goose manners?

[cottontail farm]

This is my first time with geese; I got 3 super africans in the spring. Like them alot but am not sure how to read their behavior like I can with my chickens and ducks. The geese were raised with ducks, not bonded to me, but when they see me they go crazy honking, running up and wanting to be within 2 inches of me at all times and investigating whatever i'm doing.
The problem is that they also want to do this with my 2 yr old.
I am not sure if they're being agressive of just curious. It just comes across as really enthusiastic. Either way inappropriate.
They are penned 90 % of the time but how do I train them to stay away from my son when they're out? If they were roosters or drakes a swift boot would do it. Or is that a good way of communicating in bird speak that my son is "mine" the way a broody hen would chase another bird off?
I want to nip this now before they get older.

 

[jtn42248]

With a small child you need to be very careful about them being close like that. They can deliver a nasty bite, especially when it gets to mating season...if one is a gander.

All my birds come running up to the fence the moment they see or hear me come out the back door. Even if I am just going out to grill steaks they think the only reason I come out of the house is to feed them or give them treats. Birds seem to have rather large egos.

 

[JedJackson]

Is there a way you could fence them off so they still have an outside area but without them having full access to the yard and access to your child? This is what I would try to do because geese and a young child could be a dangerous combination, especially when they reach breeding age.

 

[cottontail farm]

With a small child you need to be very careful about them being close like that. They can deliver a nasty bite, especially when it gets to mating season...if one is a gander.

All my birds come running up to the fence the moment they see or hear me come out the back door. Even if I am just going out to grill steaks they think the only reason I come out of the house is to feed them or give them treats. Birds seem to have rather large egos.

Haha. Yep, the world centers around them. They're still pretty young so I was hoping to find a way for all of us to coexist while they have free range time. Because they have decimated all greens their huge pen like a group of locusts.
But I'm talking about for the next couple of months.. During breeding season they're getting penned for the good of everyone.

 

[cottontail farm]

Is there a way you could fence them off so they still have an outside area but without them having full access to the yard and access to your child? This is what I would try to do because geese and a young child could be a dangerous combination, especially when they reach breeding age.

Pretty much what I said above. They have a huge pen they share with chickens and ducks. I just expanded it again and its been stripped of grass. Total size like 400 feet of fencing? 500?
We have 5 acres and an orchard that I would like to give everyone acess too.
I guess the plan will just be to range them while we're inside.