Making friends with a goose?

[sitswithgoose]

I walk this lake near my home where this lone large grey goose with an orange bill chases and bites most people. He has chased me as well, but always said he was just misunderstood. This never stopped him from eating any bread I brought to the ducks. After two years, I decided to befriend this bird. Brought bread and sat in front of him/her to hang out. I was approached with neck lowered, bill open and hissing. Now weekly, he no longer lowers his/her neck and comes toward me hissing. He/she comes to me and nibbles on me, crawls into my lap while nibbling on shoulder or parts of the side of my face, or head. He/she let me pet him/her. However, the other day while we were just hanging out by the lake - some walkers passed by and off the bird went in usual fashion with neck lowered, hissing, and biting people. While this animal is unpopular, I have become fond of the interaction and the curiosity presented. So, what is this bird doing? At times there is some kind of mumble like talking seemingly going on while other times he may waddle away with a loud squalling sound with beak up in the air. Then, he/she will come back. Today, the bird sat on my chest and poked on the top of my head a little bit, then just sat still. I was nervous about being peed or pood on, but thankfully that did not occur. So, am I making friends with a goose, or just being allowed in his/her territory? I took a pic that I framed and put on my office. It gets great reviews. I know very little about geese.

Thank you for any feedback.

 

[BunkyB]

I like your story. It does sound similar to mine when I first got started with geese.I was a proud owner of 13 chickens and 1 turkey back in the good old days. A neighbor of mine who raises miniature horses came to me and said for months now there has been a goose all by itself in an old skanky pond left over from an old openpit mining spot here.

I worked nights at the time and I would bring chicken feed, bread apples, etc to her every day until she became more friendly. I got my share of nips and bites and a few smacks from her wings, needless to say a few bruises as well. She was powerful. Anyways I got to the point of being able to take her home with me to my football field sized pond and my birds. It took only a couple of days and she was a good yard buddy when I got home from work at 7 am. Met me every day, hung out while doing work around the yard. That includes snow shoveling during the winter.
Here it is almost 20 years later and the routine changed a bit since I have so many birds, geese, ducks, turkeys, but she always acknowledges me when I call her name. She and I always set time aside with her by herself and I still give her her treats, away from the other birds. Shes older now, knocked down the pecking order a couple of notches but we still have that friendship after all these years.

I called her Lucy, dunno why but it stuck. I paid NO attention to gender because she looked female to me I guess. Just 5 years ago I found out she was a he...LOL. So I had to change the name from Lucy to Lucifer...That name was earned from all her...his years of growing up always having to deal with younger male geese. Lucifer never lost a battle and never killed another. He would even bite the tires of any company I had show up, while the car was moving ... Anyways I am rambling here. Please enjoy your company with the goose, take care of him or redirect him to a good home.

In closing... There is so much you can learn from a goose when it is a 1 - 1 situation. They're not so complicated... Steve

 

[Miss Lydia]

I walk this lake near my home where this lone large grey goose with an orange bill chases and bites most people. He has chased me as well, but always said he was just misunderstood. This never stopped him from eating any bread I brought to the ducks. After two years, I decided to befriend this bird. Brought bread and sat in front of him/her to hang out. I was approached with neck lowered, bill open and hissing. Now weekly, he no longer lowers his/her neck and comes toward me hissing. He/she comes to me and nibbles on me, crawls into my lap while nibbling on shoulder or parts of the side of my face, or head. He/she let me pet him/her. However, the other day while we were just hanging out by the lake - some walkers passed by and off the bird went in usual fashion with neck lowered, hissing, and biting people. While this animal is unpopular, I have become fond of the interaction and the curiosity presented. So, what is this bird doing? At times there is some kind of mumble like talking seemingly going on while other times he may waddle away with a loud squalling sound with beak up in the air. Then, he/she will come back. Today, the bird sat on my chest and poked on the top of my head a little bit, then just sat still. I was nervous about being peed or pood on, but thankfully that did not occur. So, am I making friends with a goose, or just being allowed in his/her territory? I took a pic that I framed and put on my office. It gets great reviews. I know very little about geese.

Thank you for any feedback.

