can give you more info.

joya250 said:

I guess I'm just looking for either some reassurance that he will be okay as a solo goose -- or guidance that I truly need to get another. If that needs to happen, perhaps it is best to return him to the farm when he is old enough to fend for himself? It would break my heart, but I want to do right by him, whatever that entails!

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I really understand your dilemma, and I'd love to tell you that he'll be all right on his own - but I can't. In my experience, geese and especially goslings need company all the time to feel safe. I'm lucky that my goose is a "timeshare deal": we're two people sharing her and she's only been home alone maybe an accumulated ten hours during almost three years. She's usually perfectly happy in the yard by herself, sometimes for hours - but she needs to be able to see me through the window. If she can't find me, she starts honking/calling for me, louder and louder, until I turn up.

I can't tell you what to do. I myself would probably get another gosling to keep him company. In two months they'll both be fully feathered and almost adult size. If it turns out that your landlords won't let you keep them, it'll be much easier for them to return to a farm together.

BTW, you mentioned him sneezing. Does he have access to water deep enough for him to dunk his head in, so he can rinse her bill and her eyes?

The goose girl said:

I really understand your dilemma, and I'd love to tell you that he'll be all right on his own - but I can't. In my experience, geese and especially goslings need company all the time to feel safe. I'm lucky that my goose is a "timeshare deal": we're two people sharing her and she's only been home alone maybe an accumulated ten hours during almost three years. She's usually perfectly happy in the yard by herself, sometimes for hours - but she needs to be able to see me through the window. If she can't find me, she starts honking/calling for me, louder and louder, until I turn up.

I can't tell you what to do. I myself would probably get another gosling to keep him company. In two months they'll both be fully feathered and almost adult size. If it turns out that your landlords won't let you keep them, it'll be much easier for them to return to a farm together.

BTW, you mentioned him sneezing. Does he have access to water deep enough for him to dunk his head in, so he can rinse her bill and her eyes?

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Hi Goose Girl,

Thank you for your post. I appreciate your honesty. I think my landlords would fall over if I had another goose -- even if for only two months. We're going to try to do this. Currently I try to be with him as much as I can. When my boyfriend is here, he stays with him when I am out. While I am traveling, we're going to have a friend come and goose-sit. AND my landlord is always home (I rent a casita on their property)… and puttering about her gardens. I *think* we'll be able to raise him with as little stress as possible, at least that is the aim: A Happy, Healthy, Stressfree Goosesy!

I continue to learn more every day! I am so grateful for these forums and its members.

Joy

joya250 said:

Hi Goose Girl,

Thank you for your post. I appreciate your honesty. I think my landlords would fall over if I had another goose -- even if for only two months. We're going to try to do this. Currently I try to be with him as much as I can. When my boyfriend is here, he stays with him when I am out. While I am traveling, we're going to have a friend come and goose-sit. AND my landlord is always home (I rent a casita on their property)… and puttering about her gardens. I *think* we'll be able to raise him with as little stress as possible, at least that is the aim: A Happy, Healthy, Stressfree Goosesy!

I continue to learn more every day! I am so grateful for these forums and its members.

Joy

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Sounds like a great plan . I'd have the friend come often to visit so Luz knows this person they don't take all that well to strangers so having this friend as a friend of Luz will go along way and making things work better. Don't forget the pics.

I'm going to post in the opposite direction. I am Mom of a single house goose. She will be a year old next month. She's been spoiled and loved from a day old, and even now that she's nesting and laying an egg every other day, she is a well adjusted, happy, healthy, and affectionate goose.

Few pointers...I believe you mentioned having a cat? If so, no I would never let the goose have "free run" of the house when you aren't there. Geese get into EVERYTHING, so even if the cat wasn't a problem, goose could find neat shiney things and sharp things or poison things to gobble up if not watched, and then look, your baby dies. There is a member here who was very careful and somehow her baby ended up eating a thin piece of metal, and was helped over the Bridge to end her pain. It broke this members heart, and I'd hate to hear it happen to you.

My goose is allowed to roam the house when I am able to watch her faithfully ONLY. If I have to leave or even at night, she is tucked back safely into the pen we built her for HER safety. When she was young, her house was a dog house that we attached a door to. As she grew, we expanded and added an enclosed pen to it. She is full size now and BARELY fits in her dog house now she uses it as a nest box.

Your baby is going to get BIG AND LOUD fast. Be prepared for this! Make sure neighbors know or you might get hit with noise complainers when his honking starts.

For the single goose, toys and brain busying things are a MUST. Find what he likes and go with it. I give Cass an assortment of toys made for human babies because they're safer. Avoid things with little pieces that could get pulled off and swallowed! Cass also likes TV and radio. So when I have to leave, I put on a movie she can watch, or a radio station she likes. Basically, it breaks down like this. Having a single goose is very much like having a toddler. They are not like a dog or cat thats content to lay around while you aren't home. You need to provide them things to keep busy, work their brain, entertain them.

