Help!! Need some advise about my geese!!!

[jvls1942]

Quote:
the only time I have ever had geese kill geese was when one of my geese had a hatch about 3 weeks later than the other geese.

shen she tried to come back into the flock with the other geese and their 3 week old babies, this is what happened.. she was immediately accepted by all the adults, as were her goslings.. Here come the BUT.. the older goslings immediately went after the young goslings and killed one within seconds.. I chased the goose and the babies away f rom the flock,and I thought she was safe, being a hundred feet away.. was I wrong.. those juveniles tore across the yard and past me and before I could catch up they had killed all 3 of her remaining babies.. just that quick.. there were 9 of the older goslings and they all participated..

I have never had that problem with incubator hatched geese, though.. I just introduce the newer ones with the older ones and they just flock up and take care of each other..

 

[banter]

That is good to know about the older goslings aggression-thanks for posting that! I probably will have hatches that are staggered. My males do the "push shove" thing but don't get overly violent. Somebody always backs down. I will not take a chance after their goslings hatch. Better to be safe than sorry.

 

[JaciesCoop]

Well it sounds as if I need to just let them settle this between them and not interfer. We have always broken up the battle and then separated them.

Thanks everyone for all the help.

Jacie

 

[chickygirl2]

Honestly, it sounds like the beginning of mating behavior to me. Mine get in the kiddy pool, grab each others necks and walk kind of in a circle. No one ever hurts the other from that. Sometimes they mate , sometimes they don't. I think yours will be just fine

 

[chicklady63]

Re: post #21.
Oh my goodness - the babies killed the babies! That's even more heartbreaking to me for some reason that the adults doing it (I don't know why). Thanks for the "heads-up'. I only have the two (perhaps a couple) right now, but in the future it may be necessary to remember your advice.
I'm gonna put my two back together again & see just what happens I guess.

 

[JaciesCoop]

Well it seems a truce has been called. Chris is staying on the west side of the barn and Essie is staying on the east side of the barn during the day.

At night they are in adjoining pens.

Jacie

 

[jvls1942]

Quote:
It must be a survival thing like when baby owls push the weaker one out of the nest so all the food will go to it..

 

[chicklady63]

Yeah, I guess so. Animals are animals after all & I know as much as we love them, we can't really expect them to act like human beings & treat each other with care & gentleness & consideration like they should...wait a minute

...any more we can't even expect that from each other.

There still are a few "good birds" out there though & a lot of them are on the site!

 

[Sarree]

Let us know when you know if you have 2 ganders or 2 females. I guess you'll know when you get some eggs.....if you get some eggs.

Sarree

 

[JaciesCoop]

Well Sarree, I'm just waiting for a sign!! Like an egg.
Today was very strange. Essie who is usually very standoffish was all over me today. Let me pick her up, Rub her all over and when I put her down she came right back to my legs and kept nuzzling me and putting her legs up on my feet. Did not want me to leave. She was not aggressive, but just acted like she wanted attention. Very strange for her!!

Jacie