How Do I Make Friends with Adult Geese

[ohiofarmgirl]

The key is patience.
One, Bella La Goosie, decided I was hers right from the start but that is not really the usual.

bella la goosie... oh my that is hilarious!!!

as for how to make friends - cant help you a bit. that demon gander of mine is my arch enemy. but i love him... from afar. and actually we kind of understand each other. he comes when i call him and if they are headed toward to the road all i have to do is yell: hey geese! get back here! and they come back around.​

 

[TedsFarms]

Sitting at their level is a good friendly/comforting posture for geese. Yes, I have had to grab a ganders advance or two, but staring them down while holding them and talking only takes once or maybe twice. but they are quick learners.

 

[goosedragon]

Darn I wish this board had a undo arrow like Word! I spent a half hour doing a goose introduction plan, then made the mistake of trying to do a correction on the preview page and the whole thing just up and disappeared! Never could get it back. I'll probably redo the plan on Word then save it to be used as a paste in answer to the quetion "how to introduce new stock"

 

[Cottage Rose]

Its pretty unlikely that they will ever be friendly.
If they aren't bonded to humans at birth and field
raised in large numbers like they are at Holderreads
chances are they will always be leery of humans.

 

[Golden Valley Farm]

Being field raised makes a healthy bird apposed to small areas where they end up chewing on each other. I have recieved older birds and given the opportunity to adjust and handled properly will come around to eating out of my hand or atleast running up to get bread or carrots. Temperment is very much a genetic trait and good temperment doesn't disappear because no one kisses them on their little head at hatching .You would be surprised to find out how many people go out and sit on a bucket and read out loud to their new bird. The sitting is very non threatening and helps the bird learn who his person is. Temperments do vary but a good temperment won't be ruined by being raised as stock and not pets. One poster mentioned being field raised as something bad and that they will always be leery of their person. Check out any information on goose raising and it tell you that a cut grass field is an ideal place to raise them as they are a grazing animal. Dave Holderread and his practices have somehow been dragged into this. There are countless birds from Dave that have gone out as adults to become companionable breeder \\ pet and easy to handle show birds. A bird doesn't handle itself and shows if it does not have a good relationship with its human caretaker. The practice of keeping wild birds in captivity did not start with gosling imprinted at hatching. It started with birds that had been shot and not killed but could no longer fly. These wild birds eventually settled into their new lives and became friendly and companionable. Personality is one the main reasons for keeping geese and it isn't so easy to drive it underground as some seller hype would have us think. Its in there and no matter what the age of bird the personality will bloom under the right circumstances.

 

[banter]

Quote:
bella la goosie... oh my that is hilarious!!!

as for how to make friends - cant help you a bit. that demon gander of mine is my arch enemy. but i love him... from afar. and actually we kind of understand each other. he comes when i call him and if they are headed toward to the road all i have to do is yell: hey geese! get back here! and they come back around.

Loved your Blog! Ganders if treated well (they will not forget abuse) and kept in line (they understand you if you don't back down from them and give them a little respct ), are great!

 

[goosedragon]

Quote:
We will never know but I would bet on catching The goslings on the ground before they can fly and rounding up the parents at the same time since they usually molt while the goslings are developing. BTW have you ever hunted like for Canada geese? It isn't that easy with a modern shotgun, now try with a bow and arrow or by throwing stones at them. LOL. Even baiting them in until they learn to trust, like was supposed to be how wolves became dogs makes more sense to me.

 

[Cottage Rose]

Quote:
If you were referring to my comments I fully agree that any animal raised in a field is healthier (if its given proper food and water) then one thats been confined to building or pen...
and I certainly wasn't putting down Dave H. management practices.
(where did you get that from??)
I also wasn't making a blanket statement regarding the unlikelihood of taming an adult goose
as there are always exceptions to the rule....but...geese tend to get more independent with age
even when bonded to humans so I was just trying to be realistic about it least the poster thinks something
is wrong when she tries all these tips and it doesn't make much difference, should that be the case.

 

[Cottage Rose]

P.S.
Golden Valley...why so little information about you?

 

[Golden Valley Farm]

The 2 poster's above you have the same info as me. If you are asking if I have a website with alot of seller hype, no I don't . I just enjoy my geese and this forum is about geese not me. I just really don't want people to get discouraged about getting adult geese because you state that if they are not as you say bonded at birth and field raised in large groups chances they will always be leery of humans. It just takes some time and patience from there new person.