Not your everyday goose

From my office window. Love seeing my babies, both young and older. Hawks have been busy so I cant let the littles completely out on their own....soon, very soon. Yes i know I have a lgd. It my trust issues. Hoping all these extra steps allow flock incorporation to go smoothly.

Hatching season is over. Incubators cleaned and put away.

Welcome to our flock officially to these goslings. Also Welcome to Phoebe from CB Sebastopols who arrive recently and is settling in nicely. All the boys are wooing her, even Dorian!

Odette from Red Coop Farms and Ruby is the daughter of Dorian and Flora.
The boy is also from Red Coop Farms and will be Phoebe's future mate.

Incorporating your goslings into an adult flock takes a little time and effort. Because we have a high predator load including a family of harris hawks, my goslings generally dont go outside until they are at least chicken sized. With the help of lots of baby play panels and an exceptional LGD, this batch of babies can go out and enjoy the direct sunshine, take bathes, eat grass, and hang with the adults. The first few times we tried this the adults were very excited and screamed, scaring the babies and the babies required extra tlc from me. Now they come and go out of the sunroom living their best goosey lives.

Eventually they will move out to the pen for nighttime, but for now, im enjoying every moment I can with them, including seeing them explore independence.

Two months of hatching, endless hours cleaning and watching them grow. Finding homes was challenging this year. I still have 4 whites that need homes, but every moment with them fills me with peace and pride. I'm so lucky to have them in my life.

This weekend was very special. We had 2 Mac and 2 Sebaron babies hatch. We only had 3 fertilized eggs each from these boys pens so I had to do the best I could with smaller eggs than I prefer. It was a lot of watching and hand holding and I did have to assist slightly with 2 of the 4 eggs, but they are just precious. Im keeping these 2 and the other 2 have homes anxiously awaiting transport next week.

Saturday vibes, hanging with the geese. Of all sizes.

Young or old, they all love treattime. I start my goslings on treat at 2 days old. The first few times I cut it small for them then i provide whole leafs so the learn to tear and eat.

This routine is one if my favorite times. Pure joy for us all

Goslings grow so fast.