My Africans (A close call! 1/05)

[Soccer Mom]

Thought it was time for an update. The wet weather went away (for a couple of days) and we got summer's last hurrah. The geese made the most of it:

I swear that water was clean ten minutes before the pic.

Just a week before this picture, this area was a swamp.

Now of course it's once again a swamp. More rain. The geese are the only ones happy.

Everyone is getting huge. JR still thinks I belong to him alone. But hey, who wouldn't want a boyfriend this handsome and protective?

Bratty Girl still has boundary issues. I'm lucky that I haven't had any aggression issues yet--that is with anyone except HER! She is such a toot and has to pick at everything: shoes, pants, cameras

Last week I was sitting on a log watching everyone play when she wandered closer and closer. She kept trying to inch around behind me. Not being born yesterday, I made her stay in front. She became so obnoxious with the grabbing and such that I finally held her down. Of course she screamed bloody murder and her mate, Schnitzel came running to her defense. He didn't really do much but hollered and shook his head.

This made everyone gather around exclaiming about the "situation." JR didn't approve of Schnitzel's language and rushed in to have words with him (My big protector). Apparently the donkeys all didn't like the arguing and suddenly all the geese sqwaked and ran. The three donkeys surrounded me like bodyguards. It was rather sweet.

Protecting his girl made Schnitzel tired.

Anyone else have a goose who thinks she's a flamingo? This is Panini:

Apparently Panini likes to sleep like one. She's my pretty, but empty headed girl. Sweet but not too brainy and a total follower. Whatever the others think they should do is fine with her.

The opposite would have to be Gazpacho. He's always on guard duty. Always. He doesn't socialize as much because he's too busy watching.

Here he is keeping a careful eye on Blackjack.

He's not really interested in scrapping with the others--cause that would take away from his guard duty time. What a boy!

 

[Wifezilla]

 

[rainplace]

I love your updates!

 

[AilsVonHelson]

Your thread is SO much fun to follow. Keep us posted!

 

[shelleyd2008]

Quote:
I agree, I just love this thread! You'll have to get more babies next spring so we have some new ones to watch grow up

I have a young embden who is my protector. It is very sweet! I have a lakenvelder rooster that likes to think he can take me on from time to time, and the goose is the go-between for us. Just today I was walking through the yard, and the rooster came running (most likely looking for food, he's not a constant booger). The goose was kind if in-between myself and the roo, but not close enough to me for comfort. So baby goosie

came running with his wings spread as far as they'd go, and followed me like that for a while. Then once the rooster was beside me, the goose made sure to stay between us. He is so sweet

I think the goose secretly likes the rooster, he is always following him around. Either that, or he likes the roo's tail feathers, cause that's where he always seems to bite that poor roo at!

But my embden has never integrated with my other goose, who is only about a month or two older. The embden (baby goosie) always chases weepweep away. Will they ever get along?

 

[neferset]

Thank you. I hadn't been in here before and it's beginning to look like maybe I should. I have three goose eggs that I was kindly given. I wasn't expecting anything much and two of them do candle clear. One seems to be healthy and is moving around. If it hatches, it should be around the 23rd (28 days). How long did yours take to hatch?

My little one will be an African Brown Goose as well. It was lovely seeing your pictures and learning what I have to possibly look forward to. I am slightly sad that there will only be one, though. But I am also hatching ducks due around the same day so hopefully things will be ok until we can find him/her friends.

 

[Puddle Foot Farm]

Soccer Mom - It's so good to be back, even though it'll be short.. And, I actually have been loosely following your thread; mostly when I needed a quick goose fix and didn't have time to reply. But let me say, they are giant and GORGEOUS! I love how you know all of them and their personalities.. Eventually I'll learn that with my babies. Hopefully.

 

[SunnyChic]

Any new pics? Huh? Huh?

 

[RooptyDoo]

I've completely enjoyed your thread. I have 3 African's. I went to a poultry sale in the spring and looked into a cardboard box marked geese on the tailgate of an older gentleman's truck. I fell in love with them instantly. I asked the gentleman what kind of geese they were and he said, " Aww just gray geese". There were about 20 babies in the box all standing with their necks stretched out talking to the head looking into the top of their box. I was completely smitten by them. I didn't buy any right then but returned to my own truck where my daughter and I were selling silkies. I sent her over to look at them and she had the same reaction that I had. I didn't know a thing about keeping geese and we are on a learn as you go status. They are about 6 months old now and are a real pleasure to watch and they really seem to enjoy our company. They frequently peek in my front windows which are about a foot off the ground and admire my "coop". When I call them they come running. They free range all day with the ducks and go into the coop with our laying hens at night. We figured out they were African's by looking up the different varieties of geese on the internet.

Nothing gets by them. They notice any hawks that are flying around, strange dogs, cats, nothing gets by them. My aunt visited the other day and they stood at the steps of the porch with their necks stretched out honking at her like crazy. I told her they were going to frisk her for bread! They love bread and I do give them some. I can't find any kind of healthy treat they will eat. Mostly they hang with the ducks roaming the yard, grazing on grass while the ducks are on the lookout for frogs and bugs.

I always thought that we needed a pond to have ducks and geese but they do just fine in kiddy pools. I'm not sure what the winter will bring but I am going to get them a heated horse bucket so they can at least submerge their heads and piddle in the water. Maybe on milder days they can enjoy the pool. As I said we are on the learn as you go basis. I highly recommend getting geese to enjoy. They most certainly do have a keen intellegence and each one has its own personality ranging from bold to extremely timid.

One of mine that I am assuming is a male, is quite bold and approachs me without any qualms, eats out of my hand, the other two are a little more standoffish. One will not eat out of my hand at all nor will she get very close to me. The other is fairly bold and will eat from my hand but backs off if I try to pet it. It is also developing a fairly large knob already while the other two are not.

In short, if anyone is considering geese, I think you will not be disappointed. They are comical, smart birds and a joy to watch and interact with.

 

[Germaine_11.20]

I am going to hijack a little here folks because I really need advice. I posted in the emergencies section.

I think my lady goose may be egg bound. Does anyone have experience with this or a broody goose. I just can't tell why she is acting the way she is and I am worried.

And soccer mom, this really is a fantastic post. One that will be around a long time.