Guinevere has been broody for a while now, sitting on what turned out to be 11 eggs. We are fairly certain they won't be fertile - based on a visible lack of any mating activity since Gloria died plus the fact that in the last batch, hatched just a week again, only one out of ten eggs was fertile and grew. The plan always was though, to give Guinevere and the two boys the latest set of five goslings in order that they may now bring them up. As for the eggs, we stuck those under a few broodies in the stables… just in case!!! The introductions went well, the five goslings, ranging in age from 6 to 13 days were very happy to tuck into their food and water under mum and dads' watchful eyes and when last checked at around 11pm, they were snuggled up, not quite under Guinevere, but near enough to be getting some heat from her.
The plan is to leave them penned in the barn for a day or so and then start to let them out as a family where hopefully all will stay safe. Our twisted neck gosling is amongst these five – we do wonder how she will fare???