Aggressive mating injuries

[Nelliebee]

I have a young pair about a year old. My goose has been laying an egg a day since February and in the last few days bald patches and bruises have appeared all down one side of her neck. As far as I can tell, it's from aggressive mating. Certainly from the position on her neck it looks like the gander has been pulling her feathers out and biting her while mounted. It's getting suddenly worse and the poor love has been laying fit to bust for weeks, she's starting to look tired. Is there anything I can do to stop him being so rough on her, or is there anything else it might be instead?

 

[sourland]

I'd separate them with a fence so that they can see one another but not make contact. You could let them together every couple of days or so until they mate and then separate them. If you want fertile eggs she will maintain fertility for several weeks after they have been separated.

 

[Nelliebee]

I'd separate them with a fence so that they can see one another but not make contact. You could let them together every couple of days or so until they mate and then separate them. If you want fertile eggs she will maintain fertility for several weeks after they have been separated.

Great, thanks for the advice. It's her first season, so I don't plan to hatch any eggs this year. I'll separate them for a bit and see how she does.