Duck is a surrogate mom, neat story - With updated PICS

[ThreeBoysChicks]

So about a month ago, I decide to let me Brown Chinese collect her eggs. She had decided to lay them in the back corner of my goat house (it is a calf hutch). My Fawn and White Runner Hen layed her eggs in the same nest. I would take the Duck eggs every day. Well 8 goose eggs into it, my Fawn and White Runner Hen deicded to go broody. A couple of days ago, I noticed that the Goose (female) was hanging out in the goat house and watching over the duck and the nest very closely. This morning when I went to take care of everyone, I learned why. Duck momma had hatched out 5 beautiful gooslings.

Here is the odd thing, the Goose Parents have taken over completely and the duck hen was back out with her drake enjoying the rainy day. Odd behavior? Animals are absolutely amazing.

I guess I could advertie my duck's services to any goose families who don't have the time to hatch their own.

5/19/2010 UPDATE - Momma Duck still on the nest hatched out baby #6.

Now for the PICS (Sorry for the quality, but it was raining and cloudy)

The real mom and dad.

Mom and Dad (not so happy) becausee one of the sheep walked up behind me.

And finally, the babies (Note mom looking intently as if to say, where you going with that camera?)

Last but certainly not least, the lady who did all the work, enjoying a swim in the kiddy pool

 

[chick4chicks]

Congrats on the new goslings, great pics. so cool the duck hatched them then let the real parents have them.

 

[jojo@rolling acres farm]

Neat Story...thanks for sharing. Love the pictures.

 

[emmalynn]

Your duck is a surrogate mom!!

 

[ThreeBoysChicks]

This story continues.....

So after the initial 8 eggs, the mother goose has added extras to the clutch. Mamma duck is back on the nest working on the rest. The 5 babies are currently nestled under the father goose and momma goose is going back and forth between watching over momma duck and the babies.

It is like a soap opera only better.

 

[ThreeBoysChicks]

Momma Duck hatched out Baby #6. Here are some updated PICS

 

[Goosehaven]

Your pictures and story are adorable! I so love the goslings and never tire of seeing pictures of them. You are so lucky that you aren't having to do the whole brooding phase yourself since they hatched in warm weather and mom and dad are taking care of them. Looks like they are doing a good job with them

 

[goosedragon]

Quote:
I doubt she had much choice in the matter. If the geese wanted them she would have them. BTW geese are much more of a family group than ducks. You rarely see a drake having anything to do with the young ones while the ganders are almost always around and often 'babysit' while mama goose is swimming or feeding.

 

[ThreeBoysChicks]

Quote:
I doubt she had much choice in the matter. If the geese wanted them she would have them. BTW geese are much more of a family group than ducks. You rarely see a drake having anything to do with the young ones while the ganders are almost always around and often 'babysit' while mama goose is swimming or feeding.

What I don't know is how long will this go on. Momma Duck got off this morning so I went and looked, she has 5 eggs still under her. I don't know when they were layed. But, she is very healthy and comes out to eat and take a swim so I figure if she wants to keep sitting on them, then who am I to stop her.

The geese are great parents and it is amazing that they let me in the pen to feed and water and don't make any noise. They even let me pick up a baby this morning. But if anyone else comes within 25 ft of them, they start posturing and hissing. I guess being the person who hand raised them does make a difference.

 

[goosedragon]

Quote:
I doubt she had much choice in the matter. If the geese wanted them she would have them. BTW geese are much more of a family group than ducks. You rarely see a drake having anything to do with the young ones while the ganders are almost always around and often 'babysit' while mama goose is swimming or feeding.

What I don't know is how long will this go on. Momma Duck got off this morning so I went and looked, she has 5 eggs still under her. I don't know when they were layed. But, she is very healthy and comes out to eat and take a swim so I figure if she wants to keep sitting on them, then who am I to stop her.

The geese are great parents and it is amazing that they let me in the pen to feed and water and don't make any noise. They even let me pick up a baby this morning. But if anyone else comes within 25 ft of them, they start posturing and hissing. I guess being the person who hand raised them does make a difference.

If your geese are anything like mine(very friendly) do NOT do anything to make a gosling make a distress call, If you startle them or squeeze just a little too hard and it puts out a distress call the adults will be on you like white on rice! I think it is only instinct and they don't seem to hold a grudge afterwards but they will come for you and keep coming untill they have the gosling and have assured themselves that it is alright. Yes yours may be different (and I hope they are) I am just telling you what has happened to me and not just with one family either.