I have copy/pasted an interesting query here so if any of you poultry people have advice for Ashley, please comment here or see her comment on my ‘Imprinting’ post from way back. Thanks in advance.
Ashley M commented on Imprinting
While I was driving home 2 nights ago in the pouring rain, I found a newborn gosling in the middle of the road. When I ran and picked him up i looked around for any others or even the mother and it turned out he had been separated. I went to a local feeds store and picked up starting feed. So far, he’s been eating very well and is really happy. He has been following me around at my very heels and hates to be separated from me. So, I’ve had to sleep with every night. I’m assuming he’s imprinted on me and it’s the cutest thing. This morning i didn’t shut my bedroom door all the way and he ended up in my bathroom while i was taking a shower and i ended up putting him in with me. He loved it!!! again, he remained at my feet. I’m only 19 and a freshman in college, thankfully, living on my own in my apartment. I purchased diapers for him so I’m curious to see how that turns out. My concerns are him maturing and learning to fly. I would be so heart broken if he flew away south in the winter and never returned. If you could let me know what else i can do to raise him and what to expect when he matures. Thanks, Ashley!
jmgoyder 
This is what I said to Ashley:
This is a real dilemma for you because it sounds like he is definitely imprinted on you however he would probably be better with other goslings even though this would be hard for you. He will indeed get big and want to fly and to mate etc. I am hoping others may have advice ….
Good advice. This is a wild animal that she’s talking about. It belongs in the wild.
Yes – I hope she can find it somewhere with other goslings and I hope she sees your advice – thanks Randy!
For Ashley ~ Ashley, you obviously have a good heart and it is evident in the care you showed this gosling. Kudos to you for trying to help. Now, you have to find the strength to do the best for it by finding a way to introduce it to its natural environment. I have to agree with Julie and Randy on this. You mentioned you are in college. Perhaps you can speak with someone in the Science department to ask what is the best way to release it back into the wild if you haven’t found another resource. If not, perhaps your state or local wildlife refuge folks. Think of all the wonderful things it will be able to do with its freedom and natural abilities. Take pictures and make yourself a little album to remember it by and that way you can smile and know you did right by it. 🙂
Thanks for this! I will try to email Ashley so let her know there is some advice here.
I would find a pond or park where there are others, bring him there and observe. Maybe take regular trips until you saw that he could be o.k.. Then see if he will join in with the other goslings eventually. Sort of gradually wean him into his own kind, of course making sure that he wasn’t going to be left behind.
Thanks Tammy – hope Ashley sees this – it’s gonna be hard for her to let the little fellow go!
You may keep the gosling until is a juvenile and then it has to be let go to continue the natural process. Unless you have a place like a farm with a pond. The goose will eventually leave.
Thank you! I will try to contact Ashley (I only know her via her comment on my blog!)
Ask Ashley if there is a Wildlife Conservatory near where she lives. If there is, and they have bird care there, she should take the gosling there. We have “Tri-State Bird Rescue Center” here. I would DEFINITELY get someone like that to help her. This is one gosling. Introducing it to a wild flock (on her own) might be a risk. Would the mother accept this gosling now? It will smell of human.
I’d take it to a Wildlife Conservatory, and have people trained in this type of service take care of the gosling.
Good on her, for caring!
Hoping Ashley will see this – thank you soooo much!
This is the best advice now that she has taken the bird home. She should find an avian center where they are equipped to raise it and maybe even place it with a foster parent bird.
Thanks Randy and I hope she sees this! J
What a beautiful problem to have.
Tell Ashley not to use diapers on the gosling. Geese are very messy and a diaper will make it worse. Keep the gosling confined… I went to the dollar store and bought all of their CHEAP towels to put down in the goslings pen. I found that I had to change them about 4 times a day, but that in the long run it was cheaper than buying newspapers.
When my goose Polly lost all her goslings I had no trouble at all getting her to accept new babies. If she is worried she can put the gosling out with the others and watch closely to see how they react to it. I don’t think that smell is an issue with geese. Most birds, with the exception of vultures, have a very weak sense of smell.
The other, and IMHO, best option is to find an animal rescue facility nearby. They will know exactly what to do. 😉
BTW, How does she know its sex? ~ Lynda
PS: VERY IMPORTANT!!! Make sure the feed is NON medicated! Geese don’t handle medicated feed well at all.
Thanks Lynda – I have tried to email Ashley but her email bounces back so I just hope she sees this wonderful advice!!! Julie
we raised a baby crow and as much as she became part of the family she knew when it was time to fly away with a little boy crow who came courting. Whatever Ashley does the little one will end up back with his own. Tough love for sure r
I hope she reads this because I her email keeps bouncing back – she sounds like such a lovely person. Thank you!
oh no… I am getting your comments thru Word press at least. I have to check my email to see what the deal is. Love Technology but hate it at the same time. r
I know what you mean!!!
Julie, I think Ashley is very lucky. And I disagree with most of the comments here – the gosling sees Ashley as his parent and won’t leave. They are loyal to the end and this will be a lifelong relationship, if that’s what Ashley wants. If she chooses to take the gosling to a wild environment the gosling will pine and miss her. It will get by and bond with other birds but will always see itself as a jilted human. And when they meet again the gosling will remember their bond. Once a gosling is yours; it’s yours forever.
Donna! I hope Ashley sees this too – only trouble is she lives in a flat. When are you coming over?