My Geese are bullys!!

I hatched out 3 geese two months ago and for the last month they have been out with the flock of chickens, the geese have their own run with round the clock access to feed and water and plenty of fresh grass but can also mingle with the flock... The last week we have had to separate the geese as we have new baby chicks hatching under broodies and they flat go after these little ones, they have also tracked down and have almost harmed the 2 month old turkey poults we have, they have gotten to where they hang out around the main chicken coop and run the hens off when they go in to lay... I am at a loss and although I love my geese told DH last night that perhaps having geese isn't in our future, I wanted all my birds to free range and feel the geese being locked into their run isn't right.
Its so hard because they are so personable, they run to me and follow me all over, I love having them but these are just for my enjoyment, I make money (enough to buy feed) from the chickens and the Turkeys will also bring a bit of money to our small farm and fill the freezer next year.

AmericanMom said:

I hatched out 3 geese two months ago and for the last month they have been out with the flock of chickens, the geese have their own run with round the clock access to feed and water and plenty of fresh grass but can also mingle with the flock... The last week we have had to separate the geese as we have new baby chicks hatching under broodies and they flat go after these little ones, they have also tracked down and have almost harmed the 2 month old turkey poults we have, they have gotten to where they hang out around the main chicken coop and run the hens off when they go in to lay... I am at a loss and although I love my geese told DH last night that perhaps having geese isn't in our future, I wanted all my birds to free range and feel the geese being locked into their run isn't right.
Its so hard because they are so personable, they run to me and follow me all over, I love having them but these are just for my enjoyment, I make money (enough to buy feed) from the chickens and the Turkeys will also bring a bit of money to our small farm and fill the freezer next year.

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My goslings are bullies also, but although they have gotten just about everyone scared of them some of my LF hens have stood up to them and they remember which ones these are and stay clear of them, I don't have any babies other than my 2 gosling this year so haven't had the same problems your having though, and they haven't messed with any of my bantams but boy they will go after my drakes and most of my other Muscovy ducks. I am hoping it's a phase and they will grow out of it. My 2 adults don't do this. I'm sure it's a hard decision. If you have LF hens hopefully someone will put them in their place one of my EE's jumped on the one gosling and scared the daylights out of her.

Miss Lydia said:

My goslings are bullies also, but although they have gotten just about everyone scared of them some of my LF hens have stood up to them and they remember which ones these are and stay clear of them, I don't have any babies other than my 2 gosling this year so haven't had the same problems your having though, and they haven't messed with any of my bantams but boy they will go after my drakes and most of my other Muscovy ducks. I am hoping it's a phase and they will grow out of it. My 2 adults don't do this. I'm sure it's a hard decision. If you have LF hens hopefully someone will put them in their place one of my EE's jumped on the one gosling and scared the daylights out of her.

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Maybe that's what I did wrong, I didn't raise them from goslings with the flock, ( I put them out there perhaps 3 weeks ago) They are bigger then everyone else except for our big blue Orpington and even he steers clear of them...I was just telling hubby maybe I should let them out and just watch and see if Momma hen will take them on to defend her chicks??

My brother has 5 acres and his daughter, my niece, absolutely loves the geese, was here when they started hatching and I know would love to take them, but letting these three go is not going to be easy, but I simply cannot lose any of my other stock...

AmericanMom said:

Maybe that's what I did wrong, I didn't raise them from goslings with the flock, ( I put them out there perhaps 3 weeks ago) They are bigger then everyone else except for our big blue Orpington and even he steers clear of them...I was just telling hubby maybe I should let them out and just watch and see if Momma hen will take them on to defend her chicks??

My brother has 5 acres and his daughter, my niece, absolutely loves the geese, was here when they started hatching and I know would love to take them, but letting these three go is not going to be easy, but I simply cannot lose any of my other stock...

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I understand completely.I would diff give mama hen a chance at putting these holy terrors[goslings] in their place. My gosling are taller than most of my chickens and ducks but if someone stands their ground with them they back off fast. I'm glad you at least have a safe place for them to go if it doesn't work out. Mine are 4 weeks old.

AmericanMom said:

Maybe that's what I did wrong, I didn't raise them from goslings with the flock, ( I put them out there perhaps 3 weeks ago) They are bigger then everyone else except for our big blue Orpington and even he steers clear of them...I was just telling hubby maybe I should let them out and just watch and see if Momma hen will take them on to defend her chicks??

My brother has 5 acres and his daughter, my niece, absolutely loves the geese, was here when they started hatching and I know would love to take them, but letting these three go is not going to be easy, but I simply cannot lose any of my other stock...

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Are they chinese? I can´t remember.
You say you can´t lose any more stock. Have you lost some because of the geese, then?
Mine all free-range together and the only problem I have is that the nosey youngsters like to re-arrange the chickens´ nests! (I end up with odd broken egg.)

livininbrazil said:

Are they chinese? I can´t remember.
You say you can´t lose any more stock. Have you lost some because of the geese, then?
Mine all free-range together and the only problem I have is that the nosey youngsters like to re-arrange the chickens´ nests! (I end up with odd broken egg.)

