Driving me insane

[slmcknight]

I have raised three ducks and a Canadian goose since birth together. The ducks never bonded with the goose and always (and still do) pick on her. She is the sweetest calmest goose. Right before July 4th I bought two African Geese to keep her company, they were literally hours old.
Fast forward to today and those little jerks are mean to everyone!! They never bonded with her (the Canadian goose), she was always the dominant until a few weeks ago. They pick on my ducks and basically anyone who goes in the yard. They also scream all the time, I swear they have to best ears, if they hear me whisper they start squealing. I’m the only one they aren’t mean to but they aren’t just lovey dovey with me.
It’s getting cold and all will have to go in same coop and I’m worried about my poor Canadian getting bullied or my ducks getting stressed from being picked at. Any suggestions?

 

[sourland]

For starters I would either separate or better yet rehome the African geese. It sounds as if they are nothing more than an aggravation. I would then try wintering the Canada goose with the three ducks as long as they are not injuring her.

 

[Gray Farms]

Welcome to geese ownership. I agree with @sourland they need to be separated until they mature more.

 

[ColtHandorf]

I'd rehome the African pair, or find a way to house them separately. I'd avoid Chinese or African geese as companions for the Canada you have. Look to more gentle breeds, like Toulouse, Embden, Pilgrim, American Buff, etc. the geese lacking the Swan Goose influence...they are generally calmer, and quieter. Although my Buffs can get loud on occasion. I'm interested to see how they deal with the migrating Snow Geese that graze in the pastures behind the house in the early Spring. I imagine they'll be keyed up the whole time they are in the area.

 

[Miss Lydia]

Geese can even kill ducks so you def don’t want to coop the geese with the ducks and I wouldn’t put the Canada in with these 2 geese either. Best to rehome ASAP

 

[Avian Allie]

If you’re in America it is illegal to own a Canada goose, so be careful. She’s obviously imprinted so will never be able to be wild, but it will be hard to find her a friend. Like someone suggested, a gentle breed of goose might work. First off I’d get rid of the Africans though, they sound like a nightmare.

 

[333113]

If you’re in America it is illegal to own a Canada goose, so be careful. She’s obviously imprinted so will never be able to be wild, but it will be hard to find her a friend. Like someone suggested, a gentle breed of goose might work. First off I’d get rid of the Africans though, they sound like a nightmare.

I do know that there are wildlife rules about Canada geese in terms of hunting and what you can do to keep them away on both Federal and state levels, at least here in Missouri. And there may be local regulations that prohibit them, too.

However, it's not illegal to own them or to breed them. The Eastern Canada Goose was admitted to the American Poultry Association standard in 1874, and I see them regularly at shows.

The National Poultry Improvement Program (NPIP) includes the Canada goose. The NPIP codes Canada geese as "Y81" for "Canada," "Y40" for "Canada Dusky," and "Y57" for "Canada Miniature."

That said, you probably won't find a lot of breeders along the flyway. It's much cheaper to buy a hunting permit to take a few than to buy them and then also buy the feed to bring them up to the age for eating.

 

[Gray Farms]

If you’re in America it is illegal to own a Canada goose, so be careful. She’s obviously imprinted so will never be able to be wild, but it will be hard to find her a friend. Like someone suggested, a gentle breed of goose might work. First off I’d get rid of the Africans though, they sound like a nightmare.

It's not illegal across the whole US. Some state allow owning/breeding/selling Canada geese if you have a permit.

 

[333113]

It's not illegal across the whole US. Some state allow owning/breeding/selling Canada geese if you have a permit.

I talked to my conservation agent about this. In Missouri, no state permit is needed for Canada geese, but in Missouri permits are required for pheasant and bobwhite quail (not Coturnix).

I suggest that if anyone is interested in raising anything that has a wild counterpart, it's a good idea to check with the local regulations where you live.

You really cannot go by what people say off the top of their heads on this or any other website. Do your own research. Missouri's and my county's regulations are online and easy to find. In my county, for example, poultry are only allowed in certain zones, including where I live, and they have no further restrictions on poultry in my zone, which can include farms.