2005apr17. The geese took their first baths today (flickr: seven photos). Their personalities are starting to make themselves more evident. I just use whatever gender convention is “most” appropriate for their names – we won’t know their genders until they start laying eggs (female) or not (male, or female waiting a year or two as does happen occasionally).
Kiki: A Sebastopol. Kiki has more yellow going down her back from her neck than Casati, so I guess I’m screwed when the Sebastopols grow white feathers. The “alpha” goose. Brightest coat, most alert, most curious, first to make eye contact, tends to lead the group, most aggressive eater, first to signal hunger with special open mouth-nodding head motion, most obsessed with tiny flying insects, will comically force her way into the corner “sweet spot” when everyone else has picked snuggle positions and bedded down for a nap/the night, first to voluntarily go in the bath today without being bribed (later spinach was added to the ramp and in the water). Bath cut short by Lono’s bath freak-out.
Casati: The “beta” Sebastopol, although that title is under contention. Has been a little moody the last two days, it’s especially evident when eating. She’s the last to arrive at the table, somewhat lacking in eating spazziness, and the first to leave. Is starting to sit by herself more often. Does the neck-horizontally-outstretched-while-squawking thing the most, which seems to be a general “complaint” pose (a recent innovation or just more noticeable as their necks are getting longer and longer). Took the longest bath, probably would have gone longer if there wasn’t another general goose bath freak-out.
LC: The biggest Toulouse (gray/brown). Toulouses will get twice as big as Sebastopols, so the scales of justice will tip the other way when they’re full grown. May have been the “runt” during the travel from California since Lono was hidden in a corner; got pecked on the right side of the head a bit, and on the neck (missing hair in both places). Seems to be trying to ascend the pecking order by getting in Casati’s face usually once a day that I can see. We tried putting him in the water, as both Toulouses were a bit bath-shy ... did not like it. Jumped out. Tomorrow we’re hoping everyone else volunteers and LC feels the horrible, horrible peer pressure closing in. “Dude. We are totally clean. Wait ... what’s that smell? Smells like a dirty goose, dawg.”
Lono: The current runt, the one who traveled in the cardboard box from California upside-down jammed into a corner. Didn’t look like he was going to make it. Lots of hair loss around the legs, spent most of the first day lunging awkwardly from place to place like a frog because he couldn’t walk. Smallest of the four. Sometimes avoids food frenzies by eating the stuff that other geese have ripped and flung down to the ground or across the coop. Tried getting in the bath by jumping over the side instead of using the ramp, finally made it with a big splash that scared Kiki so they were both running around the tub for a bit until they shot out of the bath and landed in the dirt. I figured that’s it, Lono’s first and last bath, but later we put Lono back in the water, and he was very happy. We’re always rooting for Lono.
They’re also occasionally munching on fingers now after the two days of non-digit eating. I’ve read that this is typical – you tell a goose not to do something, it will come back and do it a few more times then suddenly it never happens again. “I’ve chosen to not nibble on your flesh.” The times they decide to cry when they can’t see us still seems random. Again, I think it’s the hunger factor.