Injured young Am Buff gander

[Iain Utah]

I have 16 (maybe 17) ganders.

 

[lilcrow]

Could be, maybe that will spur him on to get it right.

When my gander and goose mate after it's over he flaps his wings and lets out a hoot that scares her so bad she takes off running. lol. So you'll know when Will finally gets it right.

Ha! I can kind of imagine this. He makes a LOT of noise in the morning when I let them out and they both flap their wings a LOT. He has done it for sure each time I catch him to doctor his foot. I sort of figured he was telling me I'm just a peon and I'd better stay away or he'd kick my fanny.

 

[lilcrow]

Since you geese are younger it will take time for the gander to figure just how to breed your goose. The gander will get very protective of his mate. When geese are in the breeding season they hate everyone and anything!!! So expect the gander to be agressive for the full breeding season. Make sure to take like Miss Lydia a broom stick this is to keep the distance between you and the gander or even the goose. She gets very protective of her nest while laying eggs. If you are going to collect them and incubate them yourself, collect while she is gone off the nest. If you try while she is there you will get bit for sure....
So just remember they will hate you through the breeding season and at the end will come back to normal...

I have a cane I half to walk with comes in handy when my ganders come at me trying to bite me. I take the cane and pop the gander in the chest with it.
Every morning we have the Berrie attack momma so momma make sure to let him know she is boss not him.....
I have 8 ganders so I have to be bigger boss than they are......

I'm trying to image how this is going to unfold when the time comes. So far I haven't seen any real aggression from Will, but he hasn't accomplished a successful breeding and there are no eggs yet to protect. I have a broom that I keep in the chicken house and I have a walking staff at the back door. I kind of envision using the broom with the it's broom end, but I haven't seen how bad this is going to get yet. Their kennel is sort of off in a separate area from everyone else, so they can have plenty of space without anyone or thing crowding them.
Do you have any idea when this will actually get serious, and how long it usually lasts?

 

[lilcrow]

I have 16 (maybe 17) ganders.

Yipes, I don't have the room for that many geese, it would turn my whole property into a mud whole.

 

[Miss Lydia]

I'm trying to image how this is going to unfold when the time comes. So far I haven't seen any real aggression from Will, but he hasn't accomplished a successful breeding and there are no eggs yet to protect. I have a broom that I keep in the chicken house and I have a walking staff at the back door. I kind of envision using the broom with the it's broom end, but I haven't seen how bad this is going to get yet. Their kennel is sort of off in a separate area from everyone else, so they can have plenty of space without anyone or thing crowding them.
Do you have any idea when this will actually get serious, and how long it usually lasts?

Did you say how old they are? my goose is just now 10 months old and mating stated back in Jan. also my gander knew all the ropes because he has been raised with ducks and actually mated with them. My gander isn't being very aggressive yet, but he knows he can't push me we've been at this close to 6 yrs now. He is getting a little aggressive towards the ducks though, just head down making them move out of the way I don't think I'd be hand feeding or actually petting right now since your seeing them try to mate, he could bite you pretty hard and you have to be ready to let him know right off that isn't acceptable behavior.And then again he may not show alot of aggression but better to be ready just in case. If he didn't I'd be real surprised it's just part of their nature once they become sexually mature. My gander and I have a good relationship but I let him know right quick when he crosses the line, I can tell when he is thinking about biting.

 

[lilcrow]

Did you say how old they are? my goose is just now 10 months old and mating stated back in Jan. also my gander knew all the ropes because he has been raised with ducks and actually mated with them. My gander isn't being very aggressive yet, but he knows he can't push me we've been at this close to 6 yrs now. He is getting a little aggressive towards the ducks though, just head down making them move out of the way I don't think I'd be hand feeding or actually petting right now since your seeing them try to mate, he could bite you pretty hard and you have to be ready to let him know right off that isn't acceptable behavior.And then again he may not show alot of aggression but better to be ready just in case. If he didn't I'd be real surprised it's just part of their nature once they become sexually mature. My gander and I have a good relationship but I let him know right quick when he crosses the line, I can tell when he is thinking about biting.

I believe they're just coming up on a year old. I got them from some folks that got them from some folks..........you know how that goes. The people that I got them from said they are last years hatch, early in the summer/late spring. I got them in August/Sept and they thought they were about 4 mo old. My ducks.....Ha, now I get the phrase F....a duck. I've never seen anything like it, they are the horniest little things.

The hen ducks, one in particular has been trying to seduce the gander, these are Call ducks by the way so you can see the size difference.

