I have a pair of Chinese Geese. A Goose named Lucy, and a Gander named Jake.
Lucy used to belong to a very good friend, and when they left for a week to go visit family, a fox came in and slaughtered 3 of their 4 geese and all 5 ducks they had... Lucy escaped with her life, due to sitting silently on her eggs underneath a shed. Her Gander though, was not that lucky. So Lucy was left alone, and once her goslings hatched (4 of them) she came to my house, to prevent her getting eaten by the fox... She was raising the babies alone, but I really wanted to get her a new 'mate'. So when I came across someone who had a White Chinese Gander that needed a home, I jumped on the chance. He came home a few days ago, and it was Love at first sight.
Lucy and him are inseparable now, and he took over the role of daddy right away. It's like he's always been here!
I was surprised. I thought Lucy would strike out at him, because she had little ones, that aren't even half way grown! But when I brought Jake in, they immediately headed for each other, said hello, kind of 'wrapped their necks around each other' and that was it. They walked away together, with the goslings on their heels. I was completely shocked! I did NOT expect them to do that at ALL!
Now they are always together. For the first time since Lucy has been here, she is relaxed, eating and grazing more frequently, while Jake stands 'guard' with his neck up. Before he came, she was always on the 'lookout'. She never relaxed, was very noisy, and seemed stressed out constantly. I don't think she ever slept, but now she is dozing a LOT.
Lucy has the typical 'brown/grey' coloring with a black bill and basal knob, and Jake is a solid white with a 'pinkish' basal knob.
What should I expect their goslings to look like next spring?
Someone told me that they can be sexed at hatch, but as far as I was told, only Pilgrims can be sexed at hatching...
And input would be greatly appreciated!
Thank you in advance!
Lucy used to belong to a very good friend, and when they left for a week to go visit family, a fox came in and slaughtered 3 of their 4 geese and all 5 ducks they had... Lucy escaped with her life, due to sitting silently on her eggs underneath a shed. Her Gander though, was not that lucky. So Lucy was left alone, and once her goslings hatched (4 of them) she came to my house, to prevent her getting eaten by the fox... She was raising the babies alone, but I really wanted to get her a new 'mate'. So when I came across someone who had a White Chinese Gander that needed a home, I jumped on the chance. He came home a few days ago, and it was Love at first sight.
Lucy and him are inseparable now, and he took over the role of daddy right away. It's like he's always been here! I was surprised. I thought Lucy would strike out at him, because she had little ones, that aren't even half way grown! But when I brought Jake in, they immediately headed for each other, said hello, kind of 'wrapped their necks around each other' and that was it. They walked away together, with the goslings on their heels. I was completely shocked! I did NOT expect them to do that at ALL!
Now they are always together. For the first time since Lucy has been here, she is relaxed, eating and grazing more frequently, while Jake stands 'guard' with his neck up. Before he came, she was always on the 'lookout'. She never relaxed, was very noisy, and seemed stressed out constantly. I don't think she ever slept, but now she is dozing a LOT.
Lucy has the typical 'brown/grey' coloring with a black bill and basal knob, and Jake is a solid white with a 'pinkish' basal knob.
What should I expect their goslings to look like next spring?
Someone told me that they can be sexed at hatch, but as far as I was told, only Pilgrims can be sexed at hatching...
And input would be greatly appreciated!
Thank you in advance!
