Researching my ‘How to raise goslings’ sources I find that it is important that they begin to swim in water during their first two weeks. Apparently this stimulates them to preen which in turn activates their oil gland.
A water bird’s oil gland is situated just above its tail: it rubs its head in the oil and then smears this all over its feathers to make them waterproof. Thus avoiding waterlogging with consequent drowning and also keeping the bird warm and dry.
Now, if you are raised by your water bird mum, then the oil on her feathers will automatically be transferred to yours, so you will be safe when you go in the water.
But raised artificially, if you get wet you will also get cold and will probably get ill and die. So the first bath needs to be a shallow bath which gives support to the legs but does not let you drown. The water needs to be at room temperature and you must not be wet for too long. So ten or 15 minutes max in a warm room is advisable.
Goslings begin in the brooder at 90 degrees F: this decreases at a rate of 5 degrees each week for the first five weeks. So by week five the goslings have come down to 70 degrees F, after which they no longer need artificial heat.
But we were into week two, with goslings at about ten days old. So I filled the bath with tepid water and turned on the fan heater to make the bathroom like a Turkish bath. Then I put the goslings in.
*Many apologies for sound track: I did not know I was talking to them! Also for Riko, one of the parrots, yelling in the background: he can hear me talking to them and wants me to talk to him instead.
I was amazed at the way they began zooming around the bath like little torpedoes. No sedate swimming on top of the water, but immediately swimming underwater, necks stretched out, legs out, full force ahead. They loved it:) I suppose, in the wild, there are fewer predators in the water than above so it is safer to be fast and under the water.
Do not worry about the dark red patches on the wet goslings: it is just where their down is thin and the skin is showing through. There seem to be a lot of capillaries in these areas, where the first feathers will grow, hence their intense preening of these patches too.
Wow! That was so interesting to watch! Good job, mom, taking care of the babies. 🙂
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Glad if it worked ok. My first foray into taking and uploading videos. But the soundtrack does make me cringe!
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Now, now. I liked the soundtrack! I understand though, I hate how I sound on recordings as well. Anyway, it all sounded quite natural to me so I figure your not liking it is just another case of man, we are way too hard on ourselves most of the time!
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🙂 Thanks.
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Who knew that there was so much involved in raising goslings? And it all is just natural to the mama goose, you have to do all sorts of research……goes to show we humans may not be so much smarter than animals after all.
One seems to take the lead and the other follows. Do they have very different personalities?
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Very observant of you: I am thinking that maybe one is a gander, the other a goose. Oh dear, I foresee trouble ahead with Gandalf. Still it could have been worse, two ganders.
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That is a very neat video and I found out a lot about goslings. I looked at some of your prior posts too and enjoyed the visit.
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Thanks you for your visit and kind comments. Looking forward to getting back to your magnificent posts too!!
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Unbelievably adorable. Look at those big flippered feet too. They’ll be eating out of your hand soon enough… and for many years to come perhaps! I had no idea their lifespan could be so lengthy. How exciting for you and interesting.
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“They’ll be eating out of your hand soon enough ….” Funny that you should mention this. Watch out for the next video!
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