New kids on the block!

Gary has to be the world’s most cantankerous gander but he seems to have already become very attached to nextdoor’s new goslings.

Even though my neighbour puts her geese and chickens safely in her barn every night, apparently the foxes round here are not overly nocturnal and Gary lost his mate to one during the day a few months ago. If he’s got any sense, he’ll be glad of the company now.

It’s been hilarious watching Gary over the past couple of days. He spends all his time keeping guard over the little ones and goes crazy if my neighbour goes near them. Luckily, she’s the ‘Alpha Goose’ so he won’t attack her but he certainly makes a racket. In return, the goslings cheep frantically if Gary starts to move away.

Although it’s still a little too soon to let the goslings roam freely, hopefully this bodes well for the future and they’ll all get on OK.