My goose Hercules does the same things--he treats the flock like a very special family entrusted to his care. And he is SMART. One time he brought a hen up from the lake, at a run, to where we were in the backyard. She had gotten tangled in fishing line, and he knew we could help her. Then he settled her in the pen and went back to the lake to bring the rest of the flock up to be with her. Amazing.
Yesterday I took some sweet footage of him and one of the girl ducks in the kiddy pool together. They were doing a little courtship dance, and he was repeatedly dipping water out with his bill to dribble on her back, and she was flirting with him and then nuzzling his chest with her bill, and around and around the pool they went, totally engrossed with each other and totally in love. Every once in a while he'd put a foot on her back like he'd kind of like to mate with her, but he never put his weight on her--I believe he knows he's too big and heavy and would hurt her.
I really want him to have a mate his own size, but he drives off any geese we try to introduce to the flock. He had a "brother", but the brother died defending the flock from a domestic dog while Hercules guided everyone else down to the lake to safety. I'll never forget how Hercules grieved--the whole neighborhood must have heard his mourning song.
Herc is always the last to eat, always the first to notice danger. He's an incredible asset to the flock.
On a practical note, geese are louder, poopier, and eat more than ducks, so they are not for everyone. But if you have the space & can afford the feed, I highly recommend a pair raised with every batch of ducklings. They are amazing creatures.
