Guard geese for ducks

[SkyeT]

I am sure this comes up a lot, and I have read some past posts, but I haven't seen anyone address this.

If we get "guard geese" for our ducks, will a male goose have eyes for the female ducks?

 

[sourland]

Sometimes it happens if there are no female geese.

 

[SkyeT]

Sometimes it happens if there are no female geese.

This is good to know. I have read through dozens of threads and commentaries about guard geese and no one talks about it! I see people talk about the woes of male ducks and female chickens, but no one talks about male geese and female ducks. We have a tiny runner female and the thought of a 20lb gander looking at her sideways...

So, I read that you shouldn't get two geese, because they will ignore the ducks. Then I read you most certainly should get two geese because they need at least one of their own kind to be good guards because lonely geese are neglectful geese.

My head is spinning.

 

[SolarDuck]

This is good to know. I have read through dozens of threads and commentaries about guard geese and no one talks about it! I see people talk about the woes of male ducks and female chickens, but no one talks about male geese and female ducks. We have a tiny runner female and the thought of a 20lb gander looking at her sideways...

So, I read that you shouldn't get two geese, because they will ignore the ducks. Then I read you most certainly should get two geese because they need at least one of their own kind to be good guards because lonely geese are neglectful geese.

My head is spinning.

I dont know if getting geese strictly for guard purposes is a good idea at all. I don't personally have geese but from what I've heard if you get 2 geese then the geese tend to just hang out with eachother and don't care about the ducks, but geese just like ducks are very social creatures so it's a bit cruel to just keep one goose.

(Edit) if I understand correctly, then the only way a goose will actively try and protect ducks are if he is raised from a gosling with the ducklings, and if there is only one goose. I think most people with "guard geese" keep them more as alarms to alert them of potential lurking predators.

 

[SkyeT]

(Edit) if I understand correctly, then the only way a goose will actively try and protect ducks are if he is raised from a gosling with the ducklings, and if there is only one goose. I think most people with "guard geese" keep them more as alarms to alert them of potential lurking predators.

That's what I have been reading as well. What we will get will be raised as a gosling as part of the flock. I have read about introducing "guard geese" into flocks and that is the recommendations. I really am not looking for an animal that will actively attack predators, but more of a deterant. A big bodied goose is more likely to deter a hawk, because the goose is just not worth messing with. Our animals will have a cozy barn to sleep in from sun down to sun up so I am not worried about nocturnals like coyotes and foxes. The 6ft no climb fence around our property will be another line of defence.

 

[Kaiori]

I have a single female African goose with my flock of ducks. She occasionally tries to mate my ducks (her on top), in the pool. Not good.

She also has a tremendous fit when my ducks mate each other. She acts like the sex police and puts up a fuss at them, sometimes biting them in the face. Furthermore, when she's laying and wants to make a nest, she doesn't make her own nest, but tries to steal my ducks' nests, either stealing bedding and feathers, and/or shoving her big behind through a teeny tiny doorway, into a teeny tiny nest box, stomping all over my duck eggs and kicking the mommas out.

She's good as an alarm and that's about where it ends. Pain in the ass otherwise. Still, somehow I'm a little attached. Lol My bf wanted a goose despite my turning it down a few times.

 

[Niche Flock]

Hi! I have two geese that were raised and brooded with ten ducklings (they adopted the ducklings as their flockmates) they are excellent guardians (they're loud, warchful and big) but can also get a little sassy. They are both female, and I know you mentioned above about the possibility of a male goose mounting a female duck, and although I haven't experienced that myself as I don't have any ganders, I witnessed my female goose mounting one of my layer ducks...not good at all, especially since it was out of water and the goose is so much bigger. My duck was a little shook up but I was able to break them up.

Also, as mentioned above, my geese get VERY worked up if the female ducks begin mounting one another in or out of water. They honk loudly and display aggressive out stretched necks until the ducks dismount and waddle away.

I noticed that the geese are very close and tolerant of the ducklings they were brooded with, but the older ducks tend to steer clear as the geese can get a bit aggressive with them.

There are certain breeds that tend to be more docile, I have an American Buff (very calm, chill) and a Roman (bossy, alpha, louder, aggressive) both are supposed to be rather subdued, but each bird will have their unique personality.

 

[SkyeT]

We really want an American Buff, but are having trouble locating one around here (San Antonio). And I am NOT doing the mail order thing.

One of the things I am also unsure about is that our ducks are already adults. We don't want to get any more ducks, so if we get a juvenile goose to grow up among these ducks, will it be a problem? Or does the gosling have to grow up with ducklings?

 

[hereorthere]

We really want an American Buff, but are having trouble locating one around here (San Antonio). And I am NOT doing the mail order thing.

One of the things I am also unsure about is that our ducks are already adults. We don't want to get any more ducks, so if we get a juvenile goose to grow up among these ducks, will it be a problem? Or does the gosling have to grow up with ducklings?

My 2 geese grew up among adults ducks- 3 pekin & 1 muscovy. Set up an outside brooder with chicken wire so lots of look&see moments as the goslings were growing. Lots of treat time with all involved around the chicken wire. All 3 pekin hens took the goslings under their wings when they outgrew the brooder, now all 5 run as a pack with the pekin girls dictating where and when to go, while the African male is the guard. Sadly both geese have pushed the lone Muscovy out and will chase her if one of the pekins greet her. But I would get 2 goslings. 1 is a lonely number.

 

[Niche Flock]

I purchased my two geese, including the Buff from Metzer Hatchery but perhaps there will be other local sources in CA who have Buffs?
Buffs are so incredibly beautiful and intelligent and I know each bird has its own personality, but mine is very chill which makes handling, egg collecting, every day interaction with a breeze!
She's also been a fantastic egg layer which has been a treat!

The thing with raising the gosling's with ducklings together is that they view one another as the same flock. The geese tolerate the older ducks, and the older ducks know to keep their distance. But the geese still do an excellent job at sentry work and guarding.

I highly encourage more than one goose. My two are very attached and because they're both geese, they sleep together in the same coop, and spend a lot of time strutting, grazing and living together. When my Buff injured her leg and I had to separate her for medical reasons, my Roman couldn't stand being separated, so they ended up spending recovery time together in the "hospital ward" area of the coop. Two is always a good idea, so they'll never be lonely. I've also noticed too that my geese talk a lot together. One will honk and the other, farther away will respond, they like chatting together!

Hope this helps and I hope you're able to obtain some Buffs locally! If not, my experience with Metzer wasn't traumatic and I live on the other side of the country when I received them. Best of luck to you!