My Cass is nearly a year old, and I can tell you quite truthfully, the people who tell you raising a single goose can not be done are telling you that because most people CAN NOT commit to the ammount of time and attention needed to raise a single goose. It CAN be done, I am proof of it, HOWEVER it takes endless hours of research, cleaning, playing and bonding to achieve a bond like my Cass and I share. It is definitely NOT something everyone can do. And even though I am a sucess story, even I do not recommend it for everyone. My situation is unique, and my schedule allows me to be home with her most of the time. This isn't for everyone.

That being said, think of your house goose as a baby, not a pet. You wouldn't let a baby just get into anything, don't let your goose either! Don't leave him unattended without making certain he is safe and occupied, same as you would a human baby. (No I don't really recommend leaving a human baby alone ever, lol) A house goose is not like any other pet you would ever have. They need constant supervision, or housed safely when they can't be supervised.

As for the diapers, I made this adventure with my Cassy too. Honestly, a waste of money on the baby ones, goslings grow DAILY and then they don't fit anymore. And to be honest even fully grown now I very rarely use her diaper on her. Instead, I kept a journal of her potty schedule and learned that geese have a roughly 20 minutes in, 20 minutes to out schedule. Basically, 20 minutes after eating or drinking they 'go'. So, I take up her food and water about 40 minutes before taking her out around the house, and rarely have a mess to clean. And when I do its easy to just pick up with tissue and scrub the spot. Far easier for me than the messy bottoms and changing pads every hour of diapers, but thats just me. When I take her out, she is diapered. We visit places she is allowed like pet stores, farm feed stores, walking around town, and the local nursing home because they just adore her there! I don't take her places where wild geese frequent to keep her healthy. She comes with me to school for a check up every few months (I'm a vet tech ) to make sure she's healthy and fit. I keep detailed records on everything about her from her mood and appetite, to her poop consistancy (lol) so I know immediately if something is 'off'. I treat her more like a child than a pet, yes its silly, BUT here she is almost a year old, perfectly happy and healthy, so I must be doing something right! Lol

We just recently expanded her 'house' to give her more room, since she stays in it during laying (I personally do not recommend moving a goose around any more than absolutely needed during laying. A broken egg can cause serious internal problems.) You're going to need something larger than a bird cage very soon.

PS...For his sake (take your heart out of it for the moment, even though it's hard to) ..Please remember that geese bond FOR LIFE. The longer you have him the deeper the bond he'll have with you. If there is ANY doubt about a very large, very messy, very loud bird, PLEASE rehome him now while he is young enough to bond with someone else, or other geese. The older he gets the harder it would be, and yes, a goose CAN die from a broken heart or become so depressed they just stop eating and eventually starve. Most of us here wouldn't let any critter suffer in physical pain, right. Mental pain can be just as devestating. Keep in mind too that your goose can live 10-15 years, too. Are you prepared fully for that lifelong commitment? Is your boyfriend? Landlord? I think your pic looks like an African gosling, and hate to tell you but of all geese, Africans are one of the biggest and loudest. Just be sure you are really fully ready for him to quickly outgrow that cute as a button stage and enter the ear-piercing loud screaming, flapping all over your house, chasing, hissing, nipping, sharp claws and huge wings stage.

EvenLater said:

I'm going to post in the opposite direction. I am Mom of a single house goose. She will be a year old next month. She's been spoiled and loved from a day old, and even now that she's nesting and laying an egg every other day, she is a well adjusted, happy, healthy, and affectionate goose.

Few pointers...I believe you mentioned having a cat? If so, no I would never let the goose have "free run" of the house when you aren't there. Geese get into EVERYTHING, so even if the cat wasn't a problem, goose could find neat shiney things and sharp things or poison things to gobble up if not watched, and then look, your baby dies. There is a member here who was very careful and somehow her baby ended up eating a thin piece of metal, and was helped over the Bridge to end her pain. It broke this members heart, and I'd hate to hear it happen to you.

My goose is allowed to roam the house when I am able to watch her faithfully ONLY. If I have to leave or even at night, she is tucked back safely into the pen we built her for HER safety. When she was young, her house was a dog house that we attached a door to. As she grew, we expanded and added an enclosed pen to it. She is full size now and BARELY fits in her dog house now she uses it as a nest box.

Your baby is going to get BIG AND LOUD fast. Be prepared for this! Make sure neighbors know or you might get hit with noise complainers when his honking starts.

