goslings

Goslings are the young offspring of geese (family Anatidae). They are precocial, hatching with a downy coat and being relatively mobile and able to feed shortly after birth. Incubation periods vary by species but typically run about twenty-eight to thirty-two days. At hatching, goslings are usually yellowish or gray and rely on parental care for warmth, protection, and guidance as they begin to forage and learn essential survival skills.

Within weeks, goslings develop juvenile plumage and gradually resemble adults. They tend to form broods that travel and feed together, frequently following a parent in a single-file line. Their diet consists mainly of grasses, leaves, seeds, and small invertebrates, which they forage in wetlands, fields, and shorelines. Goslings are capable swimmers and often use ponds and streams as safe spaces to explore and practice movement.

Geese occupy a wide range of habitats, including wetlands, farmland, and urban areas. They may migrate with their parents in response to seasonal changes. Human interactions with goslings include farming and domestic keeping of geese, as well as conflicts over crops and nuisance in urban areas. The conservation status of gosling populations mirrors that of their species, with some populations stable and others affected by habitat loss and disturbance.