Feather pulling goose

[Georgia Birdlady]

I have 4 French Toulouse geese 6 weeks old. I had to separate 1 when they were less than 2 weeks old because it was pulling all the tail feathers and new side (under wing) feathers from the other 3. The brooder was large, 6’ X 7’. Their food was a high protein pellets designed for waterfowl for the first 2 weeks. I provided a large pen during the day and a pool. Once a week I would integrate the geese. Then separate them again when it pulled feathers... now mostly from the sides. Is there any hope that when I release them free range that it will stop? Or should we sell or eat the goose we call Brutus?

 

[Miss Lydia]

Any changes since Wednesday?

 

[Georgia Birdlady]

We have started introducing them to the pond. It seems if we keep them busy Brutus doesn’t pick. I guess that gives us hope that when we release them at 8 weeks they’ll get along. I’m still maintaining Brutus in solitary confinement when they are inside their pen.

 

[Miss Lydia]

I have only had 2 at one time together and they were with adopted parents so there wasn't any problems but I have heard that bored goslings will do this to each other so I guess since you only have Brutus doing it that's a good thing instead of all of them doing it to each other. Hopefully once they are able to get outside with lots of foraging etc it will probably go away.. If this is a "real Pond" please make sure there aren't any snapping turtles they are horrid predators to water fowl.

 

[Georgia Birdlady]

We haven’t seen any snappers. We have red-eared and painted. We are setting a trap to whittle down the turtle population. Most everything I read says the snappers are dangerous to babies. Didn’t know they would bother adult birds.

 

[Miss Lydia]

I've been on BYC since 2009 and have seen some awful attacks even on adult water fowl. They will eat goslings and ducklings. Give me the creeps just thinking about it.