Goose Question-I know-Off Topic

[Dazed_Lily]

Just a quick question for anyone who knows anything about geese. In addition to 'Injured Goose'(Magah), I now have 'Goose with No Tail'. They are accompanied by a goose I call 'Guardian Goose'. Anyway, 'Goose with No Tail' seems to be missing his entire tail section and some feathers off one side towards the tail. His wings appear OK, but I suspect he can't fly. He looses his balance easily; I guess that tail has alot to do with balance.
My question is: Will the tail section grow back and is it growing back now or will it happen in mid summer when they go through the yearly molt ?
Thanks !

[sue salley]

Cathy, I thought I would answer you since I know next to nothing about geese.LOL I would imagine it would depend on how he lost his tail and any underlying damage that may have occured. I would think it would grow back if his feathers just got pulled out. Let us know if he grows them back or not. Is he with injured duck? Good to know they have a guardian.

[Rebecca]

Good question!

Don't know for sure with geese (or other waterfowl) but with parakeets, if they lose their tail feathers "out of season" they will grow back before the annual moult. It takes a month to 6 weeks. It is good that a healthy, fully feather goose has stayed with it's injured commands. Amazing how they take care of each other isn't it!

BTW, how is the goose with the injured wing doing?

Rebecca

PS

I heard the most beautiful chorus one day last week and it took forever to be able to see where it was coming from. It was a large squadron of CRANES, in several smaller groups, flying over and in a SW direction. Apparently they had been blown off the normal flyway by the heavy winds and strong storms we had a few days before. We don't get to hear, let alone see cranes here very often, but you never forget the sounds they make. It was truly a beautiful sight and sound!

[Dazed_Lily]

Wow Cranes ! They are quite noisy--what a treat ! I've never seen a whole flock !

Injured Goose is still plodding along. The wing is the same as it started out. I thought some feathers were growing in--small downy ones--but I think the wing often gets stepped on or rubs the ground and the feathers cannot come in neatly. She tries to hold the wing off the ground. She often overcompensates and lifts her foot way up high which only gets her actually stepping on the wing. But most times she can strike a rhythm and limp along without getting hung up. Guardian goose is always with her. I say her. I don't know. I suspect GG is male and IG is female. But one day, along came Goose with no Tail. At first, I saw nothing wrong with him and called him just 'Goose with Thick Neck' as he had a big thick wide neck. Then I noticed the tail problem. GWNT walks along with IG and GG. Both IG and GWNT come right up to me for corn and each has its own dish. I have to use dishes so I can feed them above the ducks. Some smart ducks will poke the bottom of the dish to jostle corn out to them. GG will not eat from the dishes and instead busies himself with pinching the ducks to get them away from IG and GWNT. They will both also eat from my hand(as will some 1 or 2 smart ducks).
One day while they were here I noticed...I swear...another goose...with no foot ! I couldn't believe it ! He/she had a stump at the 'ankle'--the whole foot was gone. I am sure he was with a migrating flock as a white fronted goose was also in the vicinity and I haven't seen him since. He almost came up to me for food but hung back; I did throw corn to him though.
They say injured geese look for a trusted human; I believe that.
I also think that 'quality of life' isn't a caveat in their perception of living. They love living -period. :)

[Ann B.]

ohhhhhhh! What a sad story!

We are so fortunate to be able to get our injuries fixed as best we can afford to do and as best they can do.

But these poor geese! They are on there own...

I dunno, but I am such a softy that I would probably make a cage for the poor thing and try to protect them.

You are doing what's right by trying to make sure they get nourishment despite the competitors.

BTW, this is definitely NOT OT! Please let us know how these injured geese do.

After hurricanes, I see lots of pelicans, dead, along the bridge. They do not have the warnings that we have. It's so sad because they are such peaceful birds...

[Rebecca]

Cathy,

I don't know if the IG trusts you enough and you'd still need some help, but have you thought about taping her wing up? Doing that might help it heal better.

You'd pretty much have to wrap it with gauze first and then with a waterproof tape (I'm thinking the clothe type that's flexible). And you'd have to wrap it tight enough to stay in place but not so tight that it interfered with circulation. Maybe a friendly Vet could instruct you on the best way to do it. That wing has to come up off of the ground or even more problems could show up and she may never be able to fly again. Of course she is in a good place if she had to live out her life in one place and GG would most likely stay with her.

I'd almost bet IG and GG are a mated pair since geese do mate for life and will stay with each other no matter what NT will help protect her as long as he remains flightless, and he might even stay until his flock returns North in the Spring. You might want to consider putting something out by the pond for them to shelter in. A wooden box open on one side (face it south) and a bit of straw inside. If you could put it under some low trees or bushes, that would also help and it would give the geese a sense of security. Of course they may not use it, but it would be available if they felt they needed more protection should you get any appreciable amount of snow. this is just a thought.

I'm with Ann, this is not OT! The fauna we see in out gardens is just as important as the flora! And Geese and Ducks are definitely "fauna"!



Rebecca

[Dazed_Lily]

After a week of snow on the ground that kept the geese up pond for a few days and my working late all week, today was the first day that I could account for my 3 special geese. Hubby fed them once a few days ago.
I fed them earlier today and just now. Tonight I noticed dried blood on injured goose's wing and down her leg. I got a sprayer bottle and poured peroxide in it. I went out with her dish with corn in it and she came over. As she was preoccupied with that, I sprayed the area that had dried blood.
I don't know if she was cut by pond ice or if an obnoxious goose pecked at her. She seems OK. And I chuckle as I watch her drink water out of the hole where there is a coverless sprinkler head. Smart ! :)

[Ann B.]

Oh, my goodness! I can just see that!

You're a good Mama to those Geese.

And they know it!!!!

Do they have a place to get out of the cold?

A little bird, I dion't know what kind, found its way into the garage. When it warmed up enough, I opened the door and watched for it to see the light and fly back outside. It did, but it definitely did not like my being here.

Blue, the garage cat who found us has found the secret path into the porch/patio. I put an old comforter in the inside corner for her to have a warm place to stay for the night. There is water and food for her.

Some other cat has been sneaking into the garage and eating her food. Every day when I come home from school, she meows and lets me know that her food is gone. It's fun to watch her prance so happily to her special spot and watch while I fill her bowl. When I am done, she starts eating and knows that tomorrow, I will do it again.

Cheers!

[Dazed_Lily]

The relationship with wild or feral creatures 'in need' is a special one. As humans, we see their need for help but respect their need to be independent. In turn, we are gifted with a look, a vocalization, or simply their return that tells us we are doing good work; we are good stewards:

Psalm 50 (10-11)
10 for every animal of the forest is mine,
and the cattle on a thousand hills.

11 I know every bird in the mountains,
and the creatures of the field are mine.

Blue's story is so sweet. Not only did Blue discover a warm, safe place but a 'comforter' has appeared, in more than one sense of the word, bringing warmth, sustanance and safety. And it sounds like word has spread with the appearance of garage cat #2 !
I am also reminded of Rebecca's feral cat family and the good works done with them.

I don't think that it is a coincidence that we all also love gardening. I'm not sure who wrote the words, but they are: No one is closer to God than in a garden.

And so it goes(now that was Linda Ellerbee who said that ) :D

:)