Fighting Geese

[obowersock]

Hello all! My husband and I are new to keeping geese. We have 2 male Embden approximately 10 months old. We also have a pair of Khaki ducks that we homed at the same time. We have kept them all together since bringing them home and they have gotten along very well till about a week ago. One of the geese is bullying the other goose and we have had to seperate them. The ducks are very confused as I think they are very dependent on the geese. I just dont understand why all the sudden the geese are fighting. Really only one is being very aggressive the other one seems very sad that this is happening. My husband thinks that we need to probably get rid of the aggressive goose. I am hoping this may pass? There is no female goose so I am so confused as to why they are fighting like this. Any help or suggestions would be greatly appreciated, this little family was inseperable and it makes me sad to have to get rid of one of them.

 

[Miss Lydia]

Hello all! My husband and I are new to keeping geese. We have 2 male Embden approximately 10 months old. We also have a pair of Khaki ducks that we homed at the same time. We have kept them all together since bringing them home and they have gotten along very well till about a week ago. One of the geese is bullying the other goose and we have had to seperate them. The ducks are very confused as I think they are very dependent on the geese. I just dont understand why all the sudden the geese are fighting. Really only one is being very aggressive the other one seems very sad that this is happening. My husband thinks that we need to probably get rid of the aggressive goose. I am hoping this may pass? There is no female goose so I am so confused as to why they are fighting like this. Any help or suggestions would be greatly appreciated, this little family was inseperable and it makes me sad to have to get rid of one of them.

@obowersock I am surprised the aggressive gander hasn't gone after your drake. They usually don't like any other animal once the hormones start to flow except their mate. Breeding season means testosterone is flowing and ganders fight for dominance most of the time if there is just 2 ganders they will get along. What about the female duck are they trying to mate with her? asking because my Embden gander mated with my Muscovy females till I got him a female goose

 

[obowersock]

I have not noticed them trying to mate with the female duck, I guess I didnt think they would. The aggressive goose is only aggressive toward the other goose. He is fine with the male Khaki. It is almost like he is trying to keep the other goose away from the ducks, water and pen. They were all out tonight and were fine grazing then all of a sudden he just went for the other goose. My husband had to go and separate them. Is he doing this because it is mating season? Will it pass?

 

[Miss Lydia]

I have not noticed them trying to mate with the female duck, I guess I didnt think they would. The aggressive goose is only aggressive toward the other goose. He is fine with the male Khaki. It is almost like he is trying to keep the other goose away from the ducks, water and pen. They were all out tonight and were fine grazing then all of a sudden he just went for the other goose. My husband had to go and separate them. Is he doing this because it is mating season? Will it pass?

I don't know where you are in the world but breeding season is getting under way in some parts of the US. I live in Western NC and so far no breeding but my ganders are sure ornery and I have to watch them around the other members of the flock. Once breeding begin with a fury I have to keep the geese separate from the rest of the flock. Sounds like your aggressive gander is trying to keep the other gander from the ducks for some reason he feels protective of them. Best you can do is keep the 2 geese separated till breeding season is over which is May in most places. I know it's a long time to have them separated. Any way you can get the one being singled out a friend? duck or goose? Goose would be best. The other option would be re home the aggressive gander. I wish there was something beside these 2 options.

 

[obowersock]

We are in Ohio and I am just learning about these beautiful creatures so I wasn't sure if we were in breedeing season or not. I wondered if maybe we should get a few females for the geese but now I am worried that it may make matters worse. We do have them separated and will continue to do so until hopefully this passes. They are such a lovely little group when they are all getting along and I love to watch them all together. The ducks are quite comical trying to keep up with the geese. Hopefully things will calm down in the coming months.

 

[Miss Lydia]

We are in Ohio and I am just learning about these beautiful creatures so I wasn't sure if we were in breedeing season or not. I wondered if maybe we should get a few females for the geese but now I am worried that it may make matters worse. We do have them separated and will continue to do so until hopefully this passes. They are such a lovely little group when they are all getting along and I love to watch them all together. The ducks are quite comical trying to keep up with the geese. Hopefully things will calm down in the coming months.

It will it just seems to take for ever. Getting females will probably break up the relationship the geese have with the ducks. It did here. They are amazing and beautiful they just go through so many changes once they get to breeding age. It's a shame your more dominant one can't share the little duck pair but for some reason he see the other gander as a threat. I have 2 pairs this is second year of breeding for my youngest 2 and so far their hasn't been any mating just grumpy ganders and no fighting yet which I am hoping won't happen since they are such a close group. I am just taking it a day at a time with these till I know if I have to separate them. Things can change quickly
I'd love to see some pics when you have time.

 

[obowersock]

They are a funny group I think we will get some females after breeding season. May make things more harmonious next year. The ducks are very dependent on the geeseao that does worry me bit. Is it possible that the ducks have imprinted on the geese? To seperate the geese we keep 1 inthe pen wile the other gets to roam and then switch off. Funny thing though when one is in the pen they all stay right there by him. Doesn't matter which one is in the pen or which one is out.

 

[obowersock]

From left to right is Bonnie then Clyde. The first goose is Moe (the one being picked on) and then Joe who is our bully. I do hope they can learn to get along again.

 

[obowersock]

 

[Miss Lydia]

From left to right is Bonnie then Clyde. The first goose is Moe (the one being picked on) and then Joe who is our bully. I do hope they can learn to get along again.

They are beautiful. I love my Embden gander he will be 9 in April hatched here by one of my Muscovy ducks. He is also my biggest problem child always ready to bite and attack just started a couple weeks ago. So breeding season is close and may have already arrived if they could have a pool but the temps won't let up so they can have one. You ducks sound like they are being treated as the babies of your one gander Joe especially if he isn't trying to breed with Bonnie.Ganders are wonderful papas before I got my 2nd goose and mate for my gander he was papas goose to all ducklings that hatched here he was a better parent than the mama Muscovy's.

Getting females after breeding season will be a good idea it will give them time to pair up before next year for one thing and the boys will be buddy's again once breeding season is over. Hopefully. When I got my ganders mate I actually had to separate him from the ducks because he was so imprinted to them he wouldn't have anything to do with the new goose. It took about 3 months and breeding season to make it work now he doesn't have anything to do with the ducks except chase them off and is overly protective of his family.