Does my gander really need a mate?

[coopaloop]

I had a pair of embdems but the female disappeared a few weeks ago. They were raised with a trio of cayuga ducks so the gander is now just hanging with them. Everyone is telling me that I HAVE to get a partner for him. He's really just a pet and I dont care about breeding or eggs or anything, so do I really need to get a female?

 

[cracking up]

We lost our male Chinese over a year ago and had a lone female. She liked hanging out with the ducks but she did spend a lot of time at the back door begging for food and attention. We got her a pair of hatchling Chinese and she has been having fun raising them and seems happier. I don't know if it is as important as some people say especially if you give him a lot of attention.

 

[Kim65]

It's more important to you and me that Gordon has a "mate" than it is to Gordon. He doesn't think like us. Between breeding seasons, Gordon just wants a flock to belong to and protect.

Come February next year, it might be more difficult for him to not have a mate. He may choose a duck or a chicken and that could be an issue . . . or he may choose you. He will be driven to mate and protect a goose and their young by his hormones.

Personally, I'd find him a mate by next spring, so his natural hormonal drives have an appropriate outlet

. He'll be much happier too.

 

[Goosehaven]

My first gander did actually seem lonely without any other geese or ducks etc....He attached himself to me and would pace back and forth in front of the wooden gate waiting for me to come back outside. I felt sorry for him. He definitely became more content when I got the other geese and quickly turned his attention away from me and to his flock. He now protects his flock from me