Goose molting or just rain scruffy?

[starrymutt]

It's been pouring all day here and my geese have been loving it, but for having waterproof feathers they're all soaked.

I went to put them in tonight and noticed one goose seemed pretty scruffy with some of her neck feathers plucked out. I watched her for a bit and was able to get close to inspect, I didn't see any blood and she was itching into the down.

Could she be molting again? She's about 8 months old but none of the others seem to have that problem. She *was* being picked on by a young gander but I don't think he'd attack her.

I'm also worried if she'd get cold now. It's only in the 30s but we're gonna get snow next week, I've tried plugging up drafty parts of their coop with old feed bags.

 

[sourland]

I would guess that the young gander might be grabbing at/attempting to breed her resulting in pulled out feathers.

 

[starrymutt]

I would guess that the young gander might be grabbing at/attempting to breed her resulting in pulled out feathers.

He's only 5 months old. Do they breed that early?

 

[JRies]

They practice that early and start establishing pecking (breeding) orders. Although usually its the high neck feathers the boys do. Lower feathers on the back can be another female establishing her pecking order also holding down the other girl. Know that's normal by spring they will get it figured out.Miss Dominate will get to build the first nest and miss number 2 will get his attention till its here time.

Yes young geese usually go through 2 minor molts there first year but your photos look more like ME FIRST. All good come spring they will let you know what they decided.

 

[starrymutt]

They practice that early and start establishing pecking (breeding) orders. Although usually its the high neck feathers the boys do. Lower feathers on the back can be another female establishing her pecking order also holding down the other girl. Know that's normal by spring they will get it figured out.Miss Dominate will get to build the first nest and miss number 2 will get his attention till its here time.

Yes young geese usually go through 2 minor molts there first year but your photos look more like ME FIRST. All good come spring they will let you know what they decided.

Thank you so much! This is good to know since I notiond today that the female I posted had her higher neck feathers plucked out. Also explains why she was a bit removed from the flock today too and didn't want to go inside.

Should I be worried? I mean will this cause injuries? If it's just practice, should I expect eggs this coming year? I have 3 boys! My poor girls will be feather-less by the time this is over and they aren't even a year old yet.

 

[JRies]

Thank you so much! This is good to know since I notiond today that the female I posted had her higher neck feathers plucked out. Also explains why she was a bit removed from the flock today too and didn't want to go inside.

Should I be worried? I mean will this cause injuries? If it's just practice, should I expect eggs this coming year? I have 3 boys! My poor girls will be feather-less by the time this is over and they aren't even a year old yet.

I run almost 50% Male and have a large flock many of my girls end up with allot of neck down missing the closer we get to breeding season. that might be allot of competition though with 3 to one. I just keep a eye on them see if they cant work it out by themself. Every group is different. I had one situation last year were 2 boys and 2 girls in one pen. I did end up taking the more protective boy out of the pen. He was spending all day herding the girls and wouldn't let them near food or water. Put him in a few hours for breeding. I did sell him by the end of breeding season.

 

[starrymutt]

I have two females and three males but the one pictured has been losing a lot of her neck down and seems soaked (as it's been snowing) compared to the other. She hasn't really been eating or wanting to go inside either, but outside the coop they all get along.

Is this normal? Will she be okay? My other female has lost some down/feathers but not nearly as bad. She's my first I ever raised

 

[JRies]

Keep a eye on them but allot of this is normal. You could also keep your boys and girls penned separate at night. She might not want to go in at night because the boys are cornering and ganging up on her. My night pen is 20x40 feet and my older flock is with them so there is always a main gander who will break it up.

I kept 7 ganders and 8 hens this year most are about 5 months. There in with my main flock who have already paired off.

Im just starting to see there hormones jumping in. The boys are starting to challenge my older ganders and practicing the grab the neck game with the young girls. A few of the girls are doing the same trying to get the ganders attention they want. I dont provide ponds this time of year. which helps a bit but its middle school time for them and all part of growing up.

Young ganders still dont quite understand how it all works. So there experimenting. Eventually they learn how to hold on to the girl to be able to balance and hit the target when the time comes. But all they know right now is what there instincts are telling them.

Seems once the girls get there body tweaked for laying they then help the boy figure out how to do the real job they have been practicing. My heavyweight's dont hit full maturity till they are about 3 but by there 2nd breeding season this pre-mating behavior stops since they have there girl(s) that have bonded with them.

Hard part is yep bald spots up and down the neck with the young guys. With the older ganders I still get thin spots at the top of the neck on the girls but only during egg laying.

I keep vetricyn spray on hand but its very rare that I have to use it. PS if you use it cover there eyes before you spray. Its like a liquid bandage with antibiotics.

 

[AGeese]

He was spending all day herding the girls and wouldn't let them near food or water. Put him in a few hours for breeding.

My gander constantly holds off his son, and the son tries to get with his mother, it's a circus show. About once a day the two males will beat each other up until one gives up.

 

[JRies]

My gander constantly holds off his son, and the son tries to get with his mother, it's a circus show. About once a day the two males will beat each other up until one gives up.

Have 17 Ganders this year. So far so good. About 1 chest battle a day. When I catch them I wait till its over and when the winner starts his victory dance I walk him down and make him retreat for about 2 min. That way there are no top birds in the hens eyes. Seems to get it under control. My older ganders will defend in a fight but only to hold there ground. When its over they just go back about there business. Maybe its just wisdom comes with age.