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Not to the geese, but I lost a few of the Turkey poults along the way and now only have six to start my breeding project next year, One of the geese got ahold of a turkey and had I not been right there it could have been bad, all the turkey lost was a bit of its dignity..
They are Buff/Embdem Mix...

We just left my Bro's house, they are going to take them...I feel much better, they will have a full 5 acres to roam, the chickens have their own run/space so it will be ok...and my Niece is in 4H and it will be a grand project for her.. Sad to see them go but glad they are going to a place with a lot more room to roam around freely.

AmericanMom said:

Not to the geese, but I lost a few of the Turkey poults along the way and now only have six to start my breeding project next year, One of the geese got ahold of a turkey and had I not been right there it could have been bad, all the turkey lost was a bit of its dignity..
They are Buff/Embdem Mix...

We just left my Bro's house, they are going to take them...I feel much better, they will have a full 5 acres to roam, the chickens have their own run/space so it will be ok...and my Niece is in 4H and it will be a grand project for her.. Sad to see them go but glad they are going to a place with a lot more room to roam around freely.

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And you'll get to visit. You've made the right decision for your flock.

AmericanMom said:

Not to the geese, but I lost a few of the Turkey poults along the way and now only have six to start my breeding project next year, One of the geese got ahold of a turkey and had I not been right there it could have been bad, all the turkey lost was a bit of its dignity..
They are Buff/Embdem Mix...

We just left my Bro's house, they are going to take them...I feel much better, they will have a full 5 acres to roam, the chickens have their own run/space so it will be ok...and my Niece is in 4H and it will be a grand project for her.. Sad to see them go but glad they are going to a place with a lot more room to roam around freely.

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I gave up with tureys, Most folks around here find them so hard to rear. I also lost a number of poults. Until they´re 3 months old they can be so delicate, and then a couple of the hens I had were mean to the chickens and one attacked a brooding duck, although I never had any problems with the stags and a couple of my hens were very sweet, just the poults were so delicate, so it wasn´t worth the agro for me...
I´m surprised the Buff/embdens are so bolshy. Buffs are supposed to be quite mild, embdens not so much, but still surprising.
Anyway, all has turned out well, and I´m sure you´ll enjoy seeing them in their new environment. It was still an interesting and enjoyable experience for you, though.

livininbrazil said:

I gave up with tureys, Most folks around here find them so hard to rear. I also lost a number of poults. Until they´re 3 months old they can be so delicate, and then a couple of the hens I had were mean to the chickens and one attacked a brooding duck, although I never had any problems with the stags and a couple of my hens were very sweet, just the poults were so delicate, so it wasn´t worth the agro for me...
I´m surprised the Buff/embdens are so bolshy. Buffs are supposed to be quite mild, embdens not so much, but still surprising.
Anyway, all has turned out well, and I´m sure you´ll enjoy seeing them in their new environment. It was still an interesting and enjoyable experience for you, though.

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We lost another turkey last night, were down to 5.... Your right, they are so hard to raise ..
I decided to let the geese out to see if the Broody hen would actually put them in their place and sure enough, she lit into the one I think is the male, lol.. Grabbed him by the nose and hung on ,at first he tried to fight but it was no use, he took off crying all the way to the other side of the yard with the two other geese bringing up the rear.......hmmmmmmm...

I cannot tell you how fun it has been, I have loved every second of it.. They are so entertaining and friendly (to me anyways) I am going to miss all three running over and trying to eat the zipper of my jacket

AmericanMom said:

We lost another turkey last night, were down to 5.... Your right, they are so hard to raise ..
I decided to let the geese out to see if the Broody hen would actually put them in their place and sure enough, she lit into the one I think is the male, lol.. Grabbed him by the nose and hung on ,at first he tried to fight but it was no use, he took off crying all the way to the other side of the yard with the two other geese bringing up the rear.......hmmmmmmm...

I cannot tell you how fun it has been, I have loved every second of it.. They are so entertaining and friendly (to me anyways) I am going to miss all three running over and trying to eat the zipper of my jacket

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Sounds like your naughty little thugs have learned a lesson. Brooding chickens are wonderfully brave aren´t they? I have a naughty little yorkie here, and a brooding chicken sent her away with a flea in her ear, and up her behind! She squealed all the way along the path, and didn´t touch chickens for ages. It´s all forgotten now, though, and she´s a little terror, but we have a fence to keep the birds safe, so she just runs up to the fence and chases them off.......
My geese are my favourite. If I had to sell my birds, the geese would be the very last to go.......here´s my resumé of them :

Chickens...stupid (ISA), but sweet and pretty (brahmas) and I get eggs and sometimes dear little fluffy things running about.
Muscovies...easy to care for and smart, but breed a lot, so I get eggs and more eggs and sometimes some sweet little ducklings.
Turkeys...The stags (I had blue ones) are beautiful when the dance, easy to deal with, but the females are dumb and can be aggressive to other birds, and the poults are hard to raise
Peacocks....beautiful, can be a bit quarrelsome, but the neighbours complain at the males calling at night.
Guinea fowl..aggressive, noisy, but good at getting nasty creepy critters. Also tend to wander off.
Geese....Love ém!