Geese and their mates

[Jayellebee]

I have kind of a long story here, but was looking for some insight.
3 weeks ago I adopted 2 geese from a large animal rescue in my area. The man that adopted them out didn't know much about the geese. They had a flock of about 10 and he just asked me to pick out which ones I wanted. He said if they didn't work out, or if I needed to swap geese out, that wouldn't be a problem. He said he thought the 2 I got were both females. I posted a thread on here when I first got them and everyone thought they were a pair. I have a grey goose and a white and grey goose that are relatively the same size. After learning more about their personalities, the white and grey goose definitely acts more like a male to me, and they grey goose more like a female. So they were named Johnny and June.
Everything seemed to be going well. Until Johnny decided to break out of the pen a couple times. Every time he did, he bee lined it for the road. We were very conscious of this and made sure to keep an extra eye on him.
Last week my boyfriend was home alone and Johnny got out on him. He didn't realize it until it was too late. We found Johnny swimming in the creek about a half mile down the road a couple hours later. This is where the story gets a little ridiculous... we tried catching that goose for DAYS. The whole neighborhood got together. I was receiving multiple calls daily about my stray goose being in someone's yard or on their farm. We got close to catching him a couple times, but he was just too quick. 6 days later, some amazing neighbors were finally able to catch him and bring him home!
Sadly, I'm pretty sure Johnny is going to have to go back to the rescue he came from. I'm not sure what we would do if he got loose again and he obviously isn't happy on our farm.
So here's my question... in the flock of about 10 geese, there were 2 grey geese that looked like Toulouse to me. I have the female and there is another one there that looks like a male (larger, black bill and feet).. Do you think that could be the mate to my female? Or an her old friend? Is it possible that Johnny kept trying to escape to find his mate? I know they say wild geese mate for life, but I wasn't sure if anyone has seen these tendencies in their domesticated geese or not.

 

[SueT]

Hi Jayellebee, what an interesting story. I am not knowledgeable about geese, but it sounds plausible. How about some pics and the experts can better help you.

 

[rachelsflock]

It's more likely he's getting out because he's learned how to or is bored or both. There may have been a reason he was at a rescue. Geese are SMART.

 

[Gray Farms]

Domestic geese will mate for life as well. I had a pair of Africans that were together for 17 years until the male died. And the female never laid again or took another mate after he died. She was 23 when she died. I sure miss George and Trudy.

Its possible that your gander was trying to get back to his mate. Sounds like you also need a more "goose proof" pen if he escapes that often. If he is flying out you'll need to clip wings. Gates need to be latched securely as geese are actually fairly strong and can push open unlocked gates if they want to. Geese are also very smart. They can learn your patterns and watch when the gate is unlocked or your not paying attention and its open just enough. Then they'll slip right out behind you.

My advice would be to take both of them back. Put the whole flock back together. Then find a good spot to sit back and watch them for as long as you can. When they settle down and go back to acting normal you should be able to pick out a mated pair. They will stick together like glue. And the male will drive off other males from his female. He will stay very close to her and follow her everywhere. If you throw some treats in like bread or melon the male will claim it and call his female over to share with him. He may even let her have it all.

Also if you looking at a goose with black feet and bill its not a Toulouse.