When I returned I parked the car on the field and emptied several sacks of feed into dustbins. When I turned to drink some coke I noticed the geese walking past.....
one, two, three and four trundled past............then numbers .FIVE, SIX and SEVEN followed!
For those that don't know......I have only four geese!
I looked around. There was no note, no answerphone message, nothing to indicate just why they had been left on the field. The neighbours were not around to witness their arrival, so I came to the conclusion that they were unwanted pets and had been dumped with me!
The first rule of looking after any new animal is to quarantine it from others, so I set them up in Bingley's coop (the turkey) with a run of their own., and by the time I had finished it was practically dark.
I could have done without the hassle today, so fed and watered the geese again and settled them down for the night.
Bingley doubled up with the hens, which upset him somewhat..and. I will figure out a plan of action tomorrow
Uh oh! Hope you don't become the animal and birdie drop off point! Everyone knows that you'll take care of them very well so that's the temptation. My lady has a friend this happens to all the time. Dogs, cats, chickens and once a mini horse and her foal! Absolutely amazing that people drop them off with no note or explanation or any financial assistance at all.
ReplyDeleteCongratulations on your new additions!
ReplyDeletem.
Damn, there are some irresponsible people around. The least they could have done was let you know the birds were coming.
ReplyDeletejudith
ReplyDeleteif that was the case I would have refused
That's a dirty trick to play on someone. The least they could have done was clean them up and provide a few bags of feed. You're going to have to mount cameras on the perimeter.
ReplyDeletePoor John...
ReplyDelete;-)
Christmas is coming.
ReplyDeleteI agree Tom!! ( for once)
ReplyDeleteBloody hell, I wish someone would dump a few geese off on me, especially a gander. That's $600 worth of poultry here, never mind what the eggs would fetch!
ReplyDeleteCompletely off topic, I never realised that John's header, a quote by Margo Canning, is an example of a Paraprosdokian.
I couldn't pronounce it either but apparently it is a "Figure of speech in which the latter part of a sentence or phrase is surprising or unexpected; frequently used in a humorous situation."
Amazing what one can learn through the blogosphere.
I picked this pearl of wisdom up from Bashing Bambi, a blog I follow and hesitate to recommend to those who follow John's Blog since it is dedicated to nurturing animals rather than shooting them but, goodness, the examples BambiBasher gives of paraprosdokians are too hilarious.
http://bashingbambi.blogspot.com/2011/09/todays-humour.html
Hippo Tom
ReplyDeletelovely to hear from you!!!
Taking advantage of your kind nature again John.
ReplyDeleteI wouldn't be able to turn them away either.
Have you thought about setting up a charitable trust?
Applying for lottery funding?
Selling your ass for bags of feed?
Sounds like word has gotten around, that you're running a five-star bed and breakfast there John complete with all you can eat buffet.
ReplyDeleteIs there a chance they could belong to a neighbouring farm, and had a little walk-a-bout :)
I hope this is the case and someone hasn't dumped them on you.
~Jo
chris
ReplyDelete"selling your ass for bags of feed"
how charmingly put
no!!! if that was the case...I would only have enough for the quail!
jo... not unless they can open the gate and close it after them!
ReplyDeleteYou're pitching too low John.
ReplyDeleterealism my good man...realism
ReplyDeleteRealism, in my experience John, is grossly overrated.
ReplyDeleteSurely you're going to run out of field at this rate though. One day you'll come home to a herd of cattle dumped on your doorstep.
Check these guys out - maybe this is where your destiny lies...
http://brinsleyanimalrescue.org/
Let me know the next time you'll be out. I think I'll have Jerry drop me in your yard.
ReplyDeleteThat'll teach you to leave the house John! But next time I'll call first before I just show up! :-)
ReplyDeletefunny they were dumped on the day that I am usually away ALL DAY
ReplyDeleteYou're becoming a veritable Dr. Dolittle.
ReplyDeleteGive Gordon Ramsay a call John...he's into rearing his Christmas Dinner.
ReplyDeleteI know nothing about animal or bird husbandry but I so admire those who can and do. Perhaps gaining a 'travelling family' is a good thing. Well it's a nice thing, good for you.
ReplyDeleteOh dear..I guess there are people like that everywhere. Here it happens a lot with cats. Good Luck John. You are a good guy.
ReplyDeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteIs this a net gain or a net drain? Are geese valuable and worth keeping for the meat or are they just pets?
ReplyDeleteI'm glad that whoever dumped them didn't do worse, such as just shutting them in a barn to starve or something.
Watch it, John...that's exactly how I ended up with 13 cats and 3 pigeons.
ReplyDeleteJane x
I have a couple of teens to spare... when can I drop them off !!!?
ReplyDeleteIt's all I can do to keep the wild birds fed at the mo... I even gave them the left over corn ( from my dilly departed hens ) They are scoffing like mad !
What kind of geese are they?
ReplyDeleteWell, well!!!Life just looked up! Next breeding season I dare say you'll be turning your mind to goose contraception..don''t be shy just ask!
ReplyDeleteObviously avid readers of your blog who decided to join you in the good life!
ReplyDeleteThe things that can happen while you have a Coke ...
ReplyDeleteTurn your back to have some coke and BANG... it's Christmas.
ReplyDeleteI've lost a few comments here!
ReplyDeleteIn the geese naming competition, I have come up with Balthazar, Gaspar, and Melchior - three wise geese from the east. I have also come up with a name change for you - Dr John Dolittle though you might feel like altering it to Nurse John Doalot.
ReplyDeleteRotten thing to do to someone..assume they have the room/money/desire for more animals!
ReplyDeleteSomebody is watching you John! Word must be OUT THERE about this very generous guy who can't say no. There's always room for 1,2,3 more, eh?
ReplyDeleteI once had a friend who had chickens... One was called Whatsits. I asked why and was advised that this was the box that it was left in on their doorstep!
ReplyDeleteArseholes!
You are a saint!
Cowards.
ReplyDeleteWe spit on the ground.
We are not pleased.