Goose Attacking Gander II

[Goosebaby]

This is heartbreaking. The 3 geese are always around each other, but won't go in enclosed spaces. We are in the middle of a snow storm now. 4 inches on the ground and more coming. They are hiding under an upside down fishing boat along my garage. I have put hay on the ground, but is beginning to drift. I put a piece of plywood on one side to block the wind. I have a dog/goose house with hay on the floor but they've never used it. I tried to shoo them in the garage and the fights and panic ensued. How cold tolerant are they actually? I will try separating them, but it always causes severe anxiety, all the way back to the day they hatched. I don't want to send them to a farm, but if they are just going to die on me, it may be the best option for them.

I know geese can survive fairly cold temperatures as long as they are dry but I don’t think it’s good for them to be this stressed out in the elements. For one night they can deal with being sperated, you need to grab the two and get them into their house. Grab the trouble maker and put her somewhere else that’s dry.

 

[iturnknobs]

I know geese can survive fairly cold temperatures as long as they are dry but I don’t think it’s good for them to be this stressed out in the elements. For one night they can deal with being sperated, you need to grab the two and get them into their house. Grab the trouble maker and put her somewhere else that’s dry.

Would a chicken leg "snatcher"(a dull hook on a long handle) be appropriate to catch my birds without injury? I'm not sure what had happened in the past week, but I can't even get close to my birds. Any treat suggestions, they won't even come to me when I have food anymore.

 

[yesterDAYNE]

My geese's absolute favorite treat is romaine lettuce. They also like iceberg a lot. Sometimes they'll eat collard greens and apple slices but they're not super keen on them. I think they've ate a few blueberries in the past as well.

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

Their change in behavior can be because they are sexually maturing. At some point you will need to address the extra gander. From my understanding having two will be trouble come breeding season. Perhaps finding a new home for the one the female doesn't like might improve things.

Geese don't need to be shut up tight. As long as they have a place to get out of the elements that's all they need really. A roof over their heads, a wind break, and something on the ground to get up off the cold ground if they choose.

I don't think I'd use a leg hook on such a heavy bird.

 

[Goosebaby]

Would a chicken leg "snatcher"(a dull hook on a long handle) be appropriate to catch my birds without injury? I'm not sure what had happened in the past week, but I can't even get close to my birds. Any treat suggestions, they won't even come to me when I have food anymore.

The most vulnerable part of a goose is it’s legs, the wings are actually more sturdy than their legs so I wouldn’t advice grabbing their legs with anything, if you need to grab them the best method I’ve found is actually grabbing them by the head gently but firmly enough so they can’t get away with one hand and hooking my other arm around their whole torso so that you’ve pinned their wings, the quicker the better and less traumatizing.
Generally I’ve only had to do that with a couple of troublesome ganders, geese that are used to being picked up like being scooped up a little differently, if they like being picked up at all.

Whatever reason your geese are suddenly scared of you it can be gotten over, but it will take time, geese are socially intelligent like parrots, they aren’t nearly as good problem solvers but socializing is fairly similar. Two of my ganders when they were around a year old decided to take a bath and get completly soaked down to their down on a 15 degree night, I thought it was a good idea to try to towel dry them and they were terrified of me for a week, but they started to trust me again after that and eventually were perfectly friendly with me.
You need to spend time with them, just give it time, offer treats even if they don’t come to you, they eventually will realize you aren’t out to get them.

Geese can be picky eaters, some like some foods and others don’t. Generally lettuce like romaine is a general favorite, cabbage seems fairly popular too, other treats you can try are apples, carrots, pumpkin, watermelon, melons in general, tomatoes, strawberries, blueberries, peaches, plums, pears, corn, peas, oranges, kale, broccoli, arugula.
Sometimes if it’s something they’ve never had before it can take awhile to get used to it.

 

[MistyandLuna]

I have 3 geese. 2 ganders and one goose. A couple weeks ago, the dominant gander started "mounting" the goose. She does not like it and realized that she does not have to put up with it because she is bigger. Now she has taken to attacking both ganders, ripping feathers out and biting their bills so hard that they bleed. Now they won't go into their coop because of the tension. Now I've got geese outside unprotected from predators. I wish they would go down for the night in a protected area, but they now run from me because I picked them up 5 nights in a row to put them away. Any suggestions?

what breed are they?

