Following the attempt to move the ducklings to the pond only to have them return within 24 hours they were loaded up (this is quite a job as they aren't easy to catch unless corralled in a small area, their nails - yes, they have nails - are extremely sharp, there's usually mud to be splashed all over you, and Guinevere is honking at you for disturbing her babies) into the ranger, driven to the pier, loaded onto the boat, and placed into the duck house... once again. There was a big difference this trip though. Guinevere. I figured since they were so attached to her I'd take her along to see if that would keep them at the pond. Well....
Success! Apparently, they needed their Mother Goose. After a while they tested out the water and Guinevere kept them close and mostly in the duck house. Here, over a week later, they're still in the duck house! I imagine as their feathers grow in they'll be all over the pond! I miss Guinevere in the yard but she's happy mothering her ducklings so I'm happy for her!
~~~~~~~~~~ And, for the rest of the story ~~~~~~~~~
After a couple of days, while taking some feed out to them, I noticed something not quite right with Guinevere. Upon further inspection I diagnosed, as feared, a prolapsed cloaca. This means part of her uterus had come out of her - like a hernia. I knew what to do but decided to research a bit before bringing her in. Reinsertion was easy but it refused to stay. After calling all the vets around (because she is my pet goose!) I finally found one that would see her but not until Monday.
Guinevere spent the weekend in the house sleeping on the sofa covered with towels and in a kennel at night. And, all this with family visiting!
Never know what'll be going on at the ranch while you're here!
Monday morning found us in Hawkins, Texas with an exotic animal vet who very nicely told me my diagnosis was correct and properly treated. She also informed me that Guinevere had a prolapsed phallus rather than a cloaca.............
Um... well....... so that's why it looked a bit different from the online photos.
Amputation of the tip was the treatment decided on. Okay, you may be cringing at this but unlike humans and other mammals nothing flows through their phallus but rather spirals around the outside of it ~ COOL, huh?! I have no idea if other species do this but apparently geese do. Anyway, surgery it was...
Guinevere was a very good patient!
Very sleepy afterwards...
And, back home, sleeping in her his spot :)
It's still sinking in that Guinevere is a boy. I picked out a girl Pilgrim goose and the markings confirm that. Mostly. I'd been wondering about the stripe down the back of her his neck. I did further research and finally figured out that he is a Chinese brown goose rather than a Pilgrim. That explains some things. Sigh.... buying hatchery stock isn't always what it's quacked up to be! (It was funny and you know it. Laugh! At least smile!) The Chinese goose is descended from the wild swan and that's why he holds his longer neck so upright. I'm just happy he's back to his healthy sweet self. The vet mentioned no babies multiple times. I think she missed the fact he is the only goose at the ranch.
Guinevere went back outside yesterday. He's in the yard hanging with the flock. I half expected him to walk to the pond but I guess he's happy here. After his antibiotics are done I may take him to the pond once in a while because he's pretty when he swims. For now he gets to enjoy the little blue plastic kiddie pool.
As for his name... It may stay Guinevere. I really like Guinevere. He answers to Guinevere. And, I haven't come up with something to change it to.... yet.