When they first started trying to entice Will he looked at them like they were nuts! When the most seductive one of the bunch finally got him interested he stepped on her while in the pool and I was afraid he was going to kill her. The goose has never liked the ducks or the chickens for that matter, she just tells them all to beat it and I even caught her trying to kill one in the pool last summer. She hadn't been here very long. I'll stop the hand feeding, it hasn't been so much fun for them recently anyway.....and I'll stop petting her also. Does it make a difference what breed they are as to how aggressive they'll get?
Thanks again for everything Lydia.

 

[Miss Lydia]

I believe they're just coming up on a year old. I got them from some folks that got them from some folks..........you know how that goes. The people that I got them from said they are last years hatch, early in the summer/late spring. I got them in August/Sept and they thought they were about 4 mo old. My ducks.....Ha, now I get the phrase F....a duck. I've never seen anything like it, they are the horniest little things.

The hen ducks, one in particular has been trying to seduce the gander, these are Call ducks by the way so you can see the size difference.

When they first started trying to entice Will he looked at them like they were nuts! When the most seductive one of the bunch finally got him interested he stepped on her while in the pool and I was afraid he was going to kill her. The goose has never liked the ducks or the chickens for that matter, she just tells them all to beat it and I even caught her trying to kill one in the pool last summer. She hadn't been here very long. I'll stop the hand feeding, it hasn't been so much fun for them recently anyway.....and I'll stop petting her also. Does it make a difference what breed they are as to how aggressive they'll get?
Thanks again for everything Lydia.

I can't imagine a gander and a call duck. oh my, even seeing my gander and Muscovy mate was kinda extreme. I stop him if he starts with them. He usually leaves the ducks alone now that he is mating with Missy. Sounds about right for mating then, my goose was hatched in April of last year too. Got her in August. Thank goodness you were able to get them instead of them dumped somewhere which happen so often. You'll probably begin to see eggs soon. I made an omelet out of Missy eggs today used 3. boy was it good. My geese tolerates the chickens. I do think some breeds are more aggressive than others but a gander is a gander and will feel a threat even if it comes from those of us who take care for them, so just be ready to act if he challenges you. I don't want to scare you of your geese, just want you to be aware of the changes that are going to take place with sexual maturity. I love to sit outside and have my geese next to me. They are alot of company they just need to learn we are the top geese in their lives not the other way round. Let us know when you get your first egg.

 

[lilcrow]

I can't imagine a gander and a call duck. oh my, even seeing my gander and Muscovy mate was kinda extreme. I stop him if he starts with them. He usually leaves the ducks alone now that he is mating with Missy. Sounds about right for mating then, my goose was hatched in April of last year too. Got her in August. Thank goodness you were able to get them instead of them dumped somewhere which happen so often. You'll probably begin to see eggs soon. I made an omelet out of Missy eggs today used 3. boy was it good. My geese tolerates the chickens. I do think some breeds are more aggressive than others but a gander is a gander and will feel a threat even if it comes from those of us who take care for them, so just be ready to act if he challenges you. I don't want to scare you of your geese, just want you to be aware of the changes that are going to take place with sexual maturity. I love to sit outside and have my geese next to me. They are alot of company they just need to learn we are the top geese in their lives not the other way round. Let us know when you get your first egg.

Oh believe me, I'll be shouting it when I find that first egg. As far as the gander and the Call hen, I stopped it immediately, I tried to point her toward her fellow ducks, but poor baby she is the low duck on the totem pole and no one seems to like her, she is also the smallest. Goofy girl she even let me pet her once thinking I might help her out. I truly hope someday the flock really takes her in and accepts her completely, I just hate to see her always alone and tagging along in the back.
As far as scaring me off my geese, I knew when I got them that breeding season would bring on a completely different attitude than what they show now, but I did choose Buffs because of their reputation for being docile. So far I must agree with the reports, they are very sweet, slightly timid birds. Will has demonstrated his authority with the dogs and they are very clear that they don't like new people in the barn yard, but to date neither has hissed or lowered their head toward me. I'll deal with it when it comes. I had to work with a Cuckoo Marans roo which was a huge bird, almost as big as the Brahmas. I caught him at least 4 times and went through the submission thing, the last time I even laid him on the ground and held him there until he quit struggling before I let him up, but he was never trustworthy and it took all the fun out off taking care of my birds, and his attitude was not going to get better with time only get worse so I re-homed him and his girls with the understanding why I was letting them go. If I need to punch Will in the chest to change his mind, I will take a progressive approach to it, I'll start rather easy and give him a chance to stop and if that doesn't work I'll just have to get progressively harder with the correction.
Have a good evening and thanks again.

