Roman Tufted Geese - Problem?

Roman Tufted Geese - Problem?

This may or may not be a problem. A couple of weeks ago I purchased 4 Ancona ducks. Yesterday I brought home a pair of Roman Tufted Geese and a pair of Indian runner ducks.

I put them together on what I have read about the geese and ducks being able to flock together with no problems. I was told that Roman Tufted geese have a mild temperament and the runners love to flock with other ducks.

I realize that there is always a pecking order and just witnessed a few little pokes here and there. Nothing much to be alarmed about.

Earlier today I found a small pile of feathers in the pen and later my daughter said she witnessed the geese and Indian runner ducks ganging up on the Ancona ducks and pulling out some feathers.

Can geese and ducks flock together or should each breed be separated.

My future plan is to separate them into groups for breeding, but right now the pen is all I have to house them. The pen is 9 X 12 and has food and a kiddie pool inside. The outside of the pen has another larger kiddie pool that the Ancona ducks love to be in.



bob/stano40

I had a pair of Roman Tufted geese tearing my baby goat from limb to limb.

Needless to say, I no longer have them.

Quote:
I don't know the particulars on the Roman Tufted temperament or the runner ducks but here's what it sounds like to me.

Ducks and geese both don't like strangers...strange people, strange animals, strange other birds. It appears the runners and the geese did in fact form a flock. They were put in with the ducks, a seperate flock. I am sure the ducks didn't take this too kindly. Even mild temperamented geese and ducks are this way.

Happy news is they CAN be joined. Usually babies put together form a flock naturally. If you leave yours together usually within 24 hours the majority of the pecking and picking will be over in most cases. They will draw their lines and learn to respect each other. Then after that they usually give a look or a turn of the head or snake the neck and that's all it will take. For awhile they will live in the pen as seperate flocks but eventually will meld into one flock as they get to know each other. Also being in breeding condition doesn't help. They bond into their flock at the beginning of the breeding season and are adamant after that about keeping anyone new out until breeding season is over. As the hormones fade so will this clique attitude.

I had someone give me a male goose they couldn't take care of anymore. Mine were in breeding condition and even the odd female of the group who didn't have a mate of her own wouldn't accept this male and the other males would go after him if he got too close. Now it seems the hormones are starting to relax and they are allowing him closer and closer to their flock. I figure in another month he'll be a part of it. Don't feel bad for him though, he spent his time with my baby geese and it was a good thing because he's BIG and he'd protected them and I worried less about predators.

I would leave them together and check on them morning, noon and in the evening once or twice for a day or two to make sure no one is actually being injured- feather pulling isn't great but it isn't permenantly damaging. Once you clear that don't worry about it, they will meld in their own good time.

If it gets too bad can you section off the pen with some chicken wire temporarily...maybe 4 days? If you do that they can see and hear each other to get used to each other but not do anything to each other. That might go a long way towards resolving this dispute.

I hope this helps,

Good information about geese and ducks forming a new flock. They are settling in better and yesterday I went out and bought a 100' role of wire to increse their outside area 10 fold.

After it was completed I got them out and kinda steered them all around the outside pen area to show them the space. I got them to the grassy knoll part and stopped to let them take in all the new grass. They looked around forgot about each other and started grazing.

Later in the evening they were all laying together like good old friends...... so far.

I'll try to take a photo of the area later in the day.

Thanks for the advise.

bob

Hi,

I'm glad to hear everyone is doing better! I think you'll end up liking your Tufted Roman geese. Mine are very peaceful and don't act agressive towards humans. They are protetive of the younger members of the flock - if a dog or cat approches the flock - they flap their wings and hiss and charge towards it until the animal gets the message and leaves. Mine are two years old and it was love at first sight! LOVE THEM!!! They know what "time to go to bed" means and when I say it they start making their way into the little houses they sleep in...locked up safe and secure every night...just like the treasures that they are!

Thanks JoJo,

But I have to laugh with what you posted. MY wife and I just came in from an altercation with the ducks and geese. The geese were screaming out in the pen and we went out to see what was wrong.

We didn't find anything out of the ordinary and I had my little Pomeranian with me in case there was a cat lurking around. He would have spotted it fast.

Nothing found so we headed back around front to go inside. The dog took off and ran out back, then all kinds of commotion. By the time my wife got out back the Pomeranian got inside the pen and was chasing the runner ducks. My wife said the geese took off and ran inside their house leaving the ducks to fend for themselves.

Big protectors!!!!

They bully the Anacona ducks and keep them away from the feed and swimming pool. All the new ducks and geese have flocked together and usually will push away the other ducks.

They are getting better but I wish my Anacona ducks can get into their pool.

bob

Quote:

Runner ducks can be very aggressive towards other ducks. Geese are also an aggressive bird. The 2 flock together because their personalities are alot alike. Anacona are quite a docile duck that will not put up a fight against the runners or the geese.

I have found from experience that runners seem to start the aggression. I would seperate the runners and leave the geese and anacona together and see how it goes. If all goes well you know where the trouble starts. If the geese are still being aggressive them put them with the runners.

I ended up getting rid of my runners and my geese are not as aggressive now, they will still remind everyone that they are at the top of the pecking order.

good luck I hope you can find a happy medium with the three groups.

Julie

Today's the experiment of placing the inside pool outside and on the other side of the yard, across from the outside pool.

So far, they are all flocking together and the geese are steering the ancona ducks away from either pool.

I'm hoping they'll tire of that soon and allow the ducks to swim and drink.

bob

Expanded Duck/Geese Area - We extended the whole area almost quadruple of what it was. This should give them a lot of room to roam around in and a big grazing area for fresh grass.

We used a 100' roll of wire and added onto that with what was left over of the old pen fencing.

This whole area is temporary for them until I can get the new barn cleaned out and pens installed inside for their newer home. Behind the barn is an area 3 times bigger than the temporary area they are in now.

I brought the inside pool out and across from the outside pool hoping that will stop the bullying from the geese and the runner ducks to the ancona ducks.

The last winter's ice storms tore up everybody's yards and house's. We're still removing lot's of broken tree's and branch's. Our poor back porch took a beating and the ice cracked the supporting timber. That's another project along with duck/goose pens and chicken coops.



bob