Hawk Attack on Goose

[millebantam]

Yup, I'm convinced that my killer Sebbie "Rambo" is borderline retarded. He is a real "pain" around the farm, but we would be lost without him. He is always into something, and he steals everything that he can carry. When I'm building something, he steals my tools, gloves, and other stuff (even my heavy framing hammer). I always find the missing items though. He stashes them in "his" personal bucket of water that I have to constantly clean and refill umpteen times a day. This morning his bucket contained a tablespoon, a screwdriver, 3 marbles, a quarter, 4 nails, and a pair of pliers. Also, it is impossible for him to walk by a box of nails or screws without flipping it over and spreading the contents.

Strangely enough, he never fights with the other gander, or any other of my freerange critters. Just dogs and any form of predators. I have seen an unusual amount of hawks this fall, but 99.9% of them just pass right on by, and Rambo always has one eye to the sky.

 

[goosedragon]

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Have you ever heard of "Hardware disease"? Geese get it, those that swallow things they shouldn't, the objects can damage the digestive system as they pass through it, sometimes things will lodge in the gizzard. Screws and staples tend to be trouble items because they will fuss with them and manage to remove them when used in an enclosure. galvanized tend to lead to zinc posioning unless they pass through. penney coins are another cause of zinc posioning. I used to sweep my runs with a strong magnet, picks up the steel but not zinc or copper. If you suspect a bird has it an x-ray will usually show it, getting it out of the goose is a bigger problem. Just thought I should warn you that Rambo may be cute but if he swallows the wrong objects it could be the death of him.

 

[millebantam]

I totally understand what you are saying concerning the hardware, and I really try my best to keep lids on boxes, and pick up after myself, etc, but there really is no surefire way to stop him from "treasure hunting". I guess the only real solution would be to pen him up 24/7, and I think that would really cut into his quality of life. Although I've never witnessed him actually eating any unusual objects, I suppose it only takes once. I'll just have to leave it up to fate. If he's dumb enough to eat a screw and die, well, I guess that's just nature selecting out the dumber ones from the gene pool.
Quote:
Have you ever heard of "Hardware disease"? Geese get it, those that swallow things they shouldn't, the objects can damage the digestive system as they pass through it, sometimes things will lodge in the gizzard. Screws and staples tend to be trouble items because they will fuss with them and manage to remove them when used in an enclosure. galvanized tend to lead to zinc posioning unless they pass through. penney coins are another cause of zinc posioning. I used to sweep my runs with a strong magnet, picks up the steel but not zinc or copper. If you suspect a bird has it an x-ray will usually show it, getting it out of the goose is a bigger problem. Just thought I should warn you that Rambo may be cute but if he swallows the wrong objects it could be the death of him.

 

[bargain]

I lost 4 almost full grown geese to hawks 2 years ago. It does happen. This year over their walking area I put several large dog boxes and 3 umbrellas from patio tables (rescued from the recycle center) and we were blessed so far. They made it to adulthood... And these are heavy critters and strong.

Enjoyed the new information about the hardware. It's amazing what critters can do..

Have a blessed day.

 

[goosedragon]

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[Chickies-duckies-etc]

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Wonder how long that story was being told around the repair shop - "this pick up was brought in with all of this damage done by geese.................."

 

[GooseGirl]

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Lol that sounds like my goat, horse, and my goose!

 

[Wolf-Kim]

Many times adolescent hawks who are still learning the ropes have to learn through trial and error, which animals are food and which are too much of a fight to get into with.

It may have simply been a young hungry hawk who thought to give it a try, hopefully he's learned his lesson and is off in search of smaller prey.

 

[redhen]

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Mine arent...
they stood down (for hours) my Saint Bernard (female) and English Mastiff..they protected 3 of my ducks..the only 3 that lived when my sicko dogs killed all my other ducks and a rooster.
My foster son(who's 17, and knows better) left our back deck gate open and 2 of my dogs went on a killing spree for hours in my back yard..

What a nightmare..
when we came home i found my 2 geese standing in FRONT of my last 3 ducks protecting them from my huge dogs..
I'd say my Sebbies are brave.

 

[team guava pastry]

I love when they throw their wings out and hiss. Just wish they would do that to the local iguana population.

Our little goose does it, but is scared to death of the broom, go figure?