So if anyone is actually reading this, you might be wondering what’s with the “Geese” in the title…. so here’s the story.
Back in the day when we were living in the Wairarapa, Kevin had this thing about wanting to have geese. He came home from an A&P Society auction with 2 geese at a bargain price a year or so back, but we had no water in our garden (other than in the paddling pool he bought from the Warehouse) and they seemed intent on ripping up our lawn, which the chickens then also got excited about and made a terrible mess. So all that, along with the fact that they honked their little hearts out every time we stepped in the garden, meant we found a new home for them on an organic farm in Greytown, where they would be much happier.
When we decided to move to the Bay, Kevin’s property criteria was at least 2 acres of land, and some water. And here we are with 15 acres and a couple of ponds. Someone on Facebook told him about the Wellington Bird Rehabilitation Trust in Johnsonville, and it turned out they had 18 geese that they wanted to re-home.
We settled on the property on a Thursday and by the next week, Kevin had been to J-ville and returned to the bay with 10 geese in a cage. We were told they were in pretty bad condition, and probably couldn’t fly, and that they were 2 boys and 8 girls.
On Day 2 however, Kevin reported that the geese made the Red Arrows look like amateurs…. 6 of them took flight, and although he got one of them back, the other 5 were in a paddock some way away.
Day 3 and the 5 runaways returned. Then 2 got spooked and flew away again, though one returned quickly. And the last runaway returned the following day. Very stressful time for Kevin – and counting, counting, counting geese all the time!
After that initial carry-on though, they’ve stayed put, and have been mating!
We had 3 nests of goose eggs…
Nest 1 had 6 eggs – mother is Buddy. Two disappeared (presumably taken by predators), 2 hatched into cute fluffy goslings, and the other 2 eggs were not viable. The babies were born on 3rd October – one is slightly darker and slightly smaller than the other – “he” is known as Ryan, and the other is Gosling (get it?). At this stage, we’re not sure if they are boys or girls.
Nest 2 – mother is Mary – had 8 eggs to start with, I think. Ended up with 4, but all unviable (you don’t want to know the details….)
Nest 3 has 6 eggs. The mother here is Anastasia, and as at yesterday, Kevin could hear chirping, so we know there are some live chicks in there – so exciting!
Initially, all the geese were fenced into their own paddock, where they mostly stayed, apart from occasional forays into the neighbouring paddock when they’re hungry, but Kevin has decided to allow them a little more freedom now, so they can come up the “posh” lawn to the house. They’ve walked all around the outside of the house, so far, but not onto the Real Posh Lawn (such as it is) which is right in front of the house – this is a good thing.
We’re currently having discussions about whether he is “allowed” to take one of the new goslings to hand rear, and to “imprint” on him (so it thinks he is its mother…..). Lots of issues with this, but we’ll see if he can even get close enough to make that an option!
Fun times….
