They grow up so fast - if they grow up at all

At the risk of theorizing with way too little data, maybe four is the optimum number? Last year's pair of geese started with seven and raised four goslings. Tuesday, this pair had seven. Wednesday morning there were five - by Wednesday afternoon there were only four, and the gander was lame, though I don't know if the two things are related. The four who are left have gotten sizeable - way too big to snuggle up under their mother's wings, they sleep in a pile between their parents. I realize that if all the geese raised up seven we'd be knee deep in geese, but I hope these remaining goslings make it.