 

[Miss Lydia]

Oh believe me, I'll be shouting it when I find that first egg. As far as the gander and the Call hen, I stopped it immediately, I tried to point her toward her fellow ducks, but poor baby she is the low duck on the totem pole and no one seems to like her, she is also the smallest. Goofy girl she even let me pet her once thinking I might help her out. I truly hope someday the flock really takes her in and accepts her completely, I just hate to see her always alone and tagging along in the back.
As far as scaring me off my geese, I knew when I got them that breeding season would bring on a completely different attitude than what they show now, but I did choose Buffs because of their reputation for being docile. So far I must agree with the reports, they are very sweet, slightly timid birds. Will has demonstrated his authority with the dogs and they are very clear that they don't like new people in the barn yard, but to date neither has hissed or lowered their head toward me. I'll deal with it when it comes. I had to work with a Cuckoo Marans roo which was a huge bird, almost as big as the Brahmas. I caught him at least 4 times and went through the submission thing, the last time I even laid him on the ground and held him there until he quit struggling before I let him up, but he was never trustworthy and it took all the fun out off taking care of my birds, and his attitude was not going to get better with time only get worse so I re-homed him and his girls with the understanding why I was letting them go. If I need to punch Will in the chest to change his mind, I will take a progressive approach to it, I'll start rather easy and give him a chance to stop and if that doesn't work I'll just have to get progressively harder with the correction.
Have a good evening and thanks again.

I have all the confidence in the world you'll handle the situation if it comes up. I love Buffs and if I ever get an opportunity to have geese again in my lifetime that's the breed I want. for the reason you mentioned and their beauty. I always feel bad for the ones that just don't fit in with the flock, maybe because I always have problems fitting in too. But makes me more understanding i hope.

I have only had 1 aggressive roo since i started with chickens going on 4 yrs now and believe it or not it was a light Brahma roo, boy was he mean, he finally went in the freezer. I have 2 roos now and both are gentlemen I won't have it any other way. Looking forward to hearing updates on Will an Kate.

 

[lilcrow]

DO YOU HEAR ME SHOUTING!!!!

Found it this morning, almost didn't see it as she had it buried in the shavings. Their first egg.......awwwwwwwwwww

They are also successfully breeding - I've witnessed it, along with the celebratory honking and carrying on, GO TELL IT ON THE MOUNTAIN!!

This sounds like everything is wonderful, but there is a problem that has required a considerable amount of attention and I'm still very concerned. I told you that she had bitten his foot one day when he was trying to get things figured out, unfortunately this has become a very undesirable consistent behavior of hers. I can't figure out why she wants to do this since she is more than a willing participant and appears to like him a lot. The bad news is the toe has not been able to heal because every time it scabs over, she tears it off. The toe will be permanently mutilated which I don't care about other than the fact that it hurts him so. After a long stint of penicillin. at a very high dosage I finally got rid of the infection, but I'm having to watch him and check it every morning and evening to make sure it doesn't get started again. Which brings me to this point, I want to brag on my geese a little. I realize this could change at any minute, but so far they mate right under the bucket as I'm drawing water from the hydrant, and show little concern about where I am or what I'm doing around them. They demonstrate absolutely no aggression toward me at all. As much as I've had to handle Will, I thought for sure there would be a point where I would find his disposition heading toward the protective, aggressive side and he would become nearly impossible to handle. I haven't had to give him any pills for a while, which I think he greatly appreciates - he clearly hated that part, but I've worked on his foot every morning and evening since this began, putting antibiotic salve on the toe and he has tolerated that extremely well, even to the point that I could put it on without having to restrain or hold him. This evening I thought that surely it would feel good to bathe and soak his foot in warm water so I fixed a bucket with a little of the antibiotic salve dissolved in it. We have a corner of the run where we always do the doctoring, so he went to his corner and I knelt down, put my hand on his chest to keep him from taking off and began to run the warm water over his foot. At first of course it startled him and we went through a moment of hysteria (not actually that bad, but he really wanted to leave) but when he realized that it wasn't going to hurt he not only settled down quickly, but he reached down and gently mouthed my hand that was on his chest. Well, you might guess that almost made me cry as it does now writing about it. He is such a sweet boy and I don't know how to protect his foot. At times I think I should separate them, but that would really cause a ruckus and of course end up with infertile eggs. However if having dud eggs was the only problem, that wouldn't upset me. It's not important that they have babies right now, especially if it would help Will and didn't cause him so much anxiety that he would be miserable and maybe even hurt himself trying to get to Kate.
Lydia or anyone else if you have ANY ideas I'd sure welcome it?