Goose lovers – please help!!

[LightningTFarm]

Thanks for the help, Shellie! I didn't find any big wing feathers in his box when he arrived, so I guess he lost them before he got here. He's such a beautiful gander, I hope he gets his feathers back to normal soon!

They are both getting much more used to me. I can now get within 3 feet of the pool and they won't get out, especially if I make it clear I am not coming in their direction. They make all kinds of noise when they see me in the morning, and got right in their house at night. It only took about three nights for them to get that routine down pat. I just love looking at them!

 

[CelticOaksFarm]

re-growth does take some time post molt. I can yell goosegoosegoose in the evenings and the 9 buffs come a running (or their version of running) to the gate to come in for the night. We walk along with them chatting to me as they file into their stall. Super easy keepers for sure. Glad your boys are warming up to you.

 

[Iain Utah]

Lightning... he looked like that when shipped out. He was beginning to molt, but was previously missing chunks of feathers, as they all were in varying degrees from beating each other up before I got them. It has been a long process to get these guys back to full feather form, but pretty much all of these guys looked like your boy at some point since I got them. I have no doubt he will go through a complete molt and afterward will have a gorgeous set of feathers.

It is awesome they are developing trust with you. It takes a long time, but they do warm up really nicely!!

 

[LightningTFarm]

Thanks for the information, Janet. I haven't seen any other indications of molting, as they have really not lost many feathers since they came. Aside from the one weird wing, Atticus looks great and so does Finch. Hopefully, by spring he will look extremely handsome!

I know they went through a very rough time in California before you went out there and saved them. I'm sure it is nothing major, I just noticed it and wanted to make sure everything was okay.

How is the weather out there today? I hope the snow has stopped falling and you have gotten a break, but I have to admit your pictures of your geese crossing the stream in all the snow were just beautiful!! They should be on a Goose Calendar page!

 

[Iain Utah]

I have seen that stage on others that cleared up beautifully. Here is Gimpy on July 23rd and Sept. 11th.





Here he is today (on left) with Hitch in the middle and Blind Girl on right.



I have no doubt they are both going to be stunning by next year. It takes patience to bring a bird around from poor condition... much like a horse. I know they are in excellent care with you and look forward to seeing updated pics!!

The weather has gotten much better and the snow is melting fast, thank goodness! Glad you liked the pics of the africans. I thought it was pretty cool watching them.

 

[Marty1876]

How old are geese usually their first molt? Do they molt once yearly after that, like chickens? I've noticed sebbie feathers around, and a few others, and I wondered if mine were in or approaching their first molt.

 

[CelticOaksFarm]

Your sebbies should have long since molted months ago and re-grown their feathers. They will blow out yearly and re-grow looking the best each fall (late fall - Nov), then they head into breeding season and become ragged looking from breeding and feathers breaking, go through summer, blow out and re-grow again lol

 

[CelticOaksFarm]

Sebbies also have very fragile feathers and will break easily if handled, and are often victim of other birds grabbing them.

 

[LightningTFarm]

I have seen that stage on others that cleared up beautifully. Here is Gimpy on July 23rd and Sept. 11th.





Here he is today (on left) with Hitch in the middle and Blind Girl on right.



I have no doubt they are both going to be stunning by next year. It takes patience to bring a bird around from poor condition... much like a horse. I know they are in excellent care with you and look forward to seeing updated pics!!

The weather has gotten much better and the snow is melting fast, thank goodness! Glad you liked the pics of the africans. I thought it was pretty cool watching them.

Thanks, Janet!! That picture in the middle is exactly the way Atticus' wing looks, so I'm relieved to know he will wind up as handsome as your guy. So, did I read Celtic's advice to Marty correctly, in that geese molt in the fall? I haven't really seen evidence of molting yet, but maybe it's coming up. Our weather has been very nice up till now.

 

[Iain Utah]

Between the juveniles and adults, these guys have been blowing feathers all summer and into fall. There are still one or two of the grey adults that look like that here, still. Poor Funky, a juvenile buff, still has a ways to go until her feathering looks better.

On the other hand, my older toulouse/african ganders went through a single molt in May-June and were done.