What a difference from the beginning!

[flockman]

The first few weeks of Boris's life he was the same size as the pekin ducklings he was raised with. Natasha was enormous. She was bigger and in charge. Now Boris is bigger and heavier than her and there is no confusing him with the ducks.

He rules the flock now.

Boris on the right and standing tall.

His lobes are also growing large much faster as well

Natasha's are much smaller.

Is that normal for ganders lobes to grow before a goose? Or is it a toss up as to when their lobes develop?

 

[Kevin565]

Stunning geese you have there!

. I think it's a toss up when it comes to the lobes.

 

[flockman]

Thanks Kevin! They are a little rough looking as they are molting. Natasha started first so she has a lot more dark feathers than Boris. Gotta love all of the feathers flying everywhere!

 

[Kevin565]

Ah yes Geese are defiantly molting machines. I have a Turkey in a molt right now an my backyard looks like a cotton field right now

 

[CelticOaksFarm]

Try having 35+ curly Sebastopols in most, and they say it doesn't snow here in FL!

 

[Kevin565]

 

[flockman]

That is great! Christmas in July! Between the pekins and the geese it does look like snow here too. I can't imagine what a bunch of sebbies would make the pasture look like.

 

[CelticOaksFarm]

its always fun, 3 flocks of ducks, all the sebbies, now the toulouse. Just feathers everywhere.

 

[larkflying]

A swallow scared my geese with a feather - they and the ducks are in the middle of molting and there are feathers here, there, and everywhere. The swallows love playing with the feathers and are always stealing them, then releasing them to watch them fall, then pouncing on them before they hit the ground. Makes me laugh every time. Yesterday I looked out and all 20 geese were clumped together in terror. They never do that so I immediately scanned the sky for hawks and the fence line for stray dogs, but saw nothing. Finally I noticed a very ambitious swallow trying to fly off with one of the big goose pinion feathers . . . the breeze was catching it and the poor swallow was too small to drag the feather up into the air any farther. The result was a long white flashy thing hovering, and then darting sideways randomly. The geese remained in their bunch, terrified, until the swallow gave up and dropped the feather. Then the geese were all embarrassed and had to spend about 15 minutes telling each other that they KNEW it was a feather the whole time . . .

 

[Miss Lydia]

A swallow scared my geese with a feather - they and the ducks are in the middle of molting and there are feathers here, there, and everywhere. The swallows love playing with the feathers and are always stealing them, then releasing them to watch them fall, then pouncing on them before they hit the ground. Makes me laugh every time. Yesterday I looked out and all 20 geese were clumped together in terror. They never do that so I immediately scanned the sky for hawks and the fence line for stray dogs, but saw nothing. Finally I noticed a very ambitious swallow trying to fly off with one of the big goose pinion feathers . . . the breeze was catching it and the poor swallow was too small to drag the feather up into the air any farther. The result was a long white flashy thing hovering, and then darting sideways randomly. The geese remained in their bunch, terrified, until the swallow gave up and dropped the feather. Then the geese were all embarrassed and had to spend about 15 minutes telling each other that they KNEW it was a feather the whole time . . .