Babies....of all kinds

This afternoon we drove 1 1/2 hours to pick up two just-hatched Toulouse geese from a hatchery. On the way back home, I put my hand on the little backs and tried to act the way their mother would have acted...providing a safe and warm spot where they could huddle as they became accommodated to this strange, new world. They seemed to like my hand there, in fact they 'chirped' loudly when I moved it. So...we sat there in the moving car, enjoying these tiny little creatures we were transporting to our cardboard pen in our garage so they can join the 14 little ducks who already are growing fast there. 

When we put those new babies into the pen (after making sure they had a drink of fresh water), they rushed happily toward the ducks who were laying near each other, which caused the ducks to get up to meet the new occupants. Unfortunately, our new babies were still a bit unsteady on their feet, so after watching the 'herd' of ducks run over them a few times, David decided we needed to rig up an  area of the pen where the new guys could find their 'land' feet on their own. He put an old long screen from a casement window across one corner of the pen, and put in another watering jug and another egg carton bottom with feed in the compartments into their special corner. The little geese began chirping loudly as they saw the ducks drinking from their own watering jugs and walking around the other part of the pen. 

Geese form strong bonds with each other, and perhaps with other bird species as well. But, until they are able to run away and stay out from under the ducks (who are a couple of weeks older, and are larger), we will keep them separated. As they get bigger, I'm sure it will be the geese who will call the shots, but for awhile...they just have to watch each other through the screen....sort of a 'poultry play' being presented on both sides of the stage front!

Our dog likes these little birds, but today he was a bit envious of all the attention given to the new babies. Don't worry...he'll get his share, once we go inside the house. 

Eventually, all the ducks and the two geese will share a movable hen house in the back yard, but they have to wait until they get feathers so they can keep warm and dry out there.

Photos will come. Stay tuned!