Bipolar Gander

[Wjpeaches]

I have 2 male and 2 female sobostopol geese. They are mellow except when people pass by. Then they get very aggressive. Unfortunately, the aggression is now aimed at me. I say bipolar because one of my birds can be very gentle with me, then suddenly attack me. He ripped a chunk of skin off of my arm today without provocation on my part. I'm just wondering if mating season has something to do with it. My other male insists on wanting to mate with me...yikes . Evertime the bipolar male sees him, that's when he turns on me. I'll either flick his beak or hold him by the neck until he stops. It usually works, but it took some time today. Now he follows me all of the time and also gives me the mating sign, so I'm just wondering if it's the season. The only other times he get really aggressive is whe I'm holding my ducks. He goes bizerk. Now I'm not going to make goose stew, but I need advice or help. Thanks

 

[Ephyra]

Ouch! I hope your arm is okay! Sounds like gander hormones to me... they can get pretty crazy right now. Are you sure the one who is attacking you is not also trying to mate with you?

Whenever I have had to deal with aggressive ganders, I slowly but purposefully walk into them (not hurting him) and maybe flap my arms until he retreats, then flap my arms in victory. If you see them flap their wings after you walk away, that apparently means they think they were the victor. Whenever he backs off, no need to take it any further but you may want to hold your ground there for a minute. Some people take some pretty drastic measures dealing with ganders, pretty much all out fighting them - maybe I should consider myself lucky but I have never found a fraction of that to be necessary. But it's important to me, that they are not afraid of me- just respect me. Have you tried squatting over him and holding his neck to the ground, just for one second?

Does he considers your ducks *his* ducks? Either way, it's important that he knows you're the leader!

 

[Wjpeaches]

Ouch! I hope your arm is okay! Sounds like gander hormones to me... they can get pretty crazy right now. Are you sure the one who is attacking you is not also trying to mate with you?

Whenever I have had to deal with aggressive ganders, I slowly but purposefully walk into them (not hurting him) and maybe flap my arms until he retreats, then flap my arms in victory. If you see them flap their wings after you walk away, that apparently means they think they were the victor. Whenever he backs off, no need to take it any further but you may want to hold your ground there for a minute. Some people take some pretty drastic measures dealing with ganders, pretty much all out fighting them - maybe I should consider myself lucky but I have never found a fraction of that to be necessary. But it's important to me, that they are not afraid of me- just respect me. Have you tried squatting over him and holding his neck to the ground, just for one second?

Does he considers your ducks *his* ducks? Either way, it's important that he knows you're the leader!

Ouch! I hope your arm is okay! Sounds like gander hormones to me... they can get pretty crazy right now. Are you sure the one who is attacking you is not also trying to mate with you?

Whenever I have had to deal with aggressive ganders, I slowly but purposefully walk into them (not hurting him) and maybe flap my arms until he retreats, then flap my arms in victory. If you see them flap their wings after you walk away, that apparently means they think they were the victor. Whenever he backs off, no need to take it any further but you may want to hold your ground there for a minute. Some people take some pretty drastic measures dealing with ganders, pretty much all out fighting them - maybe I should consider myself lucky but I have never found a fraction of that to be necessary. But it's important to me, that they are not afraid of me- just respect me. Have you tried squatting over him and holding his neck to the ground, just for one second?

Does he considers your ducks *his* ducks? Either way, it's important that he knows you're the leader!

Thanks so very much for your advise. It's the season. Mating me is on his mind. He follows me around giving me the mating sign. I realize that he got angry with my other male that really goes full out with wanting to mate with me. That seemed to be what set him off and turn on me. He's a good bird and enjoys being around me, but when his buddy makes a move, all bets are off. Again, thanks so very much!

 

[The goose girl]

My gander is like that, too. He does seem to have mellowed a lot compared to last year, though. And I've learned more about what triggers him:

• anything that exists or takes place near the goose house (where the nest is)
• new clothes (I try to wear the same boots, thermal suit, and hat every day. If not, I give him extra time to adjust before I enter the yard)
• my flailing arms (I keep them behind me when I greet him and walk up to him)
• anything I'm carrying/holding, especially if it's big or brightly colored
• cats, chickens, people he doesn't know, people he doesn't like, bicycles, horses, big trucks, airplanes

It seems to me that when he starts to gets worked up he gets to a "point of no return" where it's like an avalanche and he has a really hard time calming down again. He just attacks blindly.

What works for me is to pick him up and hold him tight (so he can't flap his wings at me), carry him away from whatever triggered him, toss him softly a few feet away from me, and then happily greet him as soon as he lands. He'll usually - 9 out of 10 times - snap out of his rage and go check on the goose to see if she's okay. If not, I repeat.

This year he's fallen totally in love with my friend, who we visit every day. Last year he mostly tolerated her if she sat perfectly still. This year:

 

[Miss Lydia]

What a sweet pic

 

[Wjpeaches]

Thanks so much for your advise and info. For the most part, he leaves the others and quietly follows me everywhere. Sometimes It's a bit much, especially when I'm trying to do work. During his visits with me, I get the mating sign. Please excuse my descriptive verbiage, but I'll tell him, 'I'm sorry, but I can't do the goosie hump.'

The sweet thing is, when I tell him to give me a kiss, he gently pecks me on the cheek.

I notice he gets irritated and aggressive when my other male approaches me to mate. Now he really makes his intentions known by chasing me and trying to do his deeds. That's when my other male turns on me. He's a good boy. It's only when he goes through his mood swing. Again, thanks. That pix us so

 

[DiYMama540]

I hate to laugh but the title is SPOT ON!! They are absolutely bipolar right now!

Chance will be fine one minute then something snaps and here he comes ready to fight. He's gotten ahold of me a couple times this year and yes! It hurts!!

Be patient...it will all calm down soon...I think

 

[DiYMama540]

Also I should add...he's completely smitten with my husband who couldn't care less about the birds not fair!!

 

[Wjpeaches]

Hee hee. He's following me

I hate to laugh but the title is SPOT ON!! They are absolutely bipolar right now!

Chance will be fine one minute then something snaps and here he comes ready to fight. He's gotten ahold of me a couple times this year and yes! It hurts!!

Be patient...it will all calm down soon...I think

He's following right now giving me the mating sign. I'm trying to clean the yard, and he quietly keeps following me. I bent over and told him: you're handsome but you're not my type.
BUT ...as soon as my other Male, Flat Foot Floogie, comes at me with that romantic look, that's when Flapjack goes insane.

Thanks for your feedback...gotta luv those golly ganzos!

I hate to laugh but the title is SPOT ON!! They are absolutely bipolar right now!

Chance will be fine one minute then something snaps and here he comes ready to fight. He's gotten ahold of me a couple times this year and yes! It hurts!!

Be patient...it will all calm down soon...I think