Any advice for a grieving gander?

[Sasa]

I hope you got him another mate, that should fix it. My gander was killed in front of his hens last year and his main girl has taken up with 2 Runner drakes. She rejected the new gander and stays with her little boys. The other 2 hens love the new gander. A new mate, of some sort, does seem to be the answer.

 

[SummerChick]

Idealistic, how is your gander doing?

 

[lorney]

My boy has been lonely too, though he's still taken up with sitting on his eggs. This is going to sound crazy but if I put my big white fleece on he'll actually come out for a little walk and a graze with me (I get in the pool with him too, wearing my wellies) though he dashes back in to the eggs at regular intervals. He's been quite hostile since he and his lady arrived, but now that he's on his own, he seems to like a bit of company. I must look like a really huge goose to him! (so maybe it makes him feel protected too - I think he was quite traumatised by the death of his mate, though I'm not sure how much of the attack he witnessed.)

 

[Miss Lydia]

My boy has been lonely too, though he's still taken up with sitting on his eggs. This is going to sound crazy but if I put my big white fleece on he'll actually come out for a little walk and a graze with me (I get in the pool with him too, wearing my wellies) though he dashes back in to the eggs at regular intervals. He's been quite hostile since he and his lady arrived, but now that he's on his own, he seems to like a bit of company. I must look like a really huge goose to him! (so maybe it makes him feel protected too - I think he was quite traumatised by the death of his mate, though I'm not sure how much of the attack he witnessed.)

Where did the eggs come from? your wonderful for making him feel better and more secure, are the eggs fertile? maybe he'll have some gosling friends to hang out with soon.

I take it he lost his mate?

 

[lorney]

He did, Miss Lydia, she was killed by a fox three weeks ago.

I'm new to the forum (though very relieved to have found it!) and I've posted a thread about him sitting on the eggs that his mate left.

I've only just started keeping geese - a work colleague needed a new home for her goose and we decided to get her a companion at the same time. I'd planned on having another female but unfortunately I discovered that it was true about geese being notoriously difficult to sex - we accidentally ended up with a very handsome and characterful young gander!

So he's sitting on the eggs she left (it's day 21!) but I have no idea if they are fertile or not - and I think I need to be prepared in case any do hatch! (I think I should probably start a new thread about parental gosling care rather than hijacking this one for my own topic). I've read a number of old threads but they seem focussed on hand-rearing, when what I need to know is what I should do to make a safe warm gosling nursery for them and Dad, if they hatch.

If they don't hatch, I will get him either a new mate or a pair of babies to nurture as soon as possible - poor boy, despite my fleecy white jumper and forays into his pool with him, he is very isolated and lonely - not good for him.

 

[Miss Lydia]

He did, Miss Lydia, she was killed by a fox three weeks ago.

I'm new to the forum (though very relieved to have found it!) and I've posted a thread about him sitting on the eggs that his mate left.

I've only just started keeping geese - a work colleague needed a new home for her goose and we decided to get her a companion at the same time. I'd planned on having another female but unfortunately I discovered that it was true about geese being notoriously difficult to sex - we accidentally ended up with a very handsome and characterful young gander!

So he's sitting on the eggs she left (it's day 21!) but I have no idea if they are fertile or not - and I think I need to be prepared in case any do hatch! (I think I should probably start a new thread about parental gosling care rather than hijacking this one for my own topic). I've read a number of old threads but they seem focussed on hand-rearing, when what I need to know is what I should do to make a safe warm gosling nursery for them and Dad, if they hatch.

If they don't hatch, I will get him either a new mate or a pair of babies to nurture as soon as possible - poor boy, despite my fleecy white jumper and forays into his pool with him, he is very isolated and lonely - not good for him.

So what has happened should be getting close.

 

[Sasa]

Oh you are such a good goose Mommy! Post what happens with the eggs, my gander mated with his hens all the time so I bet they are fertile, how awesome if he hatches them and raises them. Geese are wonderful parents and the whole flock does raise the babies. They have a brain like a dog's brain and are quite loyal. You have to post photos.

 

[lorney]

Nothing yet - should be some point this week (wednesday?) if its going to happen.. Am trying to make preparations in the event of either eventuality and would like to get him a new lady friend whatever the outcome..!

 

[Miss Lydia]

Nothing yet - should be some point this week (wednesday?) if its going to happen.. Am trying to make preparations in the event of either eventuality and would like to get him a new lady friend whatever the outcome..!

I hope you can find him a lady friend, and most likely if you get goslings he'll take care of them for you, all you need do is give him a safe secure place to take care of them in. All the best and keep us updated please.