Help - Our pet goose is our worst predator!

[Weezy58]

We've had a nice little flock of ducks, chickens and a pair of American Buff geese for two years. We got them all at the same time as hatchlings. They roam our two-acre fenced yard during the day, sleep together in a large shed at night, and everyone has gotten along great. UNTIL NOW. This week we saw our goose viciously attack a Barred Rock and take a big bite out of her back. We rushed her to the vet and he was able to save her. We had quickly put the goose in a pen before we left, but when we got back we found a Black Star bitten to death in the pen. Apparently she'd flown over the fence and got torn to pieces. We're just heartsick and don't know what to do. Gracie the goose is now banished to a dog kennel until we can figure something out. From now on, will we always have to keep the geese separated from the ducks and chickens? I'm sure the fact it's spring breeding season has a lot to do with it, but I can't imagine ever trusting the geese again.

 

[L0rraine]

I don't have any suggestions, but I do sympathize with how frustrating it can be when a good balance gets out of whack. I had heard that it was great to geese when we have free-ranging 'birds', as they are a bit of a deterrent to predators, so am sorry to hear about your bad luck with this.

 

[Mattemma]

I would disptach the goose just like I would a roo. In the least I would keep it in a dog crate or pen 24/7. I had problem chickens and I just rehomed them and got more.

 

[Weezy58]

Mattemma - Thanks, we seriously thought about rehoming her, but decided to try keeping the geese separate from the chickens and see how that works out. We did have to rehome some male Swedish ducks that got crazy mean with the females. We've had some drakes that are very nice and others that are little terrorists - I suppose it's the same with roos.

 

[Weezy58]

LOrraine - Thanks for the moral support! You're right, we've been so happy with our peaceful little flock that this caught us totally off guard. I guess you can try to do everything right but in the end they're still animals and some things will be out of your control. We're not giving up on her yet - the vet (who is great with poultry and waterfowl) says it's really not fair to judge their behavior during spring mating season. We will make sure she can't get near the chickens and hope she gets back to her cheerful self soon!

BTW - Whidbey Island - gorgeous place! We have relatives in the area.

 

[Egghead_Jr]

To have problems after two years I'd think there is something going on with the goose. Breeding season? Is she going broody? Something is agitating her or her agitated spring hormones caused the sudden change. I know nothing about geese other than they make great watch dogs and used to terrorize me as a kid when visiting parents friends.

 

[Weezy58]

Egghead - I think you're right about her going broody (and being a terrorist!). We let her out of the pen last night when the chickens were safely tucked away, and she RAN straight to what we thought was a clutch of duck eggs. We examined them more closely and saw that some were goose eggs. I've read that Buffs start laying at about two years of age, and we didn't realize she had started. The poor thing must have been going absolutely crazy when we put her in the pen away from her eggs, and when the hen flew in - well, very bad timing! The other hen might have just come too close to the nest. Our vet says he's even known mama geese to kill ducks they're friendly with if the duck comes too close to her nest. It's been a learning experience for sure!

 

[jammyjammy2112]

id say defintly going broody if you want her to hatch eggs leave some eggs in with her and make sure no hen gets near her she will defintly try and kill it just like any mother would do if they treatended there babies.

 

[Ceilismom]

I had almost exactly the same thing happen this spring. My 2-year-old Buffs have always coexisted peaceably with the rest of the flock, until this spring. This year, our pond is dry and they decided to nest inside the chicken coop. When my husband heard the sounds of chaos coming from the coop one day, he discovered a bunch of broken chicken eggs, and both the goose and the gander terrorizing everyone else in the coop. The geese have moved to the Rooster Jail until breeding season is over. They aren't happy about it, but the rest of the flock sure is! If the goose appears to be serious about brooding, I may get some ducklings for her to raise.

 

[sourland]

It is absolutely normal for mature geese to become territorial and defend their nest site. Once she starts setting the gander may become even more protective than the goose has been. It's how they ensure the perpetuation of the species. Once breeding season is over and goslings are raised their aggression level should subside.