Behavior Issues and Rehoming

[Franki]

Jordan and Reebok are both 18 yrs old. I got them both at 2 days old.
The owner had many geese and apparently they shared a nest and the sitting goose hatched Jordan (boy) Reebok (girl). The mother went back to the nest and the adult geese wouldn't let them in the flock without a "mom".
They are definitely boy and girl. He used to breed her, she laid eggs.
Along comes Oliver 9 years ago. Someone dumped him in a field full of Canadian geese. The field was surrounded by industry and 4 lane highways on all sides,
Found in June so possibly someone got him for Easter and decided they didn't really want a goose and saw the Canadians and thought it was a good idea.
I drove by, saw him, went back several hours later with a bag of corn, Oliver came running, has been with me since.

Oliver does not walk anymore without incentive. He has has adequan, cold laser, most recently is wearing boots made of Dr. Scholls - whatever those feel good insoles are.
The vet(s) and I are trying to get him going again.
Daisy was bought for him as a companion. She is good with him, very protective. She will go and wander with Jordan and Reebok in the yard but always goes back to Oliver.
She is friendly to me when she is not by Oliver. At night when I take treats out after they are put up she will hiss at me.
Last week Jordan, Reebok and Oliver were at the vet for 4 days. Daisy was very friendly with me. She has come a long way from when I brought her home.
Jordan and Reebok share a barn and Oliver and Daisy share an indoor area that butts the barn. They are separated by a screened doorway.

So Jordan and Reebok are a mated pair of 18 yrs. Oliver had a mate that died several years ago and had been spending his time with a plastic goose so I thought I'd try getting him a mate.
I tried many rescues but no one had an older female only mated pairs or males.
Daisy was 11 months old when I brought her home.

My Jordan is back at the vet's. I am now wondering if some of his issues are from Daisy beating him up when I'm gone.
I am home a lot. I work and go home and spend my evenings with the dogs and geese in the yard by the pond. I had noticed some different behaviors but just attributed it to Jordan not feeling well. Now I am thinking it was fear but the first and only aggressive act was what I saw yesterday.

Linda

 

[1muttsfan]

I would suggest penning Oliver and Daisy up separately for a few days at least to give them a chance to bond without distractions, and give you an idea if they are indeed a couple. Good luck.

 

[Franki]

I replied to this from email and have no idea where it went so if it shows up twice please forgive me.

Thanks, they are together at night and she does stay with him most of the day but he doesn't get up and move unless prompted to go swim or he sees I have a treat.
She will go off with Jordan and Reebok throughout the day but Oliver will honk and she will go back and hang out with him.

Linda

 

[Franki]

This was the four of them when she first came.
This is pretty much what I've seen until yesterday morning.
Also Daisy standing in front of the fan.
I do like her she just can't stay - I can't do that to Jordan.

 

[flockman]

I hope all works out in the end.

 

[kimberly35042]

I think its very possible she hurt your older gander. I also know when I had a similar situation and needed a goose as a companion for a gander that was the outcast of the 3 some, the other gander took both geese.

Geese have their own opinions and social order and just because you give him a friend, well that doesn't mean they will hook up (so to speak) and be a bonded pair. Personally I would try to have him raise a gosling and go that route, but there again, the mated pair might take the baby from him. Sorry for all the areas of "grey", its just not black and white. I've been there, and I know how frustrated you are.

Kudos for you for having 18 year old geese ! You don't see that much on here

 

[Franki]

Jordan's vet called today and said the same thing that he thinks some of this is that he may have been beaten up.
I just can't get over that as much as I'm at home and in the yard with them that is the only aggressive display that I saw.
He was apparently beating him up during the day and Jordan was staying far away enough away at night to not provoke him.
Apparently when Jordan came to get his treat he came too close.
I feel terrible that in trying to do something good It hurt Jordan.
I have to place this goose male or female doesn't matter.
I have a half acre fenced in. Jordan and Reebok are 18 and I will not have him live out his life not being the king of his yard.
I have contacted a sanctuary twice now but received no reply.
I put some notices at feed stores.
I understand that most people raise them for meat and such and that's OK but I don't want to take this goose that came from
a flock and was totally unsocial and has now come to trust people and eat out of my hand and have him slaughtered.
So again if anyone knows some that wants a nice goose for a pet please let me know. He/She can't stay here.
Linda