Birds seem to like perching on human shoulders. This photo of Woodroffe (gosling) was taken just before he scrambled up to my shoulder and pooped. Unlike the ducklings, he did this silently, so it wasn’t until I went to the local shop and bumped into a friend who said, “what’s that on your shoulder?” that I realised I had a rather large mound of greenish substance on my collar and leaking into my neck (I thought I was just sweating; well, it was a hot morning).
You do know, don’t you (no, you probably don’t, and that’s okay) that you can now purchase nappies/diapers for poultry. And, yes, when Woody was little, I contemplated nappying him with the lovely pink and white chook nappies I had bought online.
Why? That is a very good question. I suppose, initially, having read about imprinting (the details of which I will save for another post), I thought Woody might turn into the second child I never had – don’t worry, I didn’t want a second child anyway.
The nappies weren’t terribly complicated, although there did seem to be a lot of safety pins, and the instruction sheet, which consisted of a diagramatic series of steps, was a little difficult to de-code for a novice. So I gave up and decided to put Woody back outside with the rest of the gang. I think he was relieved; I know I was.
If, a few months ago, someone told me that they had a pet chook/goose/duck who lived in the house with them I would have been intrigued and, yes, amused. I would have thought this someone and his/her ‘pet’ were both extremely weird and I would probably have decided to gradually ease away from my friendship with this someone.
Now, however, I do ‘get it’, but I just don’t want to do it because, unless the chook/goose/duck wants to come into the house, I don’t see any point when they are all happy outside anyway.
Apparently, unlike dogs and cats, you cannot house-train poultry because they have no control over their sphincters. You see, I have done my research here!
Woody didn’t like that nappy idea anyway and I don’t blame him. I think he thought it was all a bit peculiar. I do hope he didn’t tell the others!
Anyway, chook nappies aside, I have now exchanged my white shirts for green ones at the local second-hand shop. I had washed them first, of course, but unfortunately the shoulder stains were still there. I’m not quite sure why, but the woman who served me didn’t want to know the details.
jmgoyder 
Cute photo. Loved the fact about sphincter control.
Well, I didn’t exactly love the fact – ha!
I can see why!
hehe!
Nappies for birds? whatever next 🙂
Lovely post, made me smile, and cheered me up, thank you.
Oh, that’s great the nappy thing made you smile – it is big business now. I’m not sure if I’m allowed to mention the business but they are doing very well!
I remember those days of poo. You are right you get the strangest looks. Good post
Hehe! thanks kibble (I actually still don’t know what kibble is!)
Oh – okay – it’s mashed grain? – great word/metaphor!
Chook nappies, now that takes the biscuit! 😮
Well, you see, I had this idea……………..
Interesting fact about the spincter control (or lack thereof I should say).
Your story reminds me of the first time I came home from the Botanic Gardens with green, slimy, wet knees. I had only bought my camera a few months previously (in 2010), and had carefully kneeled down in the grass amongst a group of about a doxen Pacific Black Ducks.
Too late, I realised that oozing wet sensation was duck poop, but I stayed kneeling until it was time to go home.
Yes, once it’s on you, you kind of get used to it!