Young goose behavior questions

[spiritbrook]

A week ago I got a hatchling goose (4/30/16). I've not raised geese from babies so I wanted to ask about some behaviors I have observed.

When I got home I set her on the floor and quietly moved to where I needed to go. Instead of running away she was instantly under my feet (unfortunately more than once I have played "goose hockey" as she is pushed sliding across the floor like a downy hockey puck) As she returned from being pushed away she had her head low in the posture I see when geese are guarding something or trying to threaten. She'll sometimes even do this if I see her and make eye contact. Then she asks to be picked up. She follows me everywhere full speed, in spite of the occasional round of "goose hockey".

She clacks her bill. She will be laying on her shelf next to the computer I am typing on, or cleaning herself, and the clack-clack-clacks her bill. I've not understood why.

She squeaks constantly, talk talk talk. Lord help me if she quacks constantly too as she gets older. The only time she isn't is when she is asleep. They have different tones. There is the hungry noise, the "don't leave me here" noise, the content kinda dozy noise, the "I don't know where you went" (or "I don't know where I am") noise. But no matter what is going on, she is talking about it.

At one week old, now she doesn't want her head rubbed. She likes her chest rubbed, her tummy rubbed, her back patted, but no more the head. Maybe it is because of my stumbling attempts to build a goose diaper, but I really wasn't rough with her.

She doesn't care for water much to play in, my young ducks wipe out the pen playing in the water and drowning their food. She is very dainty, eating some food then walking the few steps away to get a drink. None of this getting a mouthful of food and carrying it to the water to drown it then dribbling the whole mess on the bedding. I definitely like geese better than ducks in this way.

I've not had any poultry that seems to ask to be in my lap and promptly falls asleep. Now, if I could get her to quit sucking on the dogs hair (Belgian Tervuren, they have lots of long hair) before one looses patience and damages her.

 

[kimmee12]

She's lonely, another goose friend would occupy some of her time. Geese are extremely social, they talk to each other constantly. They like to bite everything! She will not stop pulling at your dogs hair unless you keep her away from the dog. I have 2 day old goslings and they started grooming each other the moment they made contact, still in the incubator. The best thing you can do for her is get her a friend!

 

[spiritbrook]

She's a house goose, I don't thing hubby would go for two - unless it was a Sebastopol. I carry her everywhere unless it is safe for her to follow along. She is good at following and when she thinks she knows where we are going she runs ahead. I wanted to know if the behaviors were normal and if I needed to remedy them. We are going to mom's this weekend, if I can get these diapers to work better. I didn't have time to order any so I am creating them. She is a reluctant model. Each one has design elements I like.

 

[kimmee12]

The behaviors are normal, I raise Sebastopols and they are sweeties! I have never kept one inside, but I would defiantly fix her a pen outside where she can get some grass! Geese love grass, and need it to be healthy.

 

[spiritbrook]

Its amazing what a one arm bear can do for a relationship. We repurposed a bear that used to be for puppies (thus missing his left arm) and it works like a charm. She leans against him, snuggles him, grooms him, and grumps if she is interrupted from her nap with him before she is ready. So nice to sleep all night. She peeps if she thinks I am up, but sleeps happily cuddled up to the bear. Ol' Lefty has done good. Now, will she peep as long as the ducks do?

 

[kimmee12]

Good move! Glad the bear worked out for your baby! He/She will be "fussy" until it's an adult and maybe even after. I have one gander who imprinted on me and he "fusses" at me all the time. It's pretty funny really, he doesn't do it with anyone else. He just thinks I'm his mother, and his girlfriends are all sitting on eggs so he is bored.

 

[spiritbrook]

She is a lot of fun. Every person she sees she runs up to, my mom carried her around to show off to the neighbors. She is just that way, a friendly goose. Everyone says, "Gooses are mean" then she is friendly to them.

My dog stole Lefty the bear. She was one of the puppies 12 years ago who had Lefty as a pal. So I put another bear in with her. She fussed and fussed. I was able to get Lefty back and put him in there and left the other bear. Last I looked she was cuddling with Lefty and ignoring the other. So it isn't just any bear she wants.