 

[iturnknobs]

Thank you to all for your answers and support. These are primarily embden breed. 2 males are white. Female is from a embden father and Toulouse/Buff mother. Sexual maturity was/is my main issue. I have given them my entire tool shed(8x12). The dominant male is still problematic, but his advances have become more gentle. The goose really beat him up and I think he actually learned something. Being confined in a small(er) space created major anxiety as they first started to deal with sexual maturity issues and posturing. Me picking all 3 of them up at night ruined their trust of me. A 6' opening in the shed is much easier to get them in, compared to a 12" opening. Everything is "better" now. Trust is restored. Female even gives me kisses again and nibbles on my lips and beard. I hope the 2 gander, 1 goose thing doesn't become an issue. My "runt" gander is the sweetest soul I know of. He backs down from all types of conflict and peeps and "cries" when the other 2 go at it... even gets in the middle of conflicts and never shows aggression. He imprinted on me the most out of the 3. Fingers crossed and thanks again to all.

 

[Goosebaby]

Thank you to all for your answers and support. These are primarily embden breed. 2 males are white. Female is from a embden father and Toulouse/Buff mother. Sexual maturity was/is my main issue. I have given them my entire tool shed(8x12). The dominant male is still problematic, but his advances have become more gentle. The goose really beat him up and I think he actually learned something. Being confined in a small(er) space created major anxiety as they first started to deal with sexual maturity issues and posturing. Me picking all 3 of them up at night ruined their trust of me. A 6' opening in the shed is much easier to get them in, compared to a 12" opening. Everything is "better" now. Trust is restored. Female even gives me kisses again and nibbles on my lips and beard. I hope the 2 gander, 1 goose thing doesn't become an issue. My "runt" gander is the sweetest soul I know of. He backs down from all types of conflict and peeps and "cries" when the other 2 go at it... even gets in the middle of conflicts and never shows aggression. He imprinted on me the most out of the 3. Fingers crossed and thanks again to all.

Glad to hear this game are better!

 

[MistyandLuna]

Thank you to all for your answers and support. These are primarily embden breed. 2 males are white. Female is from a embden father and Toulouse/Buff mother. Sexual maturity was/is my main issue. I have given them my entire tool shed(8x12). The dominant male is still problematic, but his advances have become more gentle. The goose really beat him up and I think he actually learned something. Being confined in a small(er) space created major anxiety as they first started to deal with sexual maturity issues and posturing. Me picking all 3 of them up at night ruined their trust of me. A 6' opening in the shed is much easier to get them in, compared to a 12" opening. Everything is "better" now. Trust is restored. Female even gives me kisses again and nibbles on my lips and beard. I hope the 2 gander, 1 goose thing doesn't become an issue. My "runt" gander is the sweetest soul I know of. He backs down from all types of conflict and peeps and "cries" when the other 2 go at it... even gets in the middle of conflicts and never shows aggression. He imprinted on me the most out of the 3. Fingers crossed and thanks again to all.

Glad it’s all better!

 

[iturnknobs]

I think my goose almost killed my gander. I went upstairs, looked out my window, and heard the dominant male peep from behind my yew bushes. Upon investigation, the female had him pinned in the "vee of the trunk". His wings were tangled up and his neck was drooping in the branches. He wasn't moving at all. Barely crying. The female would not let him go. I screamed and clapped to no avail. By the time I got my shoes on and ran around the house, it was still happening. I pulled the female off and the male was still tangled in the bushes, not moving. I had to work his neck and wings out of the base of the evergreen bushes. Once he was free, he buried his head inside my jacket and would not move, making "sobbing" noises. He's a bit bloodied on the hinge joint edge of his wings. I've got him in a cage in the garage now. He seems like he's confused and in shock, but sorta OK. Will this stop? I thought it was over, but started again, like a switch was flipped. I can't even leave them outside together now. Anyone have any suggestions?