do geese bite?????

[Kim65]

I have a neighbor across the street who is, erm, not real friendly. My turkeys went to visit him one day, and instead of welcoming them (I would have) he called the Animal Cops on me. Grump. So the Animal Cops come to my front door and I go herd the turkeys home.

When the Animal Cops come back to chew me out and threaten me with a ticket

, Petey Peters comes striding out to confront the intruders. He had the male Animal Cop doing this weird kind of dance (trying to look severe and authoritative while a goose is biting your legs is hard). I should have told him to show Petey his badge . . .

 

[sewchick]

Quote:

I would have about peed my pants with laughter. I don't think I could have controlled my giggles. I am seeing the picture now of that goose biting the A_Cop. I am surprised they didn't mace your goose. God if one of those turkeys came a knocking at my door I would invite them in for supper.

ooops sorry about the double post.

 

[sewchick]

Quote:

I would have about peed my pants with laughter. I don't think I could have controlled my giggles. I am seeing the picture now of that goose biting the A_Cop. I am surprised they didn't mace your goose. God if one of those turkeys came a knocking at my door I would invite them in for supper. Then give them a nice hot sauna.

 

[J3172]

I've been working with wild geese and had one bite me in the face. But I raise embden, and tolouse and have never had a problem.

 

[desertdarlene]

I used to be afraid of geese, but have recently tried to understand them and be friends with them. I've found that if you stand up to them, they generally think twice before doing anything serious to you. Talking to them, especially to the Chinese geese really helps. But, I have been bitten, mostly because the dominant gander was demanding attention of me and I wasn't giving it to him. The first time I got bitten, it broke skin and got a bruise for several days, but it didn't hurt me too much.

Some geese are better to deal with than others. Some just have bad manners and have been encouraged by people who are afraid of them. One pair I know gangs up on a lady who comes to feed a lone Muscovy duck and they eat out of her hands. They practically grab the food out of her hand or bite her when she tries to give food to the duck. I showed her how to raise her hands and arms up and how that will make them go away. These geese aren't really trying to be mean, but they're used to people being afraid of them and have gotten into some bad habits including biting hard and hissing.

Be aware of the wing slaps. I've never experienced that, but I know how they can hurt. Someone said to reach for their "armpits" and they will fold the wings back up, but, at the same time, watch the head, too.

Some bites are affectionate and not meant to hurt, but are playful. I was also told that nipping around the feet and pant legs was affectionate, also. But, be careful not to encourage it as they sometimes will start to bite really hard and it won't be fun anymore.

 

[noahsgeese]

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That is one way to do it, but I try to do it by getting a rake and getting it under their breast and then just throw them!

 

[Shiloh Acres]

I have had Chinese and Africans in the past who were very aggressive towards strangers, but generally just sweet to me. I would get gentle affectionate nibbles. They liked hugs, and would wrap their necks around my neck if I bent down to them. They even allowed me to examine the eggs in the nest and approach a brooding female with no fuss. They did try to remove jewelry and freckles though. The only aggression I ever got from that bunch was a Chinese gander who HATED to be picked up. Apparently it offended his dignity or something, LOL. If I picked him up for any reason, even to help him out of a low fence he'd trapped himself in, a debt was created that could only be settled with a bite. He would follow me if he had to, finally getting his chance for a single nip, then he would be ok.

My bunch now act like a gang of hoodlums, LOL. They bite the goats, the dogs, the chickens, the guineas, everyone. They do NOT bite me, or the llamas. They respect the llamas and give them some space. And they love me. Seriously, though, they are usually pretty obedient when I move them or tell them it's time to go in their house. They have never acted the least bit aggressive to me. At least not yet. Anytime one gets at ALL out of line, I pick him up and hold him close until he tucks his head in and makes sweet noises. They don't really like being picked up and held, so I think it's a bit of a deterrent, but by the time I put them down they are acting sweet. I don't get the tailfeather shake ducks and geese usually give if you bodily offend them. It's working so far at least. We'll see what happens come breeding season, LOL.

 

[Sher]

I only have a rehomed chinese brown goose in with his buddy a Pekin and 7 Khaki Campbells. The goose is the leader now, and when I go out and sit down in the yard where they are fenced in, I keep a chair, lol, he comes over and talks to me. He did bite me once when we first got him. I was trying to get him to put him away for the night and he bit me in the...ahhh....chest. It really hurt! Now, he calls when he hears my voice, will pretty much stay near where I am. Every night, after the ducks are put to bed, he comes tome and i have to pick him up and put him in the pen. I just love him...just like a man, has to have everything done for him! I have two herding dogs that come out and help round up the ducks, he does bite one in the butt, both dogs give him a wide berth.

Sher 2 Bearded Collies, 2 cats, 1 goose, 8 ducks, 60+ chickens, 9 Guineas,10 Heritage Turkeys and 4 big baby calves
Roscoe, Tx

 

[celticfarmer]

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That is one way to do it, but I try to do it by getting a rake and getting it under their breast and then just throw them!

I had geese for a while, I never had any problems.

But you could always just bite them back.

I have had good luck with kohlrabis, I just make sure that if the geese seem punchy I've got one of those babies in my hand. They throw surprisingly well and if you miss, the geese will just go chase that, they like treats.

 

[floridaquilter]

out of my three toulouse..one will bite. He is also the one I feed by hand, so there is probably truth to not feeding by hand which turns them aggressive. I don't mind. It really doesn't hurt much and I return with a grab of the neck and hug him. he hates being hugged.