Golly vanished; her sister and I are devastated

[Callender Girl]

Gussie is settling down a bit and doesn't call for Golly as much. I now only let her out of her pen when I'm working outside. She follows me from coop to coop as I clean, standing outside and nibbling at the runs as she waits for me.

The first thing Gussie does when she gets out of her pen is to scramble over to where she and Golly liked to sleep up against the house. Once she seems certain Golly isn't there, Gussie resumes shadowing me as I work. She was always the friendlier of the geese and has apparently decided my company is better than no company at all.

The two of them liked to follow me when I was refilling feeders so they could stick their heads in the feed bucket and serve themselves. Gussie is greatly disappointed that the "cleaning bucket" doesn't have food in it.

I'm concerned that getting a full-grown goose that may or may not like me might be good for Gussie, but not so good for me. I'd rather start with goslings.

I'm leaning toward waiting until it's warm enough that, if Gussie doesn't have maternal instincts, goslings could be brooded in the garage or outdoors. I have brooded goslings, ducks and chicks in my house. I would like never to do that again.

 

[NatJ]

I have brooded goslings, ducks and chicks in my house. I would like never to do that again.

I agree with your thinking there!

If you are able to brood the goslings where Gussie can see & hear them, that also speeds up the point at which she is not alone, as compared with brooding them away from her and then introducing later.