Did my gander do this?

[justmeandtheflock]

A few days ago I noticed a small cut on the gooses head but didn't think much of it. I assumed she may have scratched herself on a piece of wire in their old pen. The new pen has no loose wire to get caught on. I treated it with perioxide and neosporin and it healed up. This morning I went out and found this:

There are no puncture marks, it just looks like the feathers were pulled out and took some skin with them. I am new to geese, these guys are my 1st pair. Do you think my gander did this to her mating?

 

[StevenW.]

Quote:
It looks like he did.
No wire I can think of can do that.

Poor goose

 

[justmeandtheflock]

So do I sell the gander? Would the goose be happy living with the chickens and ducks? Do you think he would behave himself in a larger flock with an older male. They were July 2010 hatches.

 

[StevenW.]

Quote:
She would but she might not be happy for a couple weeks.
You could try getting another goose to see if he does better.

 

[justmeandtheflock]

I don't really have the space for more geese

They are both walking the fence lines trying to get to each other. I feel bad having them seperated.

 

[GarlicEater]

Yep ganders grab whoever they're picking on there, on down to the tail if that's all they can reach on a rapidly retreating victim.

And they pull feathers out too.

 

[Miss Lydia]

he is young and will probably grow out of that behavior, my gander has he'll be 4 this May.

 

[TennesseeTruly]

I've had that happen during mating. So its quite possible that he was trying to mate with her and ripped her feathers out.

Laurie

 

[desertdarlene]

Ducks have the same problem with the drakes pulling their head feathers out. They don't mean to do it, but get a little overzealous sometimes.

 

[cracking up]

I agree that he might outgrow it just like roosters are a little rough in the beginning. You might try putting them together every week to see how they do.