Ahhh but I don't want any ganders!

[CelticOaksFarm]

I wouldn't know, we have all breeding pairs and trios. I won't let the ducks sleep with them at night though. Right now it's not a big deal as we are out of breeding season. They all still have their own houses for at night though.

 

[Iain Utah]

Congrats on your african pair!!! My africans are quite the characters. I have learned that ganders need consistent training and handling which can be a challenge. They remind me of a strong willed alpha horse and need to be treated as such. On the other hand, my juvenile gander will leave his flock to be with me. If I'm inside the house, he refuses to leave my front porch. Wherever I go, he is my shadow. I think the biggest key for me has been to not allow him to get away with bluff charging people because he is extremely protective and territorial.

FYI, my africans and ducks free range together and my africans ignore them.

 

[zooweemama]

If we really REALLY like having geese, next year I would like to add some Buff geese. They are so gorgeous.

 

[zooweemama]

Congrats on your african pair!!! My africans are quite the characters. I have learned that ganders need consistent training and handling which can be a challenge. They remind me of a strong willed alpha horse and need to be treated as such. On the other hand, my juvenile gander will leave his flock to be with me. If I'm inside the house, he refuses to leave my front porch. Wherever I go, he is my shadow. I think the biggest key for me has been to not allow him to get away with bluff charging people because he is extremely protective and territorial.

FYI, my africans and ducks free range together and my africans ignore them.

Thank you for that info. Since there are only two of them- my husband and I plan on handling them as much as possible. I think it's so sweet of him. He didn't want geese to start with but the idea grew on him. He wants to 'adopt' the male. He loves loves loves hanging out with ducks. He sits on talks to them. Our 8 week olds I think we've given up on them 'coming' to us. But the babies (5 weeks old) will briefly come right up to you to see if you have something tasty. I think he really likes the idea of not being overwhelmed with 8-10 baby ducks. There will be just 2 of them. So hopefully all the attention will help.

Is there a treat that geese especially like? I know my ducks adore peas- like drug addict love. We have to wait 2 weeks so...ahhh!

 

[Iain Utah]

Your husband will LOVE your geese!! Kale is my treat of choice for babies.

 

[Kevin565]

Does this apply to all geese or just a mated pair? I have two females and they have a little duck that lives with them. They are all quite attached to each other and we were planning on housing them together.

When my Goose when broody on infertile eggs she became very moody too all the ducks. At that time she was the only goose I had

 

[flockman]

I got a pair of buffs from Metzers this year and I love them. Hopefully they will be calm and docile. We handled them some, but they have enough of a healthy fear of us that hopefully we won't have an extremely aggressive gander on our hands next spring.

 

[wildpeas]

When my Goose when broody on infertile eggs she became very moody too all the ducks. At that time she was the only goose I had

This is probably a dumb question but, if I make sure to take the eggs right away will she still act broody on an empty nest? (I warned you it would be a dumb question

)

 

[Kevin565]

This is probably a dumb question but, if I make sure to take the eggs right away will she still act broody on an empty nest? (I warned you it would be a dumb question

)

Not a dumb question at all! Sometimes yes but it is usually temporarily.

 

[wildpeas]

Thank you for that info. Since there are only two of them- my husband and I plan on handling them as much as possible. I think it's so sweet of him. He didn't want geese to start with but the idea grew on him. He wants to 'adopt' the male. He loves loves loves hanging out with ducks. He sits on talks to them. Our 8 week olds I think we've given up on them 'coming' to us. But the babies (5 weeks old) will briefly come right up to you to see if you have something tasty. I think he really likes the idea of not being overwhelmed with 8-10 baby ducks. There will be just 2 of them. So hopefully all the attention will help.

Is there a treat that geese especially like? I know my ducks adore peas- like drug addict love. We have to wait 2 weeks so...ahhh!

The only food treat my geese like so far is lettuce, especially romaine. Otherwise what they like most is attention, not being picked up necessarily but talking to them and spending time in their yard with them. They like being stroked on their chests and necks but not their backs. I really love them.