Gander crabby AGAIN???

[Goosehill]

lol I do that too when they’re extra naughty, I call them “tail squidges” and warn them that if they keep it up “I’ll squidge your tail again!”

My hand raised gander can be particularly wilful and although he isn't aggressive towards me and is generally good company, sometimes he needs reminding that I'm the boss and he's the goose. Picking him up and stroking his neck settles him, followed by a gentle pull on his tail after putting him down. He's indignant about the interference with his gooseness and bustles his feathers but behaviour improves for several days.

 

[DoodlesDuckies]

My hand raised gander can be particularly wilful and although he isn't aggressive towards me and is generally good company, sometimes he needs reminding that I'm the boss and he's the goose. Picking him up and stroking his neck settles him, followed by a gentle pull on his tail after putting him down. He's indignant about the interference with his gooseness and bustles his feathers but behaviour improves for several days.

I am a touch nervous my eyes would get taken out if I held him. I have picked him up before, he does NOT like it. He is sooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo FLUFFY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I wish he would let me hold and pet him.

 

[Goosehill]

I am a touch nervous my eyes would get taken out if I held him. I have picked him up before, he does NOT like it. He is sooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo FLUFFY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I wish he would let me hold and pet him.

He doesn't like being touched or picked up but has learnt "no biting" assisted by a gentle tap on his bill. With some of the others I'll hold their neck if I need to handle them because they seem to know just when attention is diverted.
My observation is that geese don't really groom each other as adults (I've seen it once with two young geese playing in their water bowl) and generally don't touch each other much unless mating or fighting.

 

[Goosebaby]

He doesn't like being touched or picked up but has learnt "no biting" assisted by a gentle tap on his bill. With some of the others I'll hold their neck if I need to handle them because they seem to know just when attention is diverted.
My observation is that geese don't really groom each other as adults (I've seen it once with two young geese playing in their water bowl) and generally don't touch each other much unless mating or fighting.

Most species besides corvids and parrots “to my knowledge” don’t really preen each other as adults, most of mine don’t really like being snuggled once they reach full maturity, though that raises an interesting conundrum because some do.
It’s not natural for their species yet I’ve had a few geese that love snuggles, Thor loved them his whole life and Roxby loves snuggles too, though not in front of the other geese “ I guess he’s got to protect his manly persona.” Lol
I also have Truffle “drake” who loves getting scooped up and snuggled several times a day, and Bramble and Sunbeam “also drakes” who don’t like being picked up but kinda like being snuggled.
I also have two shy quail who absolutely hate being picked up or handled yet paradoxically LOVE getting neck scritches. I have another quail who’s the friendliest little boy that loves to hang out with me and doesn’t mind being picked up but he will not tolerate neck scritches.

It amazes me how their individual personalities overwrite what’s normal behavior for their species.