A Great Read for Animal Stewards

I’ve been reading a terrific book about animal behavior and I’d like to recommend it to anyone who raises livestock, or has pets, or might ever interested in doing either.

Animals in Translation by Temple Grandin provides a terrific insight into the workings of the animal mind (even the human animal).  Her perspective offers fresh insight into so many of those behaviors we often find problematic & confounding.  And I LOVE the fact that she emphasizes putting yourself into the animals’ position (often literally) and taking a look at the environment or situation through their eyes.

The book provides TONS of empirical evidence in support of how to create a more compassionate environment for our charges without becoming too entangled in anthropomorphism.  You’ll find a wealth of genuinely useful information from studies done in the fields of ethology, behaviorism, comparative psychology, behavioral ecology & neurobiology…   All written in a voice that makes you feel like you’re having a conversation with someone who has a knack for making herself understood, while not talking down to you.

Check it out.  I really think you’ll be glad you did!

Pilgrim Geese at Brown Fox Farm!

The Pilgrim goslings have finally arrived and I couldn’t be happier.  Well, I suppose I could be…  We ordered 8 goslings in February, but the day after they shipped (this Monday) we were called and told we would only get half our order because there were too many orders and not enough geese to go around.

So we only ended up with four.  Two geese & two ganders.  One of the geese was in bad shape all yesterday.  They were in transit for three days and I sped to the Post Office just after six yesterday morning when they called to let me know they’d arrived.  But three days is a very long time & it seems she was very dehydrated.  I spent the day and into the night making sure she took little drinks of warm molasses water.  She seems much improved this morning and is moving around with the other goslings & her eyes are less sunken & squinty.

Here is a photo of the babies taken shortly after their arrival…

The first goslings at Brown Fox Farm - Pilgrim geese are listed as a critically endangered American breed by the ALBC.

You can see the difference in the face of the dehydrated gosling standing behind the others.  After this photo she spent most of the rest of the day laying down.  I really hope we can pull her through.  Wish us luck!