Sorry for the long post but we are newbies and really need advice. We have 3 male and 7 females in our Embden and Toulouse free range flock, all under 1yr old. We have 1 very broody Embden goose that stays on her nest, and at least two others, 1 Toulouse and 1 other Embden, that sit often on 3 of the 4 nests in their large mobile coop (approx. 10 x 12). The other females would force her up by pulling at her then lay and/or sit themselves. So with the two nests they created, I created two more and separated eggs into them because the one that was most broody couldn't cover all the eggs the girls kept laying. I have since found 2 goose eggs and 1 chicken egg kicked into the middle of new coop but 3 of the 4 nests are being used I think. I have to bring food and water to the most broody gal and stand guard to keep the others from eating her food because I'm not sure that she is getting off the best much at allall. She hisses and bites me and calls for the others if i get too close but after a few mins. They realize that I am protecting her while she eats and then settle down and just stand next to me until I leave then go after her food, though she tries to fend them off from her food while still on the nest. We likely have about 30-40 eggs between the 4 nests. 2 of the ganders have already been badly hurt by other males and have to be separated out at night, when possible their mates stay with them. The biggest and most gentle gander of the flock has healed well but will not go into the coop, and the one that used to pick on him is now the 2nd injured gander, having been badly hurt by the Toulouse gander. His wing feathers were so badly ripped out that here was actual flesh on the ends in the coop. I'm hoping he will heal well since he is walking, eating and drinking normally. These attacks seemed to be the worst at night in the coop and the vet says they aren't going to stop fighting so I'm still trying to work out how to get the ganders to get along as they do better when they free range, otherwise I may have to cull. I cannot have 3 goose coops, and the 2 isolated genders cannot go together. I'm sooo hoping we to get goslings this year, but Oh the DRAMA of mating season! LOL.
1) Is there any hope of these males coexisting?
2) should i move the broodiest goose somewhere else?
3) What's the likelihood of actually getting goslings in a communal setting like this and will they be safe?
3) If have to cull or sell how do I choose which ganders to keep? The big Embden isn't a very good defender but has 3 mates, the smaller Embden is now injured though he stands guard for his female quite well (the very broody one, I'm not sure if he has another one), and the Toulouse is the only of his kind and seems very defensive against other birds and may make a good protector for his 2 mates. Can 1 or 2 ganders handle so many females or should I sell/cull them as well?
Sorry for the long post but what do you think?
1) Is there any hope of these males coexisting?
2) should i move the broodiest goose somewhere else?
3) What's the likelihood of actually getting goslings in a communal setting like this and will they be safe?
3) If have to cull or sell how do I choose which ganders to keep? The big Embden isn't a very good defender but has 3 mates, the smaller Embden is now injured though he stands guard for his female quite well (the very broody one, I'm not sure if he has another one), and the Toulouse is the only of his kind and seems very defensive against other birds and may make a good protector for his 2 mates. Can 1 or 2 ganders handle so many females or should I sell/cull them as well?
Sorry for the long post but what do you think?