For the single goose, toys and brain busying things are a MUST. Find what he likes and go with it. I give Cass an assortment of toys made for human babies because they're safer. Avoid things with little pieces that could get pulled off and swallowed! Cass also likes TV and radio. So when I have to leave, I put on a movie she can watch, or a radio station she likes. Basically, it breaks down like this. Having a single goose is very much like having a toddler. They are not like a dog or cat thats content to lay around while you aren't home. You need to provide them things to keep busy, work their brain, entertain them.

My Cass is nearly a year old, and I can tell you quite truthfully, the people who tell you raising a single goose can not be done are telling you that because most people CAN NOT commit to the ammount of time and attention needed to raise a single goose. It CAN be done, I am proof of it, HOWEVER it takes endless hours of research, cleaning, playing and bonding to achieve a bond like my Cass and I share. It is definitely NOT something everyone can do. And even though I am a sucess story, even I do not recommend it for everyone. My situation is unique, and my schedule allows me to be home with her most of the time. This isn't for everyone.

That being said, think of your house goose as a baby, not a pet. You wouldn't let a baby just get into anything, don't let your goose either! Don't leave him unattended without making certain he is safe and occupied, same as you would a human baby. (No I don't really recommend leaving a human baby alone ever, lol) A house goose is not like any other pet you would ever have. They need constant supervision, or housed safely when they can't be supervised.

As for the diapers, I made this adventure with my Cassy too. Honestly, a waste of money on the baby ones, goslings grow DAILY and then they don't fit anymore. And to be honest even fully grown now I very rarely use her diaper on her. Instead, I kept a journal of her potty schedule and learned that geese have a roughly 20 minutes in, 20 minutes to out schedule. Basically, 20 minutes after eating or drinking they 'go'. So, I take up her food and water about 40 minutes before taking her out around the house, and rarely have a mess to clean. And when I do its easy to just pick up with tissue and scrub the spot. Far easier for me than the messy bottoms and changing pads every hour of diapers, but thats just me. When I take her out, she is diapered. We visit places she is allowed like pet stores, farm feed stores, walking around town, and the local nursing home because they just adore her there! I don't take her places where wild geese frequent to keep her healthy. She comes with me to school for a check up every few months (I'm a vet tech

) to make sure she's healthy and fit. I keep detailed records on everything about her from her mood and appetite, to her poop consistancy (lol) so I know immediately if something is 'off'. I treat her more like a child than a pet, yes its silly, BUT here she is almost a year old, perfectly happy and healthy, so I must be doing something right! Lol

We just recently expanded her 'house' to give her more room, since she stays in it during laying (I personally do not recommend moving a goose around any more than absolutely needed during laying. A broken egg can cause serious internal problems.) You're going to need something larger than a bird cage very soon.

Click to expand...

Hi EvenLater,

I have been meaning to thank you for your post!!! Thank you for taking the the time to share all that with me. I think of how great you seem to be raising Cass as a single goose, and it is an inspriration. I also started leaving music on for Luz when I have to leave the house. I also got him a play pen, which he still fits in (for the moment). I try to be with him as much as possible and try to strike a balance between love and affection and discipline (so I don't end up having a bossy, spoiled goose!)

I am still waiting for the "grow-with-me" diapers to arrive, so have been constantly cleaning up the floor! For the most part, when I am home and it is daytime, Luz is outside… so that cuts down on the poop cleaning!

He's starting to change his voice from cute little "beep beeps" to a "HONK" every now and then. It cracks me up.

As you have suggested, I have offered toys to Luz… but he has no interest, and in fact seems afraid of the bright colors. So for now, he's a music-only goose.

Best wishes to you and Cassy!

EvenLater said:

PS...For his sake (take your heart out of it for the moment, even though it's hard to) ..Please remember that geese bond FOR LIFE. The longer you have him the deeper the bond he'll have with you. If there is ANY doubt about a very large, very messy, very loud bird, PLEASE rehome him now while he is young enough to bond with someone else, or other geese. The older he gets the harder it would be, and yes, a goose CAN die from a broken heart or become so depressed they just stop eating and eventually starve. Most of us here wouldn't let any critter suffer in physical pain, right. Mental pain can be just as devestating. Keep in mind too that your goose can live 10-15 years, too. Are you prepared fully for that lifelong commitment? Is your boyfriend? Landlord? I think your pic looks like an African gosling, and hate to tell you but of all geese, Africans are one of the biggest and loudest. Just be sure you are really fully ready for him to quickly outgrow that cute as a button stage and enter the ear-piercing loud screaming, flapping all over your house, chasing, hissing, nipping, sharp claws and huge wings stage.

Click to expand...

I'm in… for better or for worse. I only want what is best for Luz the Goose. I hope I am able to raise a happy, healthy goose. Thank you for the reality-check!