I enjoyed your story alot and thank you for befriending this goose who sounds like a gander to me, with the head lowered charging, and walking away with head in the air stuff, My gander does all of this. I am surprised this goose has made it this long if he is as you described, most people wouldn't put up with the attitude and would have killed him by now, I wish you would or could help him find a new home, with you if possible of with someone who has geese, it will be inevitable sooner or later something awful will happen to him,he really needs companionship of his own kind. But as you have seen a little TLC has brought him a long way with you. Bless you in your kindness and I am hoping you will take it a step further now and help him find a new SAFE place to live.

 

[BunkyB]

I would if I could. The hardest part being in Nova Scotia, Canada. You are quite a way from me for sure. I find adult geese to not do well on flights and I hate the thought of a goose being quaranteened at an airport. Stress would kill him.

There are so many people out here you should make reference to your story again and ask if some one near you wants a Goose to be taken care of. I have a full hatch on the go now for my first batch this spring. Embden, Chinese, Pilgrim mix. Donating eggs to the local KIDS 4H Club for incubating and hatching. I will do anything for kids to learn the basics of animal rearing and farming life. They need all the exposure we can give them..

Best of luck with the Goose. I am sure there HAS to be someone around the BYC site here that is close enough to you to Adopt... Would be an even nicer story so he can settle down in a comfy environment... Steve

 

[Miss Lydia]

How about telling your story here? https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/160883/louisiana-la-yers-peeps/18430

 

[BunkyB]

I found a picture of Lucifer from 2003 when we found a spot away from the other birds for his treats. I knew I had several, just took a while to find... 2 peas in a pod. Your abandoned goose and my abandoned goose. As I said before he was my first goose. Doesn't bite tires anymore either...lol Very, calm, cool and collected now. Steve

 

[Miss Lydia]

I found a picture of Lucifer from 2003 when we found a spot away from the other birds for his treats. I knew I had several, just took a while to find... 2 peas in a pod. Your abandoned goose and my abandoned goose. As I said before he was my first goose. Doesn't bite tires anymore either...lol Very, calm, cool and collected now. Steve

Also very pretty. and what a beautiful place you live.

 

[The goose girl]

I walk this lake near my home where this lone large grey goose with an orange bill chases and bites most people. He has chased me as well, but always said he was just misunderstood. This never stopped him from eating any bread I brought to the ducks. After two years, I decided to befriend this bird. Brought bread and sat in front of him/her to hang out. I was approached with neck lowered, bill open and hissing.

What a great friendship story! Geese will approach anything unfamiliar in that way - like it's a potential threat to be chased away.


Quote: He now feels much more secure around you, since you haven't done anything to scare him. He's still investigating you, possibly to find out where the delicious treats come from.

My late goose quickly found out that pockets were the source of treats, and she was really good at searching them.

Bread is not the best goose treat. It hardly contains any nutrients. Geese are foragers and they primarily eat grass. A few pieces of bread of course will do no harm, but filling up on bread just makes him fat and malnourished. Low-fat dog kibble is easy to carry around, and fed in small amounts it is a good source of protein. Barley and oat whole grain is also good goose food until the grass starts growing.


Quote: Geese are very, very good at recognizing people. He knows you by your pose, your moves, your voice, and your looks. But strangers are still considered a potential threat.


Quote: He is talking to you - geese love to communicate. In their flock, they're always letting each other know where they are, what they're doing, and how they're feeling.

I think he's a male trying to court you. But since you're not a female goose, you don't display the proper "ok, let's mate"-behaviour. So he's trying to build a relationship by caressing you and showing off. Male geese love committed relationships. Even with female geese available, the males may bond with each other and form pairs or trios, displaying all kinds of courting behaviour except mating. They'll caress and preen each other.


Quote: Geese are not able to control their poop, so you may get pooped on at some point. However, adult geese don't poop that often, except when they're nervous.


Quote: You are making friends with him. He considers you part of his flock, and I'm sure he has pair-bonded with you. He has been lonely, and he was probably dumped by his previous owners. Since no other geese are around, he's trying to make friends with you. Lonely geese feel insecure.

 

[allsummedup]

That's freakin adorable

 

[Going Bhonkers]