Murderous geese, why?

[BirdLeaf]

I walked out to the coop this morning and my African Geese were standing in the run, covered in blood. “Oh no! Something must have attacked them!!!” I thought. My geese are pretty vicious so I looked around for the body of its enemy. It was one of my 10 week old ducklings.

Is there any way to keep geese from killing and attacking my ducklings? They don’t attack my adult ducks. I had always thought the coop was a safe place for the ducklings but today I learned the geese can get in there the hard way. Is it just the breed of geese? Should I sell them and get a different breed? We keep them around as a flock alarm system, and they do a good job. Maybe I’ll have to get some LGDs.

 

[donkeydew2farms]

Birdleaf I don't think it matters my Americans are very aggressive when it comes to the ducks. I keep them seperate but I have one goose a cross Chinese and African that adopted the three ducks he c0ame that way . This is breeding season the hormones are flying ha. Good luck.

 

[BirdLeaf]

Birdleaf I don't think it matters my Americans are very aggressive when it comes to the ducks. I keep them seperate but I have one goose a cross Chinese and African that adopted the three ducks he c0ame that way . This is breeding season the hormones are flying ha. Good luck.

Yeah, these guys have been mating like crazy. They never hurt the two adult ducks or any of my chickens, they keep attacking my ducklings though. I might need to give the geese their own run. They usually don’t go in the chicken run or coop.

 

[Then I Will]

It sounds like their pecking order is much more brutal than that of chickens. They must gang up on "outsiders."

 

[BirdLeaf]

It sounds like their pecking order is much more brutal than that of chickens. They must gang up on "outsiders."

I never thought of it that way, that makes a lot of sense though! The adult ducks accepted them immediately and were excited to have them there, I figured they would band together but the adult ducks seem to run with the geese

 

[Ahavati]

Awwww that stinks. We only have a pair (male/female) that aren't quite a year. They don't hurt the chickens, I think there is a level of respect there...no one messes with the geese lol. I've seen them go after my pyrenees. But, our male has now started going after us. Not all the time but often as of late. I'm a little disappointed as I've loved them and always treat him like a baby. I'm constantly having to watch my back.

 

[Miss Lydia]

This is the beginning of geese breeding season in a lot of the country so your going to see hormonal behavior especially with the ganders, they become very protective of their mate and their space. Never run from your geese and don't give them the impression your afraid. This is normal behavior for geese to be protective of their mates and goslings but you don't want to have them biting or attacking you or your family. We have good info on How to Train geese I'll get it for you.

https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/geese-training.561849/

 

[Ahavati]

This is the beginning of geese breeding season in a lot of the country so your going to see hormonal behavior especially with the ganders, they become very protective of their mate and their space. Never run from your geese and don't give them the impression your afraid. This is normal behavior for geese to be protective of their mates and goslings but you don't want to have them biting or attacking you or your family. We have good info on How to Train geese I'll get it for you.

https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/geese-training.561849/

Thank you I will read that! I never run from him. I am the alpha to all my animals and they know it. For a while I charged him and verbally scolded him and he would be respectful. But lately he would try more. Once I punted him. Not hard, just took the top of my foot and pushed him away a bit hard under his chest area. Not kicking, just pushing. He let me alone then. I will look at the link though because I want to enjoy them not constantly be fearing them.

 

[Miss Lydia]

I have to often push my gander away with bottom of my foot to his chest. But what works best is getting him flat on the ground head pointing away and holding him down for a few mins. That really hurts his ego, lol I put my knee on his back and hand around his neck to keep him from turning and nipping. This doesn't hurt them if not done with force Just letting them know they can't act that way with us. I see my gander do this with my Muscovy drake and Drake to gander.

If we had cameras set up I bet we could get on Americas funniest home videos pretty easy. lol

 

[Ahavati]

I have to often push my gander away with bottom of my foot to his chest. But what works best is getting him flat on the ground head pointing away and holding him down for a few mins. That really hurts his ego, lol I put my knee on his back and hand around his neck to keep him from turning and nipping. This doesn't hurt them if not done with force Just letting them know they can't act that way with us. I see my gander do this with my Muscovy drake and Drake to gander.

If we had cameras set up I bet we could get on Americas funniest home videos pretty easy. lol

I do that with my dogs!! Ahhh, ok good. Now I know I can't hurt hi and it's a dominance thing. I got this! I started reading that thread and a light bulb came on. So helpful.

And yes, I'd hate to know what my neighbors thing LOL