Goosey Celebration - update on injured geese

[threehorses]

Just wanted to let you all know that today I finally was able to turn my remaining seven geese back out into my pasture. Their injuries all healed. The most surprising one of all was Knothead, my goose that has the beginnings of a crest on his head. Graphic description upcoming - beware. The front of his neck, the skin had been all ripped off til it was like a tongue hanging from his upper neck. The bottom 2 inches of that 'tongue' was gone completely. I was going to put him to sleep, but he was so full of spirit and my boyfriend said "just try". So I cleaned everything, cut the edges to clean flesh, packed him full of antibiotic ointment, and stitched him up. Except for the bottom, where there wasn't anything to stitch. It worked as a drain, the whole thing was covered with sterile gauze and vetwrap, and they got antibiotics. There's a bit of a keloid like scar at the bottom, but it's filled in. I can't believe it.

Religious part upcoming: beware. lol Credit goes where credit is due. Honestly I gave up when I found the geese and just asked for His help to guide my hands. I can't claim any glory here, even though I have to admit that the results were glorious. So I give thanks that today those babies got to run out into the pasture, flap their wings, do the "goose airplane runway" thing where they all run like they're going to fly, and take a really good bath!! (So far it's only neck up baths for them, poor babies).

I just cried as I watched, and I admit I'm still crying - happy tears.

The one place the dog can get in is now very very securely fixed, I haven't seen the dog in a while since they city came out to get him, and I'm hoping for the best. Thought I'd share my joy with you all.

Nathalie aka threehorses

[Evy]

It's great to hear stories like that. I'm always amazed at how tough birds are. Do you remember several years ago someone posted photos of a duck that had a good portion of its foot torn apart by a snapper ? The way that healed was also remarkable.
You did a great job with them. You have a right to shed a few proud tears.

[goosedragon]

Threehorses good news is always great to hear! BTW with Young birds that "goose airport runway" thing sometimes leads to actual flight. When I used to free range my geese they would meet me at the mail box at the road and then race me in my truck and each other to the garage. Every day I would drive a little faster and let off after I had passed them so they would 'win' One proud day 3 passed me airborn! it took them longer to learn how to land gracefully. I had to rearrange their pen so that there wasn't enough "runway" to keep them in the pen when I wanted.
Evy I read the Rochester newspaper on line to keep in touch. This last week there was a big thing about NYS-DEC operation SHELLSHOCK where they rounded up a bunch dealing in rattlesnakes and snappers. It said that trapping turtles was now outlawed. They got most of their leads off the Internet so watch What you post on the snappers.

[threehorses]

Everyone thank you for your support.

Evy, I don't recall that story about the duck, but wow. I know how huge our snappers can get here and I'm surprised the duck had much left. The thing is - ducks and geese are in such nasty places, or make nasty places out of clean. I can't imagine a foot injury and a duck with ANY water available. lol I bet that was a bandage that kept having to be replaced.

Goosedragon, I love the story of your babies. Thankfully mine could fly as high as they are able to, three foot at record, and still not be near making the 7' fence height here. But you know - they *feel* airborn, and it's a delight to see. Now the ducks - that's an entirely different story. lol

Thanks again everyone. I've just been outside for the sixth time today looking at them. :P

[Evy]

Gd, thanks for blowing my cover! :lol: That story was in the paper & on TV for a couple days. The snapper thing they got nailed for was hatchlings that they were selling to a LA. turtle farm that sends them to China, (& Chinatowns in the US ) where they're crushed & used as aphrodisacs. They also had Timber Rattlers, which are protected in NY. (They best not slither into my yard!)

Nat, the snapper victim lost about 1/2 its foot but she saved the rest of the web with ''super glue''. I'm told it works on broken turtle shells, as well.

[goosedragon]

Threehorses If they can do 3 feet, the only thing that is keeping them from soaring is fear or lack of confidence. The second half of my story was that when I would let them out of the pen the ritual would be a flight race around the house and then back to me where I would be cheering them on with a reward for the winner. The boss gander usually came in third behind 2 geese. Well he learned how to cheat by takeing a shortcut OVER the house. The other birds that were behind the two fastest geese learned to follow him over the house too. It took the 2 fast ones about three days before they came around the corner and caught the slower followers decending from the shortcut and that pretty much ended the races. After that they would compete to see who could fly higest.
Evy sorry about your cover, I was thinking about this board that gives your location with each post :oops: The version I read was that the snapper people were stealing eggs and hatching them before shipping to turtle farm in LA state for grow out. The bit that surprised me was that snappers were protected like a sport fish or game to be taken in season except there was no open season established (typical NY) that and the fact that turtle traps were outlawed....~gd