Hopalong Hollow....

Hopalong Hollow, where the Blueberries grow sweet, and the moss feels soft beneath your feet.

Thursday, May 2, 2019

Mathilda has babies at last!


Today I adopted 2 precious 5 day old goslings and presented them to our dear Mathilda. 
She became quite protective immediately.
These had been hatched in an incubator, so having a real mommy was a big deal for them... But having goslings of her own, now that was a BIG DEAL for Mathilda. She has waited over 6 years for babies.

20 comments:

  1. This is so precious and so kind of you! I see the wild geese so carefully caring for their babies, so I know geese are very maternal/ paternal. Is there a reason she can't lay eggs? Needs a mate? She is a he?

    lizzy lizzzz.d@gmail.com

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    1. Lizzy, She lays about 30 eggs every year, and there are 2 male geese here but I've never seen them mating with her. Her eggs are never fertile. But she will still sit on them for weeks and weeks.

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  2. She looks so proud of her babies in that first picture and the video of her with them near the dish of food was was so sweet. She is a very good Mama. I hope you will keep us posted on Mathilda and her babies.

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    1. Susie, Will do! I know she'll raise them properly to be good weeders with nice manners.

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  3. What a lovely ting to do, she looks very proud of them.
    I wish her all the best in the world.

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    1. She couldn't be more proud if she'd hatch them herself!

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  4. Oh what a happy time! Mama and babies look quite content 🌸

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    1. All is well in the Hollow, with the new family... and one of our Ganders has decided to become DADDY. He has been with them all day long.

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  5. Congratulations Matilda!
    Melts the heart

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  6. this might be the sweetest thing anyone has ever done for another living creature. i can't wait to see more. you should start writing the book and felting now. i'll be the first to sign up for it.

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    1. It would figure nicely in a book.I've felted Mathilda a few times already, but never with goslings...

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  7. What a sweet and wonderful gift you gave Matilda. She looks like a loving mother.

    Thanks for sharing ~ FlowerLady

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    1. And she really is; 3 days of motherhood has made her very contented and adoring.

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  8. Oh....nature is fascinating....motherhood and LOVE are not just constrained to humans. How touching for Matilda!

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    1. Geese are especially capable of motherly love and instincts; they are wonderful birds and the families will stay together for life.

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  9. I noticed when she hissed at something the babies instinctively went under her. I found that fascinating especially when I read they came from an incubator. I never had geese. I may be reading more into their behavior than what happened but found that interesting.

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    1. Judi, I was more concerned that they would not bond with her, than she with them; because of the fact they were hatched in an incubator. But, right away, they went under her feathers as if they knew she was mother goose. The follow her everywhere and duck beneath her when she signal a warning (hissing at a dog or peacock) It is working out so beautifully!

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  10. One of life's simple pleasures is seeing new life around the place. We have baby rabbits hopping around...So good for Matilda and just in time for Mother's Day.
    Mama Bear

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