Hand Rearing a Gosling

[Ruthey]

Hi everyone. We are based near Bala North Wales Gwynedd UK. We have 6 Brecon Buff geese (only Welsh Goose) Our female was sitting on 9 eggs. Last Saturday, 10th June, we spotted 3 little yellow heads!! Sunday morning she left the nest with her babies in tow. I took the opportunity to check the nest. Found 1 dead baby but suddently heard a chirping noise coming from one of the eggs!! The temperature was over 30 degrees (90f) so thought that if this new arrival was left it would cook. Helped to break the egg, took baby inside, made a nest with hot water bottle and used a pipette to give water. Within a couple of days she was walking about the garden, eating grass and drinking water. She has also had a little swim. She is happily eating goose food. Now the problem - she follows us everywhere. The other geese are VERY protective of the other goslingd so can't get too close. Have put her down near the other babies/geese, they seem intereted but she panics, screeches very loudly and runs very fast back to my feet. Has anyone had the same problem? As she gets bigger, will she become more independent? Just to add to the mayhem, we have 3 dogs who have decided that all this chirping (which she does non stop) needs investigating. Any advice would be appreciated. Many thanks

 

[janiedoe]

Welcome to BYC! Apparently your gosling has imprinted on you. I do not know the first thing about geese, so I can't give you advice but someone will be along who knows them.

 

[triciayoung]

Welcome. I don’t have geese but someone will arrive shortly that does.

 

[TwoCrows]

Hello and welcome to BYC!

I don't know much about Geese either, you might stop by our Geese forum and start a thread. https://www.backyardchickens.com/forums/geese.47/

Good luck with your flock!

 

[Blue Raptor]

Hi everyone. We are based near Bala North Wales Gwynedd UK. We have 6 Brecon Buff geese (only Welsh Goose) Our female was sitting on 9 eggs. Last Saturday, 10th June, we spotted 3 little yellow heads!! Sunday morning she left the nest with her babies in tow. I took the opportunity to check the nest. Found 1 dead baby but suddently heard a chirping noise coming from one of the eggs!! The temperature was over 30 degrees (90f) so thought that if this new arrival was left it would cook. Helped to break the egg, took baby inside, made a nest with hot water bottle and used a pipette to give water. Within a couple of days she was walking about the garden, eating grass and drinking water. She has also had a little swim. She is happily eating goose food. Now the problem - she follows us everywhere. The other geese are VERY protective of the other goslingd so can't get too close. Have put her down near the other babies/geese, they seem intereted but she panics, screeches very loudly and runs very fast back to my feet. Has anyone had the same problem? As she gets bigger, will she become more independent? Just to add to the mayhem, we have 3 dogs who have decided that all this chirping (which she does non stop) needs investigating. Any advice would be appreciated. Many thanks

Hi everyone. We are based near Bala North Wales Gwynedd UK. We have 6 Brecon Buff geese (only Welsh Goose) Our female was sitting on 9 eggs. Last Saturday, 10th June, we spotted 3 little yellow heads!! Sunday morning she left the nest with her babies in tow. I took the opportunity to check the nest. Found 1 dead baby but suddently heard a chirping noise coming from one of the eggs!! The temperature was over 30 degrees (90f) so thought that if this new arrival was left it would cook. Helped to break the egg, took baby inside, made a nest with hot water bottle and used a pipette to give water. Within a couple of days she was walking about the garden, eating grass and drinking water. She has also had a little swim. She is happily eating goose food. Now the problem - she follows us everywhere. The other geese are VERY protective of the other goslingd so can't get too close. Have put her down near the other babies/geese, they seem intereted but she panics, screeches very loudly and runs very fast back to my feet. Has anyone had the same problem? As she gets bigger, will she become more independent? Just to add to the mayhem, we have 3 dogs who have decided that all this chirping (which she does non stop) needs investigating. Any advice would be appreciated. Many thanks

Welcome to BYC!!

 

[DobieLover]

Hello and welcome to BYC! Glad you joined.
I have no idea how you get a goose to un-imprint on you and join their own species.

 

[sourland]

Welcome to BYC. Put her in a pen with a large mirror and leave her alone. She will be very unhappy as she has imprinted on you. If she accepts her image out of loneliness integrating her into the flock should be no problem as geese are extremely accepting of goslings.

 

[swampfox440]

Welcome to BYC! thanks for joining us.

 

[Nomadicus]

Hello and Welcome to BYC!

 

[Jenbirdee]

Hi! Welcome to BYC! I think @sourland has given you good advice., although it could be heart wrenching for you. If you can’t get a second gosling and keep the two together as your own pets. …Then yes you do have to try to get her back with her family.. get an “ unbreakable” kind of mirror if you can. They make them and sell them for children’s rooms and school classrooms. They come in squares.