Getting ready for geese!

[SpicyDill]

Thanks! I'll try to avoid a mixed-sex pair of geese, then. I 100% understand why they get protective (it makes sense!) but don't want the kiddos getting traumatized, especially if the oldest just wants to spend time with his buddy and thinks it suddenly doesn't love him anymore!

Do they tend to have any personalty differences that are gender-based? (For example, my turkey hens tend to be more people-friendly than the toms.)

 

[Leader Bee]

I'm sorry, these are my first set of Geese so I can't really comment on gender based personality differences - from what i've heard though, the men are supposed to be more chilled.

 

[SpicyDill]

If we end up hatching our own, I suspect our options will be limited (incubator only fits 4 goose eggs), but if we can then I'll shoot for a pair of males. The more laid-back, the better. Both kiddos are young.

 

[Goosebaby]

I’m guessing you’ll rehome any females that hatch then?

Two ganders can get along just fine. You will still get spring horomones even with just two males. I have two gander brothers that sometimes squabble in spring but are inseparable. I had two other brothers who never squabbled ever, it depends on their personalities.
In the absence of a female they pick out someone that needs protecting “sometimes each other” and if they aren’t well socialized with the whole family they may attack you or the other members of the family if they get to close too your son when he’s around them, so he may consider it his goose but if you want your lives to be easier you should all spend time with the geese as much as possible or be okay with avoiding them if they get possessive of your son.


Females are less likely to attack in spring, but not necessarily less aggressive. Geese are highly individual, though the girls don’t get the horomones telling them to attack a rival, a female can and will bite if she feels like it just like a gander, especially if she’s sitting on eggs. If you have a male female pair the girls do a rage cackle that’s kind of like a war cry the ganders can’t resist, it drives them into fight mode. Females can be a bit more skittish, I have a few bold girls, but it seems like ganders are more often the ones who want to interact with their human family.

The main difference is if a goose isn’t socialized well ganders can be combative whereas girls tend to become more and more aloof the less you spend time with them and will run away if you approach.

There isn’t a difference between males or females when it comes to which is more loving and devoting though. If you raise them and spend time with them like you would any pet they’ll adore you with every fiber of their being, male or female.

 

[SpicyDill]

I think ultimately it would just come down to whatever I ended up with a pair of. If I can only fit 4 eggs in my incubator, it's up to chance!

Thank you for all of the helpful information!