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Geese tend to imprint on anything larger than themselves when hatched, that is what you want to avoid. BTW even imprinted females can be a bother since they will follow you around thinking you are their mother. Let your pair bond to each other, rather to you. I think it helps if you talk to them quietly and move slowly around them. This builds their trust which helps when they get older. My goslings always fled from me at first (probably thought I was going to harm them, this is instinct anything other than mother is likely to harm you) my goal was always to try to have them continue what They were doing when I approached, be it feeding drinking or sleeping, not trying to get away from me or rushing to me like I was their long lost mother, just that big old dummy that brings food and water. This helps when you turn them out of the brooder, You aren't chasing goslings nor have to check before you moved your feet to see if a gosling is there. As they get older and bolder they will start to check out your shoes and stuff (and start to learn that you may have goodies for them). At this point I like to wear old clothes and sit or lay on the ground so we get to know each other. Usually they will crawl in your lap, stand on your chest or back, and check out your hair. They WILL poop on you, they poop everywhere! watch your eyes that is the one place they can really hurt you and they are attracted to them because of the color and movement. (I wear glasses everywhere and they tend to peck at them) Like kids they tend to become a bit stand off ish as they mature and by nesting time they will want you to stay away from their nest. I consider this protective not agressive behavior. THIS DOES NOT MEAN THAT THEY WON'T BE AGRESSIVE TO PEOPLE THEY DON'T kNOW! ~gd
