[jaykay]

  Nimbus, my gander is dead  I opened up the goose house this morning and he was just lying there.
The worst of it is that the goose is sitting. Pleeease let some of the eggs hatch. I'm not hopeful cos she laid them at such a desultory rate that some of them were 2 weeks old before she began. But fingers crossed. Poor Cirrus, she is all on her own now. And I don't know why he died. He was beautiful, only 3 years old. Big and heavy still. Really worried it's something I have or haven't done right. And I am so sad, for me and for Cirrus.

[SallyintNorth]

So sorry to hear your news, jaykay.  What a horrible shock.  Fingers crossed for Cirrus and her eggs.  Love the names - Cumulus and Stratos next, eh?

[goosepimple]

So sorry to hear that jaykay, it is a shock, especially when its such a big bird you expect them to go on forever. 
The ones you sold me are doing very well - I don't lock them in at night and they fly up and down the river and round about all day so I can never get them in.  One of the females sat (we didn't know where) but was unsuccessful, the other is sitting now and we can see her in a bush at the far end of our site.  The geese are a joy and worth every penny. 
I do hope you're successful with the eggs ... I will see my lady in Peebles at the Highland Show I expect and see what's what there and get back to you.  May be useful to know what it was.  All the best...goosepimple

[jaykay]

Really glad the ones you've got are doing well, they are so lovely and great to have about.

Fingers crossed for Cirrus's eggs but yes, I'd be very glad to hear what the Peebles lady has - I can't leave her on her own.

[goosepimple]

Replacement!  Call the lady in Peebles - Linda on 01721 752297 (website is www.ducksforfun.co.uk) I explained your predicament - she has been unlucky with young this year but she does have a gander for you - says he is rather old now but better than nothing!  Good luck...amanda

[jaykay]

Oh, thank you for talking to her! I'll ask her what she thinks, I wonder if introducing a new gander at this stage ( a week to go til eggs due to hatch) might cause problems? If no eggs hatch then I will definitely go and get him  I suppose if eggs do hatch, one might be a gander. Thank you very much again 

[doganjo]

Oh, thank you for talking to her! I'll ask her what she thinks, I wonder if introducing a new gander at this stage ( a week to go til eggs due to hatch) might cause problems? If no eggs hatch then I will definitely go and get him  I suppose if eggs do hatch, one might be a gander. Thank you very much again 

You might get ALL Ganders!  Then what will you do?

[goosepimple]

They'll all get married to my hatchlings which are going to be all girls, and live happily ever after.... , glad to help jaykay

[doganjo]

They'll all get married to my hatchlings which are going to be all girls, and live happily ever after.... , glad to help jaykay

Sounds very romantic! 

[goosepimple]

Jaykay, I can see two (there may be more) goslings this morning with mum - beautiful little sunny yellow heads -asked Peebles lady about this previously, she said so long as they were healthy it should be fine.  Might be good to have a 3 way swap at sometime in the future!  Hope you get a nice brood and the shock of your gander loss is bearable - so happened we lost our gorgeous dinky little puss on Monday on the road, she was a great hunter and was only 4 years old - kids were devastated and are still prone to fits of tears when they're tired.  Its very sad, pet or livestock.  All the best.

[SallyintNorth]

So sorry to hear about your puss cat, goosepimple.  It's horrid when a car gets them and it's usually at a young age - and sadly I think a large proportion of them meet an untimely death this way.

A vet friend of mine says that of the road accident cats brought to him, 90% are black cats and of the remaining 10%, 90% are tabby - he concludes that the darker colours are more difficult to see especially at night and hence these cats are more vulnerable.  I now put a reflective collar on dark-coloured cats to try and give them a better chance.

It takes a while to adjust to the loss of a well-loved friend, especially when it's so sudden and such a youngster.  I feel for you and your kids.  {{{hugs}}}

[goosepimple]

Thanks Sally, we still have our other cat (black, eek) and our mad 7mth border collie so the space doesn't seem empty and we've just had 2 goslings today which seem to have been abandoned, so lots to think about which is helping,  thanks for your sympathies though, that was very kind.

[jaykay]

Sorry to hear about the pusscat Amanda  

No goslings here, eggs didn't develop for whatever reason. Glad to hear you've got some   though you think they've been abandoned?
Young gander arriving on Tues. Just been sitting outside, Cirrus (goose) next to me, coughing. Now what  

[goosepimple]

Coughing geese, young orphans ...... such things are sent to try us - character building (just can't tell you how built my character is) ... hope your goose hasn't caught something from the gander.

[jaykay]

lol, my character is built quite enough too 

hope your goose hasn't caught something from the gander.

yeh, that's what I was worried about. However, she seems fine this morning. I wormed her and gave her a jab of antibiotics last night, just to cover all bases!