These pictures came up as I was scrolling through my phone and I realized I never posted them! My first ever homegrown goose egg! It was a bit odd shape as the factor was just starting…bit very cool to find .
Of course, the parents were protective and for several months after wards I had to convince them to leave the nighttime pen so I could collect eggs. Looking forward to this year’s batch soon!
Quick egg comparison between the largest and smallest eggs laid on our homestead. Top to bottom is goose, duck, chicken, and serama chicken. All edible or hatchable and all nutritious!
Physical therapy for one gosling that was having a hard time standing. Warm water, deep enough for it to paddle in!
After therapy, drying off and getting some well deserved snuggles!
Same gosling right after getting in the water bowl (oops).
This time it’s the geese! Usually it’s a goat’s head looking for snacks. Today was the geese checking things out.
WARNING: VERY GRAPHIC PICTURES AT BOTTOM!!!!!
A good sized (6 foot plus) gator managed to get into the pond without me noticing. Had I know it was there, I would not have let the geese in the yard-but they were free ranging on the property that day.
The gator snuck up on and grabbed one of my geese! Someone was outside and got me after noticing the goose flapping frantically across the pond…and then noticed the gator following it.
I ran outside and grabbed the goose out of the weeds at the pond’s edge, less than six feet away from the gator who was still coming for its dinner! Too late though…the gator had already torn large chunks of skin off my poor baby. Luckily for me, the gator stayed in the water.
After getting the rest of the flock to go into the fenced area (not an easy task while holding one of them), I took her inside to try and treat her. I sprayed her wounds with Vetericyn Wound Spray and put gauze pads dampened with the same spray over the open areas. She ended up with 2 large areas and several smaller areas down to the muscle
I then wrapped her with vet wrap to hold the gauze in place and put her in a plastic carrier with puppy pads in it (bedding would stick to the wounds). She was in the shower enclosure and I closed the door so she’d stay warm, leaving the light on for her and checking her every 20 min. I offered her a bowl of warm water with a little molasses in it, she drank about half of it during the rest of the day.
A couple hours later on one of my checks I noticed she was breathing heavily. My heart sank as I somehow knew this was the end. I picked her up and held her and comforted her the best I could, tell her what a good girl she is. She laid her head on my shoulder and calmed down…and then shortly passed away.
RIP girl…you were loved.
I hate this part of having animals.
(and no, no animal is allowed to free range any more until I figure out how to keep alligators out of a pond)
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For those who may be trying to figure out what got their animal, I’m including her injury pictures. Please do not share without permission.
I have been wanting geese for years. I had fond memories of my little goose, Goosey, who fell victim to a bobcat before he even got all his (or her) feathers. I remembered Goosey as following me around the yard and interacting with me. The little goose attitude was cute too!
I also had some not as fond memories of a Toulouse goose named Mooch. Mooch also had attitude but not quite so cute. It was many battles of will, a few goose bites, and a bunch of squawking (from me) before we reached an agreement about who could be where…as in no, we can’t both occupy the same space. We figured it out though and all was forgiven. I developed eyes in the back of my head pretty quickly though!
Last year I tried to order some Buff geese in March, only to discover that everyone was already sold out. This year, I decided that I was not going to miss out and placed my order in December for summer delivery.
After a very very long wait…they came in! They were ready to get out of the box even when I peeked in at the post office to do a quick head count. They’re so cute! I’m looking forward to raising these guys (and girls). I ordered 2 males and 4 females hoping they are accurately sexed so I can have 2 trios.
Isn’t he adorable?
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