2006

Shetland Geese

2006

the girls trying to untie my husband's boot at 3-1/2 weeks old

the boys at 3-1/2 weeks old

flock at 6 -1/2 weeks old - June 15, 2006

flock at 7-1/2 weeks old - June 24, 2006

2006 Shetland Geese

All Shetland Geese Sold

(more pictures below)

This spring I had to choose between ducks or geese as I only have so much space in both my night houses and my fenced yards. So I had to make the painful decision to part with my geese in favor of keeping my runners. I had hoped to have my odd-ball goose raise them as her own along with the runners she hatched this year, keeping a gander, and so finally give her a year-round companion. But she heard the first gosling squeak and knew they weren't ducks. I have given her foster ducklings to raise with her own in past years and even gave her the two surprise ducklings that Holderreads included this year with my goslings. But she refused to accept the goslings. So she and I have resigned ourselves to the fact that raising her with only ducks and chickens and humans has made her a social cripple. She is wonderfully friendly to humans and ducks, but she apparently has no idea she is a goose. Since she insists on going broody every year, she has duck companions for a number of months until they grow up and run off to do "duck stuff". They are all still yard mates, just not close grazing/napping friends. (I include this here for anyone thinking it would be neat to have a duck or goose as a house pet or just as an individual bird. That would, no doubt, create the same type of social cripple. These birds can live a very long time. You must be fair to them and consider what would happen to them if you can no longer keep them. Please allow your birds to grow up with their own kind. They need to learn to depend on other geese in case you can no longer care for them. Besides, what will they do to entertain themselves when you have to go to work or school or whatever human endeavor you may pursue?)

This is not to say that you shouldn't spend lots of time with your geese. You absolutely should. I spent as much time as I could with the new kids to be sure they accept humans as friends even though I knew from that first day that I would not be able to keep them. They are as wonderful as the trio I had last year. Perhaps more so since they didn't have the distraction of the frantic runners underfoot. Not only did they have their night house and grassy day yard, but also I took them out in our little meadow each afternoon for a little adventurous grazing. Where ever I put myself and the water bucket, they parked. When they'd grown tired and had a little nap, we raced back to their day yard like fools! Then they would wander off into their yard together. And run to greet me the next time I appeared. They ran to see me with heads outstretched and squeaking all the while - telling me what they'd been up to in my absence. Usually I brought them a handfull of dandelion or kale leaves. Perhaps that's why they adored me.

They were hatched on May 1, 2006 at Holderreads Waterfowl Farm.

These geese were just adorable. I thought the ones I had last year were friendly, but they grew up with runner ducks and so weren't quite as interested in my activities. This year's were underfoot often. I couldn't clean their night house without their assistance at some point. New things only seemed to cause them to pause for a moment before they came up for a closer look. Buckets, wheelbarrows, and even a hand held umbrella didn't seem to bother them. They seemed to believe that if a human was involved, it must be safe. They were just babies, so they weren't fearless, but I hope they will remember the trust we built. They should, my husband was been able to lead them around just like me. But it is important to remember that they live most of their lives with each other. So the fact that they are well bonded to their own kind is important, too, for their futures. My goal was not to raise cuddly house pets. I was working on raising real geese that will interact with humans in a pleasant manner. So far, I think I'm did a good job. The man that bought all my Shetlands asked if I wanted to raise more for him next year since I do such a good job taming them. George eats bread gently from his hand too!

hand feeding kale and didn't loose a finger! June 24, 2006

everybody wants kale - June 24, 2006

the hens - June 24, 2006

the gray neck hen has a pretty saddle - June 24, 2006

gray neck hen has a neat splashed pattern - June 24, 2006

white neck hen has a small saddle - June 24, 2006

one gander has a spot over his right eye - June 24, 2006

Did you notice the masking tape on the one gander's wing in the 6-1/2 weeks old picture from June 15, 2006? His wingtips started to flip outward from the weight of his developing feathers. I taped both wings for 5 days. That corrected the angle at which they fold, but not the fact that his wings droop down from the shoulder and perhaps even unfold (depending on his activity level at the time).

My main interest in Shetland geese has always been to find a companion for my duck-hatching goose who has never had a mate. So exact markings or perfect confirmation has never mattered to me. I don't know what they're really supposed to look like as I've only seen a few pictures on the internet besides my own. Holderreads' catalog doesn't even include a picture. But I am sure that wings that don't fold consistantly or properly are not something that would be wise to blindly use as breeding stock. But that wouldn't prevent making a wonderful pet out of such a bird. Or, if you have the nerve, a great goose dinner. I have culled plenty of inferior or just plain excess runner drakes, but I don't have the heart to cull a goose. I have spent too much time befriending him.

There is some doubt in my mind as to the exact cause of the wing problems. This group of geese has had plenty of room to move around and 24 hour access to Purina Duck Grower, if not to their grass yard. But they haven't had frantic runners constantly inspiring them to run around. Instead, they have spent a good deal of time just sitting. Since exercise is an important factor in good wing development, that makes me wonder if things could have been different. In addition to the lack of exercise, the grass this year has not been as good as last. That, too, may have played a part from the nutritional aspect of their growth. They have grown steadily, but slowly. So I don't believe that too much protein promoting too fast growth could be an issue - rather, perhaps the opposite. Minimal exercise may have inspired less hunger and therefore less concentrated nutrition. I've done a lot of reading and lost a lot of sleep trying to figure out what went wrong and how I might remedy it if the problem is one of management rather than of genetics. I have no definitive answers.

Incase you're wondering why I didn't keep the droopy wing gander for my odd goose, I knew she wouldn't accept him as a friend as she never has before - I have offered her many different birds of different ages. She grew up hanging out with my husband and then living with ducks and apparently has no idea she is a goose. So rather than run the risk of making yet another outcast, I felt it was better to hope someone will see the gander's value as a pet. They are such sweet birds if you take the time to talk to them.

UPDATE on the wing problems

The geese were with me until July 16, 2006. By the time they left, I had changed many of my management practices. They were mixed with my ducks for a couple weeks which meant they were frequently chased and thereby got LOTS of exercise that they weren't getting on their own. Also, I put out feed in every corner of their yards so they couldn't help but find a healthy meal. And, it finally rained and made the grass nutritious again. When they left, it was virtually impossible to tell the two ganders apart.

I spoke to Mrs. Holderread about the whole story and she seemed to agree that the drastic improvement in his condition would indicate that is was not a genetic defect afterall. And she added that she was not aware of any wing problems with their Shetlands either.