I have been taking the babies outside for a bit of exercise, greens, and some sun. I also want the babies and the Mommas to get used to each other.
Polly seems to be genuinely interested in the little Hueys, but the Hister Sisters aren’t so taken with them. They hiss, stretch their necks, and wiggle their neck feathers at them. When they do this their eyes seem to get this fixed stare to them and it is genuinely scary looking.
The Hueys don’t seem to mind so much so long as I am in view, but if they can’t find me then panic ensues! They stretch their necks up like periscopes and swivel their heads, all the while peeping in unison, it is a frantic sounding call.
Yesterday on our little walk the Mommas came up and stood their ground, as if to say, “This is our turf, go find your own clover to nibble. The little Hueys just hid under my skirt. Then one of them popped out and peeped at Polly, whereupon she stretched down and bonked him on the head with her bill!
Ouch!
The little Huey sprang to action and raising himself up to full stretch he flapped his little winglets and charged her! She, being caught off guard, tried to avoid his lunge and nearly fell backward onto her tail feathers!
I am sorry there are no pictures of this little battle, but it was such a shock, and it all happened so fast…
It was hysterical!
The Hueys have been here since May 1st, and that is only two weeks, but Oh how they have grown! When I got them they were shipped in a little cardboard crate like this one.
This is Polly and her siblings in the box, when they first arrived in April of 2010. They were so small!
The new baby Hueys are so inquisitive, so cute, and so B-I-G!
Can you see their white down growing up through their baby fuzz? There are the beginnings of pin feathers in there too!
Would you believe me if I told you they used to BOTH fit in their food dish?
They do grow fast in only two weeks. 😉
~*~
UPDATE: Here is a nice article that you might enjoy on geese from Hobby Farms http://www.hobbyfarms.com/livestock-and-pets/raising-geese-14963.aspx
Life on the Farmlet 
Arent baby geese the most beautiful litle things…. and so SNUGGLY! I think that’s what always floors me, they are so endearingly snuggly and so soft. And yeah, I call them Baby Huey’s also!
Currently there are 6 babies that either were born too early, too late, have limps or are too tiny etc…. which the bigger flock would attack them for. So they and their 4 ducklings, who teach them how to eat, drink and forage are totally in my way now.
Luckily I have someone who wants some geese & ducks for pets, so they will get this entire group of silly misfits…
Aww, I would have taken them in a heartbeat if I were local to you! Glad you found them a safe place to be cared for. ~ L
Oh I was going to tell you not to worry about the hister sisters…. if you are brave enough to let them do it they will all work it out between themselves. Hissing and pinching is a show of dominance from the adults, like teeth snacks are with a mom dog.
There IS a pecking order to be observed in a flock. And adults must be respected. I let the adult flock in with the 400 goslings to get the issues worked out early each year.
The adults stroll thru the masses, heads way up, giving everyone the stink eye, pinching them and nibbling and giving the bigshot-brats a bang on the back and if the babies dare to approach the adults, they will get snip snapped at. After a day or so, there is peace. And the babies dont DARE nibble my pants or make demands form the adults.
its all good 😉 just humans find it a little suspect.
But its a way to keep order in the flock and I have NEVER had an adult actually hurt a baby when introduced….. Ever.
Well the two little criminals have sure got Dorrit buffaloed! They both chase her round the lawns and she runs away squeaking and honking the whole way! It is hysterical to see a 14 pound goose running away from two fuzzy goslings! 😉 Thanks for the information on dominance, now I won’t worry about them so much. ~ L
Connie, I just saw your Gravitar! It is absolutely adorable! ~ L
whats a gravitar! Did I join something again without remembering?
Connie, your Gravatar is your picture you put up to identify yourself over the internet. For example, mine is Polly’s smile. ~ L
Definition: an abbreviation for “globally recognized avatar” ~ L
Hi,
They are gorgeous, very cute. 🙂
It sounds like they have had their first fight, now one is the boss I assume. 🙂
No, the Mommas could kick tail feathers on them, but the one is just a too bit bossy for his little flappers! He’ll learn… 😉 ~ L
Oh I do believe you, why do they like to sleep in their food dish! How adorable .. and mercy.. fisticuffs on the duck walk! birds are so mean! c
Celi, I think that Polly is going to get her comeuppance when he gets bigger! 😉
~ L
Adorable and hilarious – the Hister sisters – hahahahah!
