getting hit by the wings

[TeamRetic]

I been wondering, is it true that is someone gets hit by the wings of an angry
goose it hurts more then getting bit. I been getting bit a lot lately by my
young embden gander, the nibbling phase. Getting bit hurts bad enough, I can't
imagine the wings hurting more then the bite. It seems impossible about that it
is impossible for the wings to hurt more then the bite. I was thinking that I
hope he does not start beating me with his wings. His wings sounds very powerful
when he flaps them and it makes a lot of wind. He flies a little.

 

[GardenerGal]

Wings can hurt! Even though the feathers are soft, they cover bone that, if it hits you at the right angle, and with velocity (speed), can bruise you badly. I've heard of people getting their nose broken by a flapping goose!

Your young gander probably is treating you as a "rival" for hierarchy in the flock. You need to show him that you are his superior in rank, gently but firmly. Carry a thick bath towel with you when you go into his pen, and if he tries to nip or hit you, gently drop and drape the towel over him for a moment. That will disorient him for a little while and when you remove the towel he may scoot away to figure out what happened.

And when you need to pick him up, again drape the towel over him and wrap it gently but firmly around him (not too tight, but not too loose that he can wriggle his wings around). If you need to cover his head too, make sure the towel is loose there because you want him to breathe easily. You can wear a jacket with thick sleeves as additional protection in case he tries to nip. Keep your face, head and neck away from his reach!

My gander used to try to test me, but I didn't let him get away with it and he is very gentle now. I'm the boss.

 

[Iain Utah]

They have powerfully strong wings. I'd expect getting hit in the face would leave you seeing stars.

 

[flockman]

Not looking forward to any of that!

 

[TeamRetic]

That sounds like it would hurt to get hit in the face by one. Wonder it can knock someone out.

 

[Oregon Blues]

The wings are strong and move at a high speed. Yes, it hurts like the dickens to be hit by a wing if the goose is putting any effort behind it.

Nips hurt, but they are nothing like a fully uninhibited bite. Goose beaks have a serrated edge, like a knife, and if they want to hurt you, a bite cuts through flesh and draws blood.

If you are getting nipped, you aren't learning what a goose bite feels like. Nips are communication. He's letting you know that he is tougher than you are and he expects you to do as he says. If you make him mad, he might graduate to a full on bite.

I suggest that you realign the social hierarchy with your gander so that you are socially higher in rank than he is. Otherwise, I predict some problems for you in the future.

 

[TeamChaos]

I can report first hand that it is shocking how painful it is to take a wing to the face. I had to check my goose's foot and, while usually she's calm this time my dog came down the alley in the barn and scared us both, she hit me with such force that she broke my glasses and made my ear ring for a good 15 minutes... and that was just her trying to get away, not coming at me in an attack. I was too lax and didn't bother securing her wings when I picked her up- a bad decision for both of us.

 

[TeamRetic]

That sounds very painful. What bread of goose was that?