Fighting Goslings...Help

[SouthernPride]

Hi everyone. Our family is very new to geese. We always have had wild canada geese come and go from our pond. One pair has come back and nested for the last 3 years. They know me and would come when I call. Each year they got closer and closer to being successsful parents but never quite made it. They year she was laying on 4 eggs when something got her. My husband brought 3 of the eggs back to the house (1 was broken) and we incubated them. It was so sad to hear the male call for the mate.

So, 1 egg hatched 17 days ago. She imprinted with us so is very upset when we leave the room. I decided she needed companions so I found a breeder that had Chinese Browns. Yesterday I got 2 that were 1 - 2 weeks old. After bring them home I realized they are quite a bit smaller than Canada, almost 3 times smaller. I guess Canada Geese grow faster. Anyway, Canada does not like the Chinese, at all. She will grab at them, usually the neck. The Chinese want to go to her but she will put a real hurtin on them. Is there a way to get her to except them? I've tried playing mother goose by standing over Canada and pulling her back when she goes after them. They cannot be left alone at all. Any suggestions?

 

[krista92]

My older gosling felt the same way your Canada does about her new younger sibling. It took a little work but they're best pals now. I started out just spending a lot of time with them together on my lap or nuzzled in my shirt. My older gosling hated it. What really did the trick for me was having them sleep together in my makeshift brooder box. I popped them both in there when it was dark, stayed there to break up any fighting, and waited until they fell asleep. By morning they were friends of a sort. My older one will still pick on the little one occasionally but I can trust them to be alone together. It's a process.

 

[SouthernPride]

Thank you. We will continue to work with them. I don't think I will try the sleeping together thing yet, I really believe Canada could kill the younger ones, she is just that rough. Right now we have them in two different cages right next to each other. The Chinese make so much noise it could be that Canada is just trying to shut them up!

 

[desertdarlene]

It's so funny that you mention Canada geese and Chinese geese. We have two adult Chinese ones at our lake and one of the Canada ganders is going around and picking fights with the Chinas who want nothing to do with him. The Canada one hates all the noise they make!

 

[krista92]

I wouldn't doubt it. The Canada I rescued a couple years ago thinks she's quite superior to any other goose. She'd rather I was the only member of her flock rather than a bunch of loud, white geese.

Having them next to each other should help though. Supervised visits should eventually get her to the point where she can tolerate them, even if she doesn't like them. Ive also found it helpful to distract my bigger gosling with something good to eat. She's much more concerned with the food than her companion.

 

[SouthernPride]

Thank you, I'm glad there have been other out there with the same dilema. They have slept in seperate cages, side-by-side for the last 2 nights and during the day I have been working with them and Canada seems to be backing off quite a bit. The 2 Chinese are also getting better at running from her.

One of the Chinese is a bit smaller than the other and is insecure and noisy. Heshe gets picked on the most by Canada and now by the other Chinese. Could be something wrong with her?

I have 2 questions. Is it normal for them to spit up when you pick them up?

Should I be leaving food in the cages at all time? I tried feeding them morning and afternoon today and they seemed really hungery even though they spent about 3 hours outside foraging on grass.

 

[lilchick]

You should always have feed and water available for them. Mine are in a large brooder, no heat lamp, just a regular light bulb so they can see to eat and drink.

When they sleep at night they still wake up and eat and drink.. And poop ALOT, what else..

The smaller one could be a female.

When they are frightened they can spit up when held. I place mine in my lap instead of holding them. I also put my hands in the brooder and pet them.

It hurts when they nibble on your bare skin!

My 2 week old ones would not accept the newly hatched ones either. I have 2 brooders! Hopefully when they get turned out to pen they will have lots of space to work things out in. I know what you mean about them grabbing on neck and back. Can leave bloody places on them.... good luck!

 

[krista92]

Quote:
Agreed!
Typically if they're nibbling and biting at stuff, they're thinking its food time. My goslings only have to have their eyes open to be hungry it seems. They especially like to try and see if they can eat my nail polish.

As far as the smaller chinese is concerned, something could be wrong but I wouldn't be too concerned at this point. It could easily be a female, especially if its the least aggressive. Just make sure its eating and drinking properly and isn't lethargic.

I've got another that's internally pipped and ready to hatch so we'll see how my others like it.