Re Rustica

Our head goose (with the biggest hat) does guard duty most often.

Our geese are so careful! When eating or sleeping, they will take turns watching each other. One at a time, they’ll stop eating or sleeping and stand guard. This watch goose is all attention, and loves to honk to tell everyone else what is about them. “It’s Aaron!” they’ll honk. “It’s Mary!” they’ll honk. “A squirrel is coming over!” “a coyote is trying to be sneaky!”

In the middle of the night they’ll occasionally sound “all’s clear!” to let everyone know it’s still ok to sleep. This is usually followed by the “be quiet! we’re trying to sleep” honk.

One of our geese really hates the chickens. She will growl every time she sees them. Occasionally, she’ll growl long enough to work herself up hopping mad! She’ll hop and growl, and honk and squeek, and then charge the hapless chickens to attack them. The chickens and geese think it is some kind of game, and the chickens largely ignore her because she’ll come to her senses at the last moment and not hurt the chickens.

We’re not sure what this fight is all about, but when she’s on guard, she will sound high alert every time the chickens are nearby. She doesn’t do much guard duty these days…