Zuzu here to answer the most common questions I have received!
“Are you a duck? What type of bird are you?”
You’d be surprised how many people think I am a duck! I am an Emden Goose. We originate from Germany and are known for our large size, white plumage, and crystal blue eyes.
“Do you bite? Are you violent”
Of course, I am a goose after all. However, at events, I enjoy talking and meeting new people, and neck scratches make it all worth it.
“Are you like the wild geese and terrorize anyone you don’t like?”
That’s a common misconception about us geese. We are just very protective of our families. Most geese only mate for 4 years, during only the spring. When we do hatch an offspring, keeping them alive is difficult, so when we do raise families, we want to keep them alive at all costs. I was raised by humans. I don’t view people as enemies.
“Why do you tolerate your dresses? How do you find goose sized outfits?”
I know that when I have my clothes on, it is show time. I have a whole routine before I attend events, you know. My handler says my outfits are dog outfits in reverse (I wear them better anyways)
“What do you eat?”
Just about anything you will throw at me. I love trying all sorts of snacks and beverages. My favorite drink right now is this lavender, ginger, and sage mix. I love it so much. Did you know that bread is actually pretty bad for us waterfowl? Instead, in the wild, you can feed peas. Those little green things are so yummy and even help clean out our body systems.
“How were you trained? I didn’t know you could teach a goose to do reenactments-“
The short answer is you can’t, not easily anyways. We aren’t dogs. My handler just started taking me places, and I picked up on what got people’s attention. Turns out people will take more pictures if I pose for them.