Adding gosling to human imprinted goose

[Sarkchick]

That is a beautiful family. Glad all is working out

 

[Miss Lydia]

That is a beautiful family, so awesome it has worked out and your goose is now a momma.

 

[The goose girl]

Just an update: Things are going extremely well; the babies are growing like weeds, and we're taking them out for supervised field trips to the pond. Mama goose seems to feel very secure about us handling them, but she turns into a T-rex if anyone else comes near them.

 

[Sarkchick]

That is so funny. Made me laugh out loud. My husband looked at me like I had lost my mind. They look so happy

 

[Miss Lydia]

I laughed out loud too. I love it when they swim under water. They are so precious.
So happy it has worked out so good.

 

[The goose girl]

Another update: Just one baby left now. The other one was not thriving, so I culled him a couple of months ago. I suspected hardware disease, and that it was: he had at some point eaten a 2-inch long thin metal stick, and it had lodged in his gizzard, which had become deformed and more than twice the size it should have been - it was the size and shape of a large baking potato. It must have hurt the poor guy to eat, but I kept hoping he'd feel better.

The surviving "baby" is huge. He's most definitely a gander. Mama goose and baby still get along great and enjoy each other's company, and they didn't seem to miss the other gosling much. I still take them for a walk twice a day, and they both enjoy it. I had hoped he was a she and thus named him, but as it became clear he was a male, his name had to be changed. He now answers to the name Jensen. Well, actually he only answers to the possibility of treats.

He wasn't very safe to walk with at first. He kept walking in front of cars and chasing them when they had passed. That issue is much better now; I've been training him to come get a treat whenever a car gets close - or a bicycle, or a jogger. It works like a charm. Sometimes he even comes running to me as soon as he spots a car before I call him. It helps a lot that mama goose totally ignores most traffic.

He doesn't feel safe around strangers, but so far he just stands tall, almost hisses, and keeps his distance. That behavior is probably prone to change come spring, but I'll take it as it comes. Hopefully I'll still be able to walk with them. Mama goose has let her guard down a lot, almost to normal level. But she does react somewhat to his behavior, especially if he hisses at someone.

Here they are enjoying a pool of rainwater:

P.S.: Is there an English word for what they are doing? All I've been able to come up with is "grubbing", is that correct?

 

[Miss Lydia]

It’s funny doesn’t matter what country they all love to play in puddles. Grubbing is a good word. I cannot get over how huge he is. Hopefully he’ll not be too much of a grump when breeding season comes around. Thanks for sharing them they are both. Sorry you lost the one gosling. Sam was hatched here 11an half yrs ago and I have never seen his face this dirty he must have had a good time grubbing today

 

[Miss Lydia]

 

[The goose girl]

Wow, yes, he's really grubby! In Danish we have the word "snadre" that means "noisily smacking/chomping the bill in water in search of food". I haven't come across an English word for that behavior. But I like grubbing - they're searching for grub and often get grubby doing it.

 

[Miss Lydia]

Yep grubby is a good word !!