Breeding behavior in teenage ganders?? HUH??

[Lollipop]

Hey Pop, I got my standard african eggs from Celtic Oaks, who lives about 2 hours away from you. She also has sebbies.

Thanks lain, CO has a nice website, but I'm probably gonna add white or brown Chinese geese. The 2 ganders I have left are EmdenXWhite Chinese. The reason I would consider brown is so they would be harder for predators to spot. I moved my flock to GA from So FL in '08. I had 7 geese at that time. Now just 2. I like the African, but the Chinese would probably be a better fit. Thanks again for the info........Pop

 

[Iain Utah]

No worries, Pop. I got the africans because my pair are african crosses, so I understand.

 

[Sean S.]

My teenage sebbies are acting up lately, the are mating now. Two of them have exiled the third gander from the flock, he is now with the ducks for the time being! The two with the flock walk around with their beaks so high up that they trip over anything they come across! Really rather funny to watch. They are also hissing at anything that moves.

 

[SouthDakotan]

I am noticing behavior changes in my pair recently. Recently they have been wandering around like they are looking for something. Yesterday they came over to the front porch (which is a distance from the horse property) like it was their intentional destination, checked things out, then went back to the horse property. Hubby said he was told the geese (there was a large group on property before) used to nest under porch. Hubby also said that one was starting to act aggressive towards him at evening feed… but they have never liked him much. Then this morning, one of them hissed at me!! This is a first!! I was told they were a pair of ganders in their teens (but the person was not sure), so I am surprised to see what I am assuming is breeding behavior??

Does this sound like breeding behavior?
Would a pair of ganders show this behavior?
If it is a goose/gander pair, how late in life can they breed?

My hand raised gander hissed when he was "moody". But my other ganders and geese were more than willing to not only hiss, but bite if I didnt take their initial hiss warning seriously! They will also start a hiss/wing open threatening routine. But its all part of their natural instinct to try to chase off potential threats. Teens? What is the definition of "teen"? To me that means over-act hormones in humans! So over-active hormones in a gander !!! Let alone two ganders!!! I don't think it would matter if there is a goose to mate with -- their hormones will be flowing either way! In some animals pinned up hormones are worse than breeding the animals. It can mean more aggression in some types of animals. So not sure about ganders. I know that my young gander I raised with a handful of ducks ended up taking claim to the duck hens and wouldn't allow any of the drakes to mate with them. Worse yet was the hens preferred the gander and courted him constantly!! So, I had to get rid of the gander. Next time, I will get a few geese and have them in separate runs than my ducks, just to make sure that doesn't happen.

 

[SouthDakotan]

Into their 20s?!?! It would be so cool if they turned out to be a breeding pair!

When should I start hunting for eggs?

I acquired 20 geese from a fellow last year, that has had his flock for about 15 years. The only new additions were born into the flock or flew in (one injured Canadian gander, who decided to stay). So his flock was a mix of Embden and wild Canadian. They had amazing plummage with strips of Canadian markings showing thru the otherwise white plumage of the Embden. Sorta gave them a "muddied" look from a distance. His flock was free range and his older birds were still breeding. They all preferred to trot away from us as we approached, but once cornered, they were more than willing to fight! We got beat up pretty good trying to put them into the chute area for loading!

After that, my husband changed his mind on whether he'd help me at butchering time. Initially he had told me he'd not be willing, but after he got bit, pounded and beaten a few hundred times; he said he had "no problem" helping me. I guess its a matter of incentive. LoL

 

[Iain Utah]

I am not referring to the state of post-adolescence when I say teens. It is very possible my pair to be well over 10 calendar years old. The original owner was the wife of property and she passed 11 years ago. Her husband then passed 2 years ago. So, my pair are not youngsters!

Needless to say, I find their behavior changes most interesting! I can't wait to see how they will be when my goslings hatch!!! Only 2 weeks to go!!

 

[Iain Utah]

My pair wandered over to the house again this afternoon. Then, they heard the ducklings through the window. It seemed to catch their attention and they were not inclined the leave on their their own. So, I ushered them back to the horse property (which is across the street), as I didn't want them to get hit by a car. Here is a pic of them listening to the ducklings:

 

[Oneacre Homestead]

Look at them- Maybe they want to adopt the ducklings - i hope you will update us if they adopt a family!!!

 

[gryeyes]

I have a pair of utility Toulouse geese and I HOPE they are gander and goose. They were hatched in August last year, so I imagine their age and the unseasonably warm weather (for a winter period) may be hastening the rise in hormones. At least with the goose. I had a Chicken Kindergarten pen built inside the coop for chicks... Kate became extremely interested in the chicks behind the wire and for the first time ever, hissed at me when I went into the pen with the chicks.

Angus, on the other hand, just ambles around on his own more than usual. They used to be inseparable, but I think she's become more demanding than he's ready for, yet. Just guessing, really. He hangs out with my 9 ducks, or ambles through a cluster of chickens now and then. It's almost as if she has kicked him out of the "house" and he has to buddy up with the ducks. Late night poker games, swilling pond water, and the like.

 

[Iain Utah]

My pair of geese are refusing to leave the front yard, staying right by the window to the brooder room, and are constantly calling to the ducklings. I shooed them back yesterday. This morning at 7am, I had my dogs bark at them from back fence line. Now, they are back again.... honking under window nonstop.

Should I put the ducklings in a safe pen outside? They do seem a little fearful of the honking.