My geese suddenly want to eat me alive

[Urbanfarmerkc]

I disagree it is a boundary issue as much as it is a territory issue. My birds are only aggressive during breeding season and so I'm leaning that way. I do not take a stick but when my goose gets nasty, I do pick him up, which he HATES and we have a bit of a conversation about how biting me is a really, REALLY bad idea. He runs at me and I swoop him up for the "talk". I don't usually have problems. My male year before last would attack my 16 year old, who truly did deserve it but alas, that was about all the problem, I had.

Has anyone gotten Pilgrim eggs yet, My geese are getting more aggressive but not laying yet... Can't wait though... I use my geese as lawn mowers and I do need some goslings to pitch in to help. LOL

 

[Miss Lydia]

I use to pick my gander up but he's so big now it's really hard for me to do so I just pin him to the ground works the same with me.

 

[sourland]

Boundary issues are exactly what it's about. When we treat animals as equals, they regard us as equals. That means we will be treated like members of the flock. It is territorial in that they are warning other flock members (the humans they regard as equals) to stay away from their territory because here is where they intend to raise the next generation.

 

[chickensducks&agoose]

okay, i generally agree with you guys, but my one goose is different. She mostly respects me, (though she almost killed a chicken today, and it is bloody and looks like it met a dog) but will attack anything other than me (okay, sometimes she attacks me too..) and will not let go. when she bites, she doesn't let go. It's like having your hand or leg or ear ( don't work on the fence when the geese are near!) caught in a snapping turtle. you can try to pull away, but you will lose the part that is being held... or you can try to smack the goose and make it let go... or you can scream and scream, and pray that someone will come and pry the goose off.... it really sucks. and i think she can't see good, so she bites HARD. she bit my palm about a month ago, and there is still a mark. I also have a bruise on my arm... I hate her, but like her at the same time. Since we got her, my birds haven't been injured or killed by a predator... except for the ones that she injures herself.

 

[Jennyhaschicks]

Interesting points of views for sure. I love all the input this thread has gotten. So many ways to approach geese during breeding season.
Do any of you get flack from people who don't understand why we have geese? I am so sick of hearing "why do you have such vicious creatures THAT BITE YOU?" "just get rid of them."
It's hard to explain to some people so I just don't even try to explain. What do you all give for a response?

My gander has backed down. The female is the nastier one now. She gets mad at the gander and bites his neck. I think he is trying to tell her to leave me alone and she gets back talking him.

We are going to be putting up a pen for them soon. As of now they free range but we have kids and they have friends over often so we don't want anyone to get bitten. That would be awful.. They have been acting funny lately. They seem to be roaming further than they ever have. Yesterday they went next door to the neighbors. They have never done that. They always stay close to home.


eta I have Pilgrim geese and I am in Maine. I have not seen them mating nor do I have any eggs.

 

[Miss Lydia]

might be a tad to cold there for them to start doing either.I have been watching for the 2 canadian geese that hatch in the river down below our home, well not in the river but on a little island in the river, so far I have only seen them swimming not nesting and we're futher south than you. My gander doesn't have a goose just a duck for his mate so don't know if they would be sitting yet. But he's still hateful because of his Mother/wife. Most people I know are afraid of geese, have had a bad experience with them and can't for the life of me understand why i would want one. But they don't see the times when I am sitting outside and here comes Sammy wanting to hang out with us. Oh he'll start to nibble on our shoes and then start up the pants leg and we have to make him stop because the end will be a bite but he is so funny and always makes me laugh. even whe he is at his meanest, I have never not wanted him.

 

[GarlicEater]

chickensducks&agoose :

It's like having your hand or leg or ear ( don't work on the fence when the geese are near!) caught in a snapping turtle. you can try to pull away, but you will lose the part that is being held... or you can try to smack the goose and make it let go... or you can scream and scream, and pray that someone will come and pry the goose off.... it really sucks. .

This is why is one grabs a part of my body I'm not going to get into a pulling contest. I'm just going to clamp a hand down over their head/eyes, and they'll be like..... what???? No need to hurt 'em just use the ol' enclose and engulf technique, if that doesn't get 'em to let go just throw a leg over and get on top of them, don't hurt them just hold them. And hold 'em until they know you're in charge and are tired of the issue.

Smacking isn't going to do it, they smack each other all the time and the more stubborn one wins. Don't play their game, play yours.​

 

[GarlicEater]

Quote:
My response would be: You want 'em?

Mine don't bite me, although they did chase a friend when I was gone, that must have been hilarious! I'm going to sell or otherwise rehome mine because sheep are better for the health of the pastureage around here, and they're noisy and annoying. We get plenty of eggs from the chickens, sheep take care of the land (and prefer broadleaf plants so they actually just trim and encourage the grass, rather than denuding areas) and the geese are positive creators of mudholes.

I know there are people who just plain love geese. They are certainly unique. I find myself laughing about something they do, daily.

 

[Jennyhaschicks]

Quote:
My response would be: You want 'em?

Mine don't bite me, although they did chase a friend when I was gone, that must have been hilarious! I'm going to sell or otherwise rehome mine because sheep are better for the health of the pastureage around here, and they're noisy and annoying. We get plenty of eggs from the chickens, sheep take care of the land (and prefer broadleaf plants so they actually just trim and encourage the grass, rather than denuding areas) and the geese are positive creators of mudholes.

I know there are people who just plain love geese. They are certainly unique. I find myself laughing about something they do, daily.

They are unique. I think that's why I like them. My husband will swear up and down he hates them but he is always laughing at them or watching them. Sometimes I even catch him talking to them.

 

[GarlicEater]

Mine are going on Craig's List as soon as the weather lets up a bit.