Good that you seperated her. She'll get down to business when she feels she has enough eggs. OUrs is literally GLUED to the nest. She hisses anytime I come near her, even to let her out twice a day. Five mins and she's back on that nest! Same with our Muscovy - who's sitting on one, count em ONE egg. Whatever. If our broodies feel that any of the others are getting too close while they're taking baths or going for their morning stroll, they'll return immediatly. Barely eat. Just sit. YOu watch! You'll know. Another clue we get here is that our gals will build a real Fort Knox-of-a-nest (not the usual, "make do" nests slung together just to pocket the eggs. The construction on this one will be really different and lined with down and feathers. Your momma will have to sit for about 30-31 days - during which you'll get real concerned about her well being. If she looks like she's really pouring time on that nest, note it on the calendar. Might be helpful, but there's not much you need to do but keep her safe and provide food and fresh water. She'll do the rest. As for the gosling part (if/when they arrive)-then you'll REALLY be in for a show! Geese are a community and really exemplify the expression - "it takes a village..." The adults all kick in to do their part. As we observed, wherever our flock moved to, the little ones were flanked on each corner by an adult, and at night when the owls came a hoping - there was a mad scramble to get the goslings and two unties in the cratem, and one auntie in the doorway guarding while the Gander paroled the yard squawing. Most amazing thing - we had two goslings last year that were rejected by the females - they were very late hatches. WE brooded them inside for weeks and eventually took them to the rest of the flock in hopes they'd assimilate. Nothing doing. More rejection on part of the females, BUT - get this! - our GANDER took them under his wing and raised them on his own! No kidding! He acted and protected them just like one of the females. Raised his wings so they could cuddle up under him and he'd preen them with his gigantic beak...and if one of the females got too close to his two babies, he'd nail em! This actually happened! (Of course, this year now that they'er all grown up, he's taken one of them as his bride - but then, they're geese). Geese are so cool. A lot more drama and politics than other birds - very fascinating to watch. We're wondering how it's going to go this year. I just hope the rest of our flock doesn't try to take the babies away from their mum if ours hatch.

Of course there is always the question about making wild animals tame by feeding them, thus making them more vulnerable to hunters, etc., but I dunno-the deer in my area recognize me and let me approach, but disappear if anyone else comes around. Most geese are very territorial and will attack people who approach a nest or mate, so you have to know your animals. Tame deer are the most dangerous of all, I've read. Newspaper accounts tell of urban deer, who are never hunted and thus unafraid of humans, attacking people in their own driveways. It's usually best to let wild animals be wild, and to get a large mammal dependent on humans for food is often the way to get it killed. Like the signs say in the State Parks, a fed bear is a dead bear. And feeding birds human food, like bread crumbs, etc., is never a good idea. Veterinarians warn people not to feed pet dogs human food because it causes the same diseases in dogs that it causes in people, and cooked, processed, chemical-filled food is too nutritionally compromised for wild animals with their natural, raw food diets. Of course, you can feed all the white bread you want to Starlings and House Sparrows. These dumpster birds seem to thrive on garbage!

Cathy. . .well, the best time to come to the northern California coast would be ***right now***, but plan for just about *any* weather. Currently, we're in the middle of a heatwave. That's due to change come Thursday. Some mild showers are expected for Friday and Saturday. . .for the **best** in terms of the warmest weather? Believe it or not, typically, *October* is warmest. :) EVERYONE: thank you for your kind comments and posts. I am happy to have brought smiles. . .this series is the shortened version of one I am compiling into a coffee table book. . .details to come soon if you're interested. :)

We killed a goose one year :-0 Step dad expressed a desire for a Christmas goose and we were new in town here. When I saw a note on the community noticeboard advertising geese for Christmas I called and ordered one. On delivery I was handed a wriggling feed sack! DH and I cut its head off quickly with a sharp machete (never did totally get the bloodstains out of the fence ;-) ) and then after we let it hang overnight where 2 yo DD wouldn't find it I took it to a friend who knew (from her farm girl youth) how to draw and pluck a goose. Then I took it up to Mom and step dad's. Didn't actually get to eat any as we always spent Christmas at home due to DH's job.