Is my goose a hybrid?

Whoah, so many adorable geese! I'd love to have that many one day too, but unfortunately we just don't have the room here

I try to tell my sisters not to stir the goose up but I know they do it when I'm not home. He isn't even vicious or hissing, he usually will just raise his head, beak to the sky, and make a lot of noise when they go outside. He does follow them around, but only slowly wanders and not outright chasing them.

It's only when they like to get as close to him as possible before darting away at the last second that he gets agitated and starts to lunge for them. I've seen the little serrated edges of his beak - I'm sure it would hurt a lot if he actually nipped them.

Since he's still young, I'm going to start taking them outside with me more so he will hopefully get used to them.

Interestingly enough, he only ever acts like this towards kids and stays far away from other adults. I think my brave little gander is actually a bit of a coward

flatfoot said:

Whoah, so many adorable geese!

I'd love to have that many one day too, but unfortunately we just don't have the room here

I try to tell my sisters not to stir the goose up but I know they do it when I'm not home. He isn't even vicious or hissing, he usually will just raise his head, beak to the sky, and make a lot of noise when they go outside. He does follow them around, but only slowly wanders and not outright chasing them.

It's only when they like to get as close to him as possible before darting away at the last second that he gets agitated and starts to lunge for them. I've seen the little serrated edges of his beak - I'm sure it would hurt a lot if he actually nipped them.

Since he's still young, I'm going to start taking them outside with me more so he will hopefully get used to them.

Interestingly enough, he only ever acts like this towards kids and stays far away from other adults. I think my brave little gander is actually a bit of a coward

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Flatfoot, your little gander is still a baby, he´s not a coward. He automatically has respect for the bigger humans, and as long as the adults keep calm around him, there should be no problem with him. Especially as he´s most probably a pilgrim-type
.
Unfortunately, your sisters´game could turn into a big problem with his attitude to children once he becomes adult.
At the moment his raising his head is a goose greeting, and weighing-up thing all in one. His following them around is because geese need to be part of a flock. But if your sisters don´t behave themselves now, they could well regret it later.

A female goose would be great for him. If you can´t find one his age (folks may keep them for breeding), an old gal that someone doesn´t want anymore would be great (geese don´t breed so well after about 8 yrs old, although they can live until about 20 or so)...the company is the important thing.

Hehe yes I know he's not a coward, I was just joking He's actually really lovely, I just have to get him used to children.

He only started behaving that way quite recently, he used to be very friendly towards children. I'm hoping it's just because he's young and isn't quite sure how to behave (now that I know he's a gander, I'm happier. I would be worried if Goliath is a female, because then it seems like aggressiveness would be more of a personality trait rather than just silly hormones.)

If I buy him a female I will try to get one that is a different breed / colour to Goliath. That way if they ever do breed, we'll get some very pretty babies

Here is a picture of baby Goliath with my niece, back when they were the best of friends

Nowadays, I keep her away from him just in case.

Also you can't see it too well there, but Goliath used to have a case of angel wing. I actually learnt about it, and treated it, using this very forum! Now, both of his wings are perfect thanks to all the tips I found on this site

flatfoot said:

I would be worried if Goliath is a female, because then it seems like aggressiveness would be more of a personality trait rather than just silly hormones.)

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All grown geese are aggressive towards things that scare them. Forget about bad personality traits; it's only natural for geese to try and make scary things go away. Ganders are usually quicker and more persistent in doing so, but all geese do it.

Goslings and young geese rely on their parents to be aggressive on their behalf. That doesn't mean they're not scared. What your sisters are doing is actually evil. It may look funny, but from what you say Goliath is already deeply alarmed by them. When you're not home, he has to rely on them for company and safety, and they're doing a very bad job. He's like a child with abusive stepparents.

If indeed Goliath is a gander, he may soon start attacking your sisters each and every time he gets the chance. And in most families that means "goodbye, goose". That's why so many geese are dumped in parks - not because they're bad geese, but because having a goose as a family pet requires the entire family to be good "goose parents", so the goose feels safe around them. And when they fail to do so and the adorable little gosling grows up to be a nervous and therefore aggressive goose, they blame the goose and get rid of it.

flatfoot said:

Here is a picture of baby Goliath with my niece, back when they were the best of friends

Nowadays, I keep her away from him just in case.