You have made me want some more babies (geese)!
Julie, don’t we always want more babies? I read once that we are programmed to be drawn to the face of a baby. Puppies, kittens, chicks, orangutans, human babies, doesn’t matter, we love to look upon them! 😉
The science behind it can be found here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cuteness
Trouble is… they grow up! ~ L
(Unless they are that new puppy the science lab is cooking up that stays puppish! Scary.)
For some reason, I thought hueys were baby ducks. I know those are ducklings, but… maybe that cartoon warped my perceptions.
No geese around here that I know of, but the mallards are hatching like crazy. I’ve seen some teenagers already, and there’s a mama with five babies out in the marina. I wake up in the middle of the night hearing them peeping. I make myself stay in bed and tell myself that they’re FINE!!! I just hope the gars don’t get too many. Those duckies are just the right size for a snack!
Linda, yes, Baby Huey was a duck. 🙂 These little gosling boys are just so big and immature acting that it really seems to fit. It takes awhile to know their personalities. Hence, giving them a permanent name is out for the time being. ~ L
Had to look up gar. Horrid creatures! Hope those baby ducklings stay safe! ~ L
There’s a saying in Liberia, “Don’t name your baby until the measles has passed”. Consequently, there are a lot of kids running around for a few years with names like Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday…
The gar are really something. But their scales make great jewelry!
Awww…, and EW! Well, maybe I should have a look before I pass judgement on the gar jewelry? ~ L
Ask and ye shall receive. Bayou Treasures . They make great Christmas tree decorations, too. I’ve got a poinsettia made from gar scales that’s gorgeous!
I was thinking it a shame that they fish the gar for sport, use their scales for jewelry, but don’t eat them! I went looking and sure enough some people do!
Found this…
My pan at home it has been greased
For gar he is a tasty beast
I shall invite the local priest
To join me in this garish feast
Hahaha, found it HERE: http://www.basspro.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/CFPage?storeId=10151&catalogId=10001&langId=-1&mode=article&objectID=28945
They are adorable!
Love the story about the feisty little one. 🙂
April, he is going to be a force to be reckoned with. I can’t be certain, because they really do look alike, but one of them has been a bit more aggressive and forceful right out of the shipping box! We shall see…
~ L
That’s a cute scene you described. I could just see a spunky little fella doing that.
Patty, I really do wish that I had a video of that! So I’m glad that my description worked! ~ L
They are just lovely – we’re sure there will be photos soon of the interaction with their elders and betters 😉
Yes, you can count on it! ~ L
They’re adorable! 😀
Yes, I find them irresistible! My husband on the other hand does not! He only tolerates them for my sake. LOL! ~ L
a great update. I love how they follow you and hide under your skirt, so sweet!!
Yes Claire, they are adorable. But I have to be VERY careful so as not to STEP on them… YIKES! 🙂
I’ve been checking in regularly to the Cornell heron cam and have it up on the smart board throughout most of the day in my library. The kids and I have a new appreciation for the speed at which birds grow as well as some of their social dynamics. I can picture the little Huey’s temper flaring as well as Polly’s surprise.
Cindy, yes, it really was amazing how quickly he charged! I never imagined he would do it. Funny thing is, now the young’uns want to be friendly and the big girls just take off and run with them in hot pursuit! 😉
~ L
I think little birds are some of the cutest babies in the whole animal kingdom.
Agreed! ~ L
Oh, they make me remember the fun days with the orphaned mallards I raised – Happy and Lucky ducks! Aren’t they just the cutest things? I know what you mean about the camera and not having the opportunity to get photos of the hilarious stuff! It just happens too fast.
Lori, peaking of cameras and too fast action, yesterday Bob and I were having a late breakfast and I happened to look up just in time to see a deer butt leaping over the neighbors fence and into their corn patch. I went out with my camera, but it is so dry that everything is parched. Trying to sneak up for a quick shot or two was useless as the grass, leaves, and weeds were just too crunchy. 😉
~ L