Goslings are well looked after
The seven goslings rescued at the George Sutter Park Duck pond last Friday are progressing well.
While the rest of the ducks and geese were taken to the oasis in Selcourt Enclosure, these seven goslings found their way to a family of their own.
Although their caretakers are human, the little ones have adapted well at their new home.
Hennie and Alida Brits, from Selcourt Enclosure have gone out of their way to make life as comfortable as possible for their new feathered babies.
The first two to three days the goslings were kept in a carton box, lined with a towel, in the house to keep them warm as they were only one or two days old.
Hennie soon realised he had to make a plan to get their feathered babies out into the sun during the day.
He built a square mesh cage with a lid to accommodate them.
With Hennie’s job done, Alida had to get bowls ready for their food and put a small stainless steel dish in the cage for them to swim in.
She says the swimming pool is not too deep but she had to put a brick against it for the little ones to climb into the pool.
One of the goslings were smaller and weaker then his brothers and sisters, therefore Alida took special care of this one.
But she says by the second day she could already see a difference.
Hennie says it is wonderful to see how fast they grow and how strong they have become in such a short time.
With their seven feathered babies eating grass and the food Hennie bought for them, they look healthy and happy.
Once a day Alida brings out a big tin bath and puts all seven in there to swim.
She says they dive into the water and play just like children.
The biggest of the lot once jumped out of the tin bath and ran straight to the swimming pool.
Alida says it was quite a sight to see Hennie on his knees around the pool trying to catch the gosling without hurting it.
With the feathered babies happy and well looked after she feels sad to think that one of these days they have to take them to the oasis to meet the rest of their family.
