Imprinted gosling?

[sianara]

Hmmm, I was just wondering if the fact that my female gosling jumps up the side of the cage when she sees me means she has imprinted on me and is trying to get to me? She peeps very loudly when I leave and then does the jumping thing when I come back or if she hears my voice in the basement. If I reach in and pick her up she is happy as can be and will let me pet her for a few minutes before she starts wiggling to be let down. I didn't intend to have them imprint on me but my face was the first they saw when they came out of the postal box so now I'm just wondering...

eta: I just got them yesterday and they are 3 days old today

 

[kellysmall87]

Sounds like she thinks you're her mommy

 

[sianara]

That's what I was wondering but my DH and DS said she does it to them too so maybe it's as simple as "she wants OUT" ?

 

[lovesgliders]

She loves you, but I'm not sure that she is truly imprinted on you (imprinting means she thinks she is human). It was explained to me that imprinting only happens within the first 24 hours.

 

[Fishwife]

You know, my case may be an aberration, but I successfully introduced two over a week old goslings to their parent geese. I incubated them, and I was the first thing they saw.

I took them for daily grass gathering walks, and swims in a little tub. They stayed close to me, "talked" to me, and responded to my "bok bok" goose imitations, and I thought they were imprinted.

Thankfully, they went with their parents yesterday, and today they are still out at the pond, doing their gosling thing.

So, honestly, I don't know when it takes, or doesn't take.. I was just overjoyed they are a family now..

 

[sianara]

I wasn't hoping she was imprinted, I was just wondering if this explained her behavior. I'm now thinking she just wants human companionship and any one of us will do

 

[Fishwife]

Oh, I'm sorry if I left that impression..I surely did not mean to.

 

[sianara]

Oh, I'm sorry if I left that impression..I surely did not mean to.

No, no I didn't mean it to sound as though you left that impression, sorry.

I would love it if they are friendly but still act like geese (I'm not looking for a lap goose) and I want them to know I am the boss.
I'm looking for guidance from those that have geese as to how I should be training them so I get the outcome I desire.

And also to figure out what she is doing means, like her jumping up the side of the cage over and over.
Also from the first day she will sometimes stretch out her neck not in submission so much but I get the feeling it's more of a "warning" to the BIG HAND that is coming into their cage