A neat story to brighten your day!

[theron]

So we had one of our sebbies, Pigeon Toe, in the house for a while because he ripped one of his toenails off and wanted to watch it and make sure it didn't get infected. His name is pigeon toe because his feet are really bent and pigeon toed. I love him to death and I have raised him since he was a gosling. Well, today, Pigeon Toe went outside. He did not want to be picked up and bit me a few times with blood blisters as proof. So I had him free ranging near the goose run and they were REALLY interested in him. The one gander, Allan, i could tell wanted to fight with pigeon toe, so I didn't let him free range with him. I thought well maybe I should get his brother, Arnold, out to free range with him. (I have two ganders with two geese because the ground is too frozen to build their other pen.) Anyway, I let Arnold out and he ran right for Pigeon Toe. My dad thought that he was going to attack Pigeon Toe, so he started walking towards them, but I stopped my dad and said lets wait and see what happens. So Arnold gets up to Pigeon Toe, who was preening himself, and puts his head on and around Pigeon Toe's neck almost like a hug. I have never seen this before and it reminded me of a bird giving another bird a "hug". Arnold probably stood their for almost five minutes just "hugging" Pigeon Toe. It was one of the sweetest things that I have seen the geese do. I didn't have that great of a day at school and this moment just lifted up my spirits for the day. I also have chicks hatching in the incubator which helped lift my spirits too.

P.S. I didn't even think to go and get the camera because I was under a state of shock and awe. Darn it!

Hope you enjoyed the story!

 

[BHep]

Awwwwwww

 

[The goose girl]

So cute!

 

[Shiloh Acres]

I had geese who used to "hug" humans. They would get so excited and just tremble, begging for attention. If one of "their humans" bent down, they would preen our hands and hair, then wrap their necks around our neck and nuzzle under our hair, still gently preening. It really was the sweetest thing.

 

[sianara]

Several years ago when one of my ducks Emmas wing was injured I had a friend who was a nurse (but also had lots of animals himself) come over to examine her. While he was examining her my daughter (then 11) was holding her and Emma put her neck up onto my daughters neck and stayed that way the entire time Frank examined her. In fact, after a visit to the vet (she got her wing wrapped) she let us both hold her for the next few days while we gave her pain meds but once her wing was healed there was NO WAY she would let us even touch her let alone hold her. Emma was my favorite duck and I still feel the loss of her passing last year. Your story is so sweet. It is heartwarming that Arnold knew of Pigeons pain and was lending "support".
Thanks for sharing your story

 

[chicmom]

Aww, very sweet!