Plump and Fluffy
Denise >
No, not the bizarre names we’ve given to two new twin lambs!
Flo’s two goslings hatched yesterday have now been joined by three more. For now, though, they’ll stay warm and safe best at the nest. Here, you’ll see three by Flo’s side, another on it’s mum’s back ; and there’s a fifth out of view, tucked up amongst the down over her mum’s thigh, and covered by the strong smooth (and weather-proof) flight-feathers of mum’s wing.
A sixth expired pecking a hole in its shell – it may have died from exhaustion (too weak), or perhaps have got chilled (from not being sufficiently covered by Flo‘s down).
The other two eggs – there were eight in all – are missing entirely: Flo might well have realized they were duds, and pushed them out from the nest (to avoid bad eggs developing bacteria which might affect the others) : she would have realized that a gull or crow or other scavenger would soon swoop down and take the bad eggs away (and good luck to them!).
Goslings are born green-yellow, but soon turn a softer yellow. over the following weeks they gradually fade to a fawn, at which time the adult feathers (and colouring) grow through the down, and they become waterproof!
I’m not a lover of geese (childhood memories of being chased) but those goslings are particularly cute. I never knew they started off green-yellow.
I guess nature has it’s way of taking care of things. I’m glad most of them lived. Plump and Fluffy would have been great names for them though. 🙂
They are soooooooooo cute!. You will have to handle them lots so they are as sweet as their mom!
Good luck Flo and brood. See you soon!