Best duck guardian ever. I love my goose.

[FenDruadin]

So today we were all standing around drinking coffee outside when one of my ducks (Lily) and the goose came running up from the lake in a great hurry. Turns out Lily had gotten tangled in some fishing line and needed help. I am fairly certain Hercules (the goose) knew where to find help (the slavish animals with the opposable thumbs who give them food every day) and brought her up to me. He left the rest of the flock down by the lake, but as soon as he saw that I had things under control and Lily had calmed down some, he went down, gathered them up, and brought them up to where Lily was resting.

I've always felt that he was looking out for the flock pretty well, but it never would have crossed my mind that he would think to bring one up to us when she needed help. How cool is that?

I'm now thinking I need to raise a couple more with a batch of ducklings, and keep one with each breeding group as protection.

 

[MysticalMom]

How cool is that!? Hurray for Hercules the Hero!! His name obviously suits him.

But great.. just great... as if my duck addiction wasn't enough... now I want a goose too.

 

[chickboss]

That is fantastic!! What kind of goose is he?

 

[Ms.FuzzyButts]

Hooray for Hercules!!

 

[FenDruadin]

Thanks, guys! He's a toulouse--just an ordinary farm goose. I got him from McMurray with a batch of ducklings last Spring. He had a buddy, but the buddy died defending the flock from a domestic dog. I really can't say enough about keeping a goose or two with a flock of ducks--of course, you can't depend entirely on the geese because they're just birds too, but they certainly help.

 

[BeckyBird]

That is so sweet! What a smart goose you have!