I have a young goose, he is for the most part sweet and he follows me everywhere. However when I try and pick him up or pet him he runs from me. When I do get my hands on him, he will be ok, but however when I put him in my lap he will lay down there and start trying to bite me, I am not holding him down as he lays on me on his own free will. But I am not sure if he is just trying to bite or he just doesn't know how hard he is nibbling on me. He is not flighty other then when I try and pet him or pick him up. Once he is on my lap however he'll let me pet him and stroke his head, but when I do he starts nibbling and hard. Is there a way to control that or is he just showing me affection he only does that to my hand however sometimes he gets pretty rough with those beak teeth he has. Its almost like he's trying to eat my finger cause he will put my fingers almost to the back of his mouth. I am also not sure on this run away behavior, I think he has associated the picking up with putting him in his pin. Thus he runs thinking I am going to put him away for the day.
Do I just need to teach him that he's nibbling to hard? And if so, how do I do that without hurting him or making him afraid of me. I am assuming that he's a he because he loves me and will have nothing to do with my husband who he used to love as much as me. Now when my husband goes to get him out, he runs to the back of the pin and wont come out. But as soon as he spots me he comes running to the front and practically jumps into my arms. So I know he's sweet and I know he loves me as well. How do I teach him that every encounter is not me wanting to put him up for the day? Anything from someone who knows geese and their psychology would be very helpful. I want him to be a sweety and not be so rough, and I really need him to be able to come to me in case something were to happen where I can check him out, instead of running away. My husband won't let me keep him inside either.
