Imprinting

[Aimeeg1986]

Hi, I’m doing some research into geese behaviour and was wondering if anyone on here wouldn’t mind answering a few questions? This is a paper on bird to human bonds and if it’s possible for a goose to be without other birds around and still thrive.

how long do geese stay imprinted on a human from hatching?

how dependant will a goose be on a human that it’s imprinted on?

if a goose thinks it is a human does it lose all of its natural instincts?

can they be left alone for any period of time?

thank you in advance for any replies

 

[Waterfowllady]

Hey! I'm still kind of new to geese, and I've had my African grey pair for 2 years now. I also have an accidental Canada goose whos friendlier than them

1. Geese are the most imprinted of the birds I've raised, but they stay in the true baby imprinted for maybe less than 1 months? 2? Its less or more depending on how big the breed is and their growth rate. It depends on the breed IMO. Once they turn into juvies usually they aren't imprinted at all, but not aggressive, and then they come around and are friendly again once they are adults and get friendlier as they age in my experience.

2.As babies, they are fully dependent on their human who they imprinted on. Once they get their feathers in they are rather independent though, but the friendly breeds come around after they are past being teenagers.

3. From what I know, Imprinted geese no longer have the ability to be wild again or have natural instincts, I mean they'll forage and run away or attack (depends on the breed) dogs, cats, or other things that come too close but they don't truly have those wild instincts anymore. They CANNOT be released after imprinted though

4. As babies babies, not really? 'any period of time' I mean yes, but they cry and cry when left alone especially if they are alone with no other birds. I take my singularly raised babies with me almost everywhere I go in a purse with towels inside of it or a small container with shavings. They can be left alone for a few hours, but they wont be happy about it, once they start to grow up though they'll be more independent.

So, this is very controversial but in my honest opinion, geese and ducks can still thrive if alone BUT only if you have lots of time to spend with them and possibly even get them a diaper so they can come inside. Otherwise, I'd just get them a friend, even if its not the same breed as them (just make sure they are compatible)

Please dont take my answers TOO seriously because I don't know the exacts and have only raised 2 breeds of them and 3 geese, I'm much more experienced with ducks.

 

[Goosebaby]

Goslings upon first hatching will assume whatever is taking care of them is the mother/father, however imprinting isn’t instantaneous or lasting, it’s more of a process. Whoever they’re around the most is a parent, it isn’t always and doesn’t need to be the first being they see, and if another individual begins spending more time with them than first individual who was caring for them that person can become the primary parent.
As long as the human is continuously involved in the goose’s life the bond formed between them will last a lifetime, but if the human doesn’t spend sufficient time with the goose daily once it has matured (over 1 year old) the goose may not regard them as a family member, it may see the person neutrally or it may begin to regard them as a nuisance or rival and instead form a bond with whatever other geese, ducks, chickens, even dogs or other people that are around.

Domestic geese are fully dependent on humans for survival wether they like humans or not. The majority of domesticated geese have completly or partially lost the ability to fly, their wings and flight muscles aren’t as able to cope with their larger size and weight as compared to their wild counterparts. If a goose has access to large pastureland with plentiful grass and forage for grazing they don’t require much feed during the growing season, come winter or all year if they don’t have access to enough grazing they need a waterfowl or all flock feed, many of us also suplement with various fruits and vegetables.
Domestic geese can’t defend themselves from even small predators like foxes or raccoons, a goose’s primary defense is to fly away from danger, which domestic geese mostly can’t do, so all they can relay on is bluff, making them think they’re tougher than they are, which is the main reason domestic geese can’t survive long on their own without humans.
Geese are also highly social birds, they can’t be alone without psychological damage because naturally they’re never alone, they always have a flock not just to interact with but also for protection, they need a friend. It doesn’t necessarily need to be another goose, though some things make better friends than others, humans can be great at bonding with geese because we’re more intelligent and can learn what the goose’s needs are and also as long as the human is willing to put in enough time, which isn’t always the case as many people have jobs or school to go to, so the best choice of friend that can interact with a goose like a goose and be around them 100% of the time is another goose.

If a goose is raised by a human it’s still a goose, some can be more bonded with a human, duck, or chicken than other geese, but they still act like a goose, wether they think they’re actually a human or whatever is impossible to say, but their instincts and behavior doesn't change.

Geese should not be left alone for any period of time, some do but honestly it isn’t fair to the goose, they need a friend. In the wild a goose by itself is at it’s most vulnerable without others to keep a look out for danger and protect each other as a mob. A goose while it’s alone gets extremely anxious, it isn’t good for them.

 

[Goosebaby]

I want to add that geese even if there bonded with another goose it can still be bonded with a human, whoever they spend a lot of time with are family.

Also geese can be kept in pairs, it doesn’t necessarily have to be male and female, it can be female + female, or male + male.

Ganders are also very parental, many will adopt babies that aren’t theirs, or even of the same species, I even have two that try to sit on eggs, they don’t get that they have to stay there most of the day for 27+ days, but they’ve got the general idea.