New gosling parent

[MsB420]

I bought a goose and am getting used to being a new parent to a non traditional pet.
We have had him about 4 weeks. Bought him around 5 days i believe.

He is the only one. Which im starting to realize he needs a buddy.
We have plenty of time to hang out now, but as I've read there is A LOT of poop. And i have only dabbled on the thought of goose diapers.
He is only going to get bigger and although he is establishing his place in our 3dog, 3 cat, 3 kid, 2 turtle home, i know he needs to be able to do his thing outside.

I guess im searching for anything. Advice. Recommendations. Shared stories. Anything helps thanks

 

[Leader Bee]

I have two boys that I got at a similar age to yours - one thing I would say is try get them in diapers as soon as possible if you Intend to use them permanently, they're far less likely to kick up a fuss about you putting them on in the future if you get them used to it now -.

if he is going to be a pet... socialise him!! I take mine to the park as much as I can, it gets them used to crowds, unusual noises, and it's stimulation for them...most importantly people will want to come and ask questions and pet him and there more of that that happens while he is young means he will be far less likely to be agressive around strangers when he is older!

Try your best to teach him to come to his name, he will have imprinted on you and stick to you like glue but I have had the odd occasion where my boys have gotten confused who they were following and needed to be reminded (I guess everyone just looks like legs from a Goslings height)

Cover yourself in a towel or something you don't mind getting messy if you want a cuddle

@Goosebaby gave me some really useful tips on understanding goose body language in another recent thread - how to speak goose? - maybe check that out as well.

 

[Goosebaby]

If you’re planning on making him an outdoor area get him a goose friend before that so he isn’t by himself screaming because he’s alone. Geese are never naturally alone and it is traumatizing to them.

@Leader Bee is right about everything, get them used to diapers if you want to, get them socialized and used to going places if that’s your thing.

Also introduce new veggie and fruit treats whenever you can. Geese can be really picky eaters and it can get worse as they get older. They’re all individuals and some geese like things other geese hate so it’s fun seeing who likes what. Sometimes it can take them awhile to want to try something new.
Some of the things geese will eat “not all because some don’t like some things” are peas, corn, melon, watermelon, carrots, cucumber, pumpkin, pumpkin leaves, lettuce, arugula, romaine, broccoli, Swiss chard, tomatoes (not the plant!”) peaches, cherries, plums, pears, apples, oranges, blueberries, blackberries, and raspberries.

 

[Leader Bee]

All the expensive fruits....

 

[Goosebaby]

T

All the expensive fruits....

They have good taste.

Oh they like grapes too.

 

[Leader Bee]

Mine hated romaine when I tried them on it, just ignored it in their brooder completely whereas cucumber would be gone in minutes

 

[Leader Bee]

Sorry @Goosebaby but I just had a thought; When you say corn do you mean straight from the cob or is sweetcorn ok? I would have thought it would be really bad for them from the can. I'm also a bit surprised about Oranges, I cant quite remember what I saw said about it but citrus fruit isn't good for them either???

 

[Goosebaby]

Sorry @Goosebaby but I just had a thought; When you say corn do you mean straight from the cob or is sweetcorn ok? I would have thought it would be really bad for them from the can. I'm also a bit surprised about Oranges, I cant quite remember what I saw said about it but citrus fruit isn't good for them either???

Strait from the cob or dried as a treat.

Citrus can increase the body’s ability to absorb iron, as can grapes, too much iron can be bad for the liver. Citrus like spinach “spinach can block calcium absorption” if that’s the only thing being eaten it would be really unhealthy, but most creatures “if allowed, eat a varied diet and have very little risk of negative health issues and the health benefits are pretty high. The high vitamin c content helps boost the immune system and can calm the liver, I think it’s been one of the things that helped my gander through the worst of his liver issues.
In moderation like most foods citrus and spinach are fine, but to much of a good thing is bad, like many vitamin supplements.

 

[Goosebaby]

Mine hated romaine when I tried them on it, just ignored it in their brooder completely whereas cucumber would be gone in minutes

Mine go crazy for apples, except Thor, he HATED them. Apricot and Delphi are the only too that will eat broccoli. Big babies.

 

[Leader Bee]

I think brocolli is a little tougher for them to eat when they are small so I had to make sure it was chopped up nice and small - if i just gave them a whole floret of brocolli they'd give it a go but soon give up.