Are female geese aggressive without a male?

[NDeAngelo8517]

I’ve never had geese before, but I’m looking to get 2 in the spring. I have 9 female ducks and 40 or so chickens. I’m debating whether to get 2 female geese or a male and female. I don’t want to deal with an aggressive goose, so I’m leaning more toward 2 females. How likely are female geese to be aggressive if there’s no gander? Also, if I do get a gander, would there be any issues between him and my ducks, or my roosters?

 

[Goosebaby]

There’s no clear answer to this unfortunatly.

Geese are highly individualistic so it largely depends on whichever personalities you end up with.

Females are less aggressive in breeding season than ganders, but that doesn’t mean that you won’t end up with a girl that decides that she hates the ducks.

Females are often the instigators when it comes to ganders attacking something, they do this high pitched rapid cackle which is like a war cry that ganders just can’t resist.

I’ve had ganders that get along quite well with ducks, and others that tolerate them, and others that try to kill ducks, so it’s hard to say how things will be honestly.

You probably will have less problems with just female geese, but it’s not a guarantee, I’ve found that “for reasons I can’t understand” female geese can end up getting bullied by ducks fairly often. I have a few girls that get bullied by ducks, which is weird because the geese are enormous by comparison.

On the other hand, my smallest female goose will not tolerate ducks near her and has no issue sending them on their way, and she’s barely bigger than the ducks.

 

[NDeAngelo8517]

There’s no clear answer to this unfortunatly.

Geese are highly individualistic so it largely depends on whichever personalities you end up with.

Females are less aggressive in breeding season than ganders, but that doesn’t mean that you won’t end up with a girl that decides that she hates the ducks.

Females are often the instigators when it comes to ganders attacking something, they do this high pitched rapid cackle which is like a war cry that ganders just can’t resist.

I’ve had ganders that get along quite well with ducks, and others that tolerate them, and others that try to kill ducks, so it’s hard to say how things will be honestly.

You probably will have less problems with just female geese, but it’s not a guarantee, I’ve found that “for reasons I can’t understand” female geese can end up getting bullied by ducks fairly often. I have a few girls that get bullied by ducks, which is weird because the geese are enormous by comparison.

On the other hand, my smallest female goose will not tolerate ducks near her and has no issue sending them on their way, and she’s barely bigger than the ducks.

What about aggressive to humans? Are females less likely to be aggressive to humans than ganders?

 

[Goosebaby]

What about aggressive to humans? Are females less likely to be aggressive to humans than ganders?

It depends on how they’re raised either way but females are more likely to just try to avoid you if you aren’t hands on with raising them.

If you spend a lot of time with them as they’re growing up and continue to socialize with them as adults you’ll rarely have problems with geese.
If you’re distant with them they’ll treat you with suspicion and avoid you, but during breeding season the gander might consider you as a threat or rival.

 

[BirdsBeesTrees]

When I just had females they bonded with me. Now I have a male and they've bonded with him.
Before I had a male they were like puppies sweet and followed me everywhere, and were never aggressive to people (they were hand raised with lots of human attention). My male started being very aggressive, but I had to make sure every person wouldn't back down or run away from him and now he will leave us alone. So it's showing your dominance over them.
I have 6 American Buff geese by the way.

 

[Goosey Girl]

If you have separate areas for your different species of birds, it doesn't matter. Two of my male geese are best buddies and they freak out if you try to separate them. Last year was their first breeding season and they never fought or tried to establish dominance. I also had two females who acted like a male/female couple the whole breeding season changing roles in the kiddie pools.
I recommend one gander and two geese. Three is a good number to start with. If you only have two and something happens to one of them, that remaining goose will be lonely until you find him/her a replacement pal!

 

[Goosebaby]

If you have separate areas for your different species of birds, it doesn't matter. Two of my male geese are best buddies and they freak out if you try to separate them. Last year was their first breeding season and they never fought or tried to establish dominance. I also had two females who acted like a male/female couple the whole breeding season changing roles in the kiddie pools.
I recommend one gander and two geese. Three is a good number to start with. If you only have two and something happens to one of them, that remaining goose will be lonely until you find him/her a replacement pal!

I’ve got a few only boy groups too! Geese have such big hearts!