Also you can't see it too well there, but Goliath used to have a case of angel wing. I actually learnt about it, and treated it, using this very forum! Now, both of his wings are perfect thanks to all the tips I found on this site

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It would be good if you get him his own little pen where your sisters can´t torment him. Well done on keeping separate ffrom the little one...both for the goose´s sake and the child´s. And well done on fixing the angel wing, too. I can see it in the pic there. Sounds like you´re doing a good job with him, just need to get those sisters under control.

I wouldn't say it's evil what my sisters are doing, they are both only very young. They're already nervous around the goose, they just try and channel that into a "game" by running away from him every time he comes close. When they try and pet him, he lunges at them.

I think it upsets them a little that my parents and I can go outside and pet Goliath, pick him up, and receive nothing but affection from him whilst they get chased off instead. And like I said, it was the goose who started behaving this way all on his own, when he was younger he was very affectionate towards them too.

Which is nobody's fault, I figure it's just because he has all these territorial instincts kicking in and he sees that small children are easier to take on than an adult is.

But never, ever could we get rid of him. He's part of the family, and I absolutely adore him and love him to bits!

flatfoot said:

I wouldn't say it's evil what my sisters are doing, they are both only very young. They're already nervous around the goose, they just try and channel that into a "game" by running away from him every time he comes close. When they try and pet him, he lunges at them.

I think it upsets them a little that my parents and I can go outside and pet Goliath, pick him up, and receive nothing but affection from him whilst they get chased off instead. And like I said, it was the goose who started behaving this way all on his own, when he was younger he was very affectionate towards them too.

Which is nobody's fault, I figure it's just because he has all these territorial instincts kicking in and he sees that small children are easier to take on than an adult is.

But never, ever could we get rid of him. He's part of the family, and I absolutely adore him and love him to bits!

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Hi flatfoot. Of course you love him...we all love our geese! It´s great he´s fine with everyone else, and yes he would have started going at your sisters all on his own, and you´re absolutely right, it´ll be territorial/growing up stuff that has caused it. But please do remember that at the moment he´s only a baby. It´ll get stronger as he gets older, so it´d be best to avoid the behaviour if at all possible.

For instance, with my geese I let children (none live here, by the way, so I don´t have that problem) go down with me to visit the geese if I think they´ll not shriek, not run, etc. It´s because I don´t want my geese to even think that they can see off a person by running at them. Now, a little while ago my husband and I took some of our visiting friends to visit the birds. One of our friends bent down to look at a duckling and one of my geese went up closer to her from behind. I was slowly moving over to get in between her and the goose, so as not to startle anyone, My hubby said "Watch out!" and she screamed, jumped up, startled all the geese... it was so unnecessary. It wasn´t her fault, it was my hubby´s. All the geese were upset for a while. I was very upset with my hubby. I was just the sort of thing I don´t want to happen.

They´re fine again now, but I don´t want them to learn negative behaviours because of how people respond to them. Your lovely gander is learning negative behaviour because of your little sisters. I´m sure you can find a way around it, though. Is there any way he can have his own little fenced in area to be in while your sisters are around playing, and then be out free when they´re indoors or something?
And he´ll just love a friend goose. Have you had any joy with finding one? Please do let us see a pic of his new friend when you find her. Oh, and a female is likely to be easier to deal with, too. Have fun!

flockman said:

I would not be concerned by the color of feet and bill. Mine got a deeper colored beak and feet as they matured.

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Mine too.

flatfoot said:

But never, ever could we get rid of him. He's part of the family, and I absolutely adore him and love him to bits!

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Happy to hear that!

Sorry about me ranting - abandoning pets is one of my pet peeves. Pun intended .

Any chance you can sit your sisters down and give them a little "Goose 101"? Tell them that geese are instinctively nervous about loud noises (which may be interpreted as alarm calls), sudden moves (predators), and running (fleeing from danger). Tell them that what they do makes Goliath feel scared and alone - and of course tell them what to do instead.