new to geese

We picked up two 3 week old brown chinese goslings the other day.  I got a very large one and a small one in the hopes that they would be male and female.  This morning I let them out in the fenced area and went to do some work in the front of the house.  About 30 minutes later I was going to get something and I heard what sounded like goslings peeping but in the wrong area.  They somehow got out of the fenced area and were in the pasture.  I saw the little one and called her and she came through the fence to me.  I picked her up and looked around and saw the bigger one, dead. 

I don't know what got it but was wondering if a donkey or horse would kill a gosling.  There were 2 areas on its neck that looked like the skin/fluff were scraped off in an up and down direction not punctures but just scrapes about 1/4 wide.  One of the donkeys was very close by. 

So I learned my lesson the hard way and will not be allowing the goslings out unsupervised unless they are in an enclosed area.

I know they are flock animals and I found someone close by who was selling african goslings so I went and picked up 4 friends for my poor little chinese.  So I now have two 1 week old and two 2 week old africans and a 3 week old chinese goslings.  They are getting along well, though the ducks don't like them and are currently in the yard in a extra large wire dog crate with shading over the top.  I will put them up in the coop at night.

The 2 chinese I lost the big one in the back.

The africans and the chinese

thanks Kevin.

I would just be surprised if something came out that close (15') from a donkey.  I found the gosling right after it was killed and the other one was basically right with it, which I didn't think it would be if a predator had come. 

I guess it really doesn't matter.  I learned my lesson and will not leave them until I am 100% sure there are no gaps/holes in the fencing.

Quote:

Originally Posted by mrpekinduck 

The donkey could have bit it and the blunt teeth of a donkey could have just ripped fuzz off and not punctured it

Thats what I was thinking.  Broken neck from being picked up and shaken a bit.  It stinks because he has the leader and would come when he heard/saw me even after a few days.  :(  The new ones are doing well.  The older one is acting the mom to the little ones.  It is very cute seeing them all cuddled together.  I can't wait until they are a little bigger and I can let them out of the kennel that they are in during the day. 

I did reinforce the 6' older fencing with a new 3' high section.  I am planning on building a duck and goose house, they will each have a side and then I can get them out of the chicken coop and get some chickens.

Any advice on introducing them to ducks?  I have five 3 month old muscovy that are not thrilled with the geese (thats why they are seperate).  They are next to each other now but if I let the geese loose, the ducks will pic at them.