Things are so busy here around this time that I accidentally marked Heidi as sitting on her eggs a week later than when she actually started. The great news about this is that from my point of view, goslings have arrived early! These pictures are from yesterday. When I went to bed, there were seven hatched. This morning there are eight, with a beak poking out of a ninth egg. I have a feeling the tenth egg didn't make it. Heidi's done a great job!
Now that Heidi's done the boring part, Dakota is eager to jump in and claim the babies as her own.
I've read that others remove the goslings for a couple of weeks before giving them back to be raised by the gaggle, but unless I experiece catastrophic loss, I'm content leaving them in with their folks. Last year I kept the moms penned with the hatchlings for a week to avoid accidental stampeding by interested parties, and it worked out pretty well. My coop looks like a hospital waiting room - all my other geese are milling around, eager to check out the new arrivals.
Tex the wonder Gander making sure I'm not hurting anyone as I take pictures.
Now that Heidi's done the boring part, Dakota is eager to jump in and claim the babies as her own.
I've read that others remove the goslings for a couple of weeks before giving them back to be raised by the gaggle, but unless I experiece catastrophic loss, I'm content leaving them in with their folks. Last year I kept the moms penned with the hatchlings for a week to avoid accidental stampeding by interested parties, and it worked out pretty well. My coop looks like a hospital waiting room - all my other geese are milling around, eager to check out the new arrivals.
Tex the wonder Gander making sure I'm not hurting anyone as I take pictures.
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