airworthy!

[zzGypsy]

so this afternoon I watched as 2 of my three 6 month old brown geese and my 4 month old african goose got full flight!

one of them, maybe the african, must have got it just right because he was 15 feet up and went maybe 40 yds!
soo cool!
oh, wait, I don't WANT them flying...
right....

 

[NYRIR]

Cute

 

[pete55]

Yes its ok for a trial take off run but you dont want them airbourne to the degree that your chasing round the neighbourhood after a fit African

 

[sourland]

This is the season that young geese test their wings. As they bulk up gravity keeps them on the ground. Poor geese.

 

[zzGypsy]

yep, the largest of the brown chinese had just enough lift to skim with his toes dragging... not airworthy.
<sigh> so if they keep this up, it'll be clip-their-wings time.
or maybe I just need to feed them more

 

[Oregon Blues]

Mine can barely get their toes off the ground if the wind is just right. If you've got an African getting 15 feet into the air, I think you need to feed him more. He needs that lard butt to keep him on the ground.

I did have one of my young ducks fly past me at eye level. Gave me a good startle.

 

[crj]

Quote:
LOL.... I bet it did! My American Buff and Super African are running around the yard flapping hard and making noise. No lift yet but they sure seem to enjoy the jog. Even my Sebbies are giving it a try. Poor things look all tattered..... so funny to watch first thing in the morning. When I open that pen (ducks and geese share) it's as if it's off to the races! Geese go flapping one way and the ducks run and flap another way all yelling in joyous sounds..... LMAO!

 

[conny63malies]

my neighbors were scared of my muscovies once when they deceided to do a flyover over the neighbors house.

 

[zzGypsy]

Quote:
the african is less than 4 months old... might be closer to 3... I don't think he's finshed growing yet, he's pretty much the same size as the smallest of the brown chinese - in fact at the moment I'm having a hard time telling them apart. I say "he" but I don't really know...
anyway, he seems in good condition, body weight wise, but I think we've got some lard-butt development yet to come.

 

[erinszoo]

My 4 month old embden gander gets off the ground enough that he can fly into and out of the turtle pen which has a two foot fence and he can sustain flight for about 15 or 20 feet. Our goose has yet to get off the ground without dragging toes though. Once the gander has done his little flight, he won't even attempt it again until the next day. I'm guessing it kind of wears him out. But it's fun to watch them.