We were given two, day-old Brown Chinese goslings about 3 weeks ago. I will admit to being against the idea, at first. I had read and heard horror stories of people being bullied, chased, and bitten by aggressive geese; nothing I wanted to try! But, I had heard similar stories about roosters, too, so with some persuasion from my husband, I was willing to give them a try.
I had NO IDEA how much I would grow to love these little ones. We don't know if they are male or female yet, so they don't have proper names, but will soon.
After carrying them around inside my shirt, to get them used to me, they imprinted on me and followed me around the house. Each day the goslings, ducklings, and I spend some time outside while I do my chores and they do their part to help with slug and insect control. Sometimes, in the evenings, I spread out a blanket and we have a nice nap in the afternoon sun. I introduced them to bathing. First, in the sink in very shallow water. Next, in a shallow plastic tote. Then, in our bath tub. Finally, (completely against the house rule I established when my husband filled the wading pool) I let them swim in the pool with us- when the kids were around to catch my bad behavior..
I have a vision in my mind of a day in the near future where we bring the goslings and ducklings with us to all go swimming together at the lake near our home on hot summer evenings. Doesn't that sound like fun???
You can catch more pictures and video of our farm antics on our blog page at http://lallybrochfarms.blogspot.com/.
Hope to visit with you soon!
Sonja Twombly
I had NO IDEA how much I would grow to love these little ones. We don't know if they are male or female yet, so they don't have proper names, but will soon.
After carrying them around inside my shirt, to get them used to me, they imprinted on me and followed me around the house. Each day the goslings, ducklings, and I spend some time outside while I do my chores and they do their part to help with slug and insect control. Sometimes, in the evenings, I spread out a blanket and we have a nice nap in the afternoon sun. I introduced them to bathing. First, in the sink in very shallow water. Next, in a shallow plastic tote. Then, in our bath tub. Finally, (completely against the house rule I established when my husband filled the wading pool) I let them swim in the pool with us- when the kids were around to catch my bad behavior..
I have a vision in my mind of a day in the near future where we bring the goslings and ducklings with us to all go swimming together at the lake near our home on hot summer evenings. Doesn't that sound like fun???
You can catch more pictures and video of our farm antics on our blog page at http://lallybrochfarms.blogspot.com/.
Hope to visit with you soon!
Sonja Twombly
