Goslings + Indian Runner drakes

[2dancingrats]

Will my ducks be a danger for the goslings, when they hatch? Will the geese be a danger to my drakes when the goslings hatch? I have two drakes who were raised with the geese. I don't think any of them know they are different. When I got two young geese last spring, the ducks were very aggressive and wanted to run them off. The geese were pleased with the new addition and "protected" the younger geese from us, but not from the drakes. We had to keep them separated for about four months. Now that they have accepted the new geese, we are expecting a hatch. Will the ducks try to attack the goslings?

 

[Shiloh Acres]

Are the goslings being hatched by their parents? If so, I wouldn't worry about the goslings -- I'd be more worried about the runners if they try anything.

Did they all get along through breeding/nesting?

I don't know what will happen. I'd say it depends more on the personalities. I did have a runner drake who loved terrorizing young geese, but he was a bit of all-around bully.

I'd keep a close eye on the situation and have a separate place to remove the drakes to if needed. But I'd think the way they've acted up till now would give you some clues?

 

[2dancingrats]

We separate them from the geese during breeding season because the ducks are so relentlessly sexually aggressive. I'm thinking we'll just keep them separated once the goslings hatch. I'm more concerned about what will happen when the babies are old enough to go out into the farmyard. I'll let you know how it goes.
Thanks for answering my post so quickly.
The best........

 

[Shiloh Acres]

Hmmm ... I'd be curious how it turns out. Drakes can scare young geese until they are pretty big in my experience at least. But if the goslings are being hatched by their parents, and the ducks are not part of the flock for a while, I would think their parents would protect them?

Hope it all goes well for you. I had to intervene a LOT with goslings I'd raised being put out with ducks even when they were much larger than the ducks. But I've found out my first geese were a bit different from most geese in their personalities so I wouldn't necessarily think yours would be the same.