They are proud and upright geese. They have snowy white feathers, therefore need plenty of swimming water to keep clean. They make fabulous mothers, but as they are also excellent foragers, they tend to wander off if one doesn't keep an eye on them. They are loud, which could be a problem, but as a result, they are also excellent burglar alarms.
This information is from my current new love, the wondrous magazine from England, Country Life.
I was scarfing up this article about geese, as if I might suddenly be inspired to install a gaggle out on the Southern Californian beach in front of my house. It is an interesting notion. I'm sure these geese would confound the adult neighbors, delight the neighbor children, and bring new life into the old bones of the neighbor dogs and cats, who haven't seen anything more exciting than a raccoon in a...coon's age.
Ahem.
These are Roman geese. Roman geese are "sweet chubby little" geese. I mean, isn't that description to die for? They look the exact opposite of a hero, but it seems that heroes are exactly what they are because they were the geese who gave the alarm when Rome was attacked by the Gauls. These geese adore slugs and snails (why don't we see more of these geese out in California, which as all gardeners know, is ruled by the snail/slug quandary). It says that these geese make a good beginner's goose.
I'm thinking maybe my new geese could sleep in the garage? I've made room for my son's carpentry tools. Surely these tools would be willing to share space with such diverse and adorable creatures.
Finally, these geese are the Steinbacher. This striking bird (that's what the article said...'striking') comes in three versions--light blue, gray and lavender blue. Apparently the lavender blue is to die for. Anyway, the reader is encouraged to not be put off by these geese just because they used to be bred as fighting birds (why do people keep doing this?). Apparently they actually have a calm temperament, and the fact they aren't shy around humans makes them an ideal pet...unless it's lots of eggs one is after. These geese produce few eggs, even though, the article hastens to assure, they make excellent sitters and indeed, mothers.
I feel warm and fuzzy all over knowing that there are these geese out there. I had no idea. Hitherto, my only awareness of geese was that of geese formations, migrating. Usually to Canada.
I feel sure these geese expect, and get, a more pampered lifestyle.
Which is as it should be.
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