my goose beats me.

[Itu]

I have 4 evil ganders. Every time they see me it is a battle. They used to roam freely around the yard, but they got too protective and I had to fence them in. I have warning signs at the gate, letting visitors know that it is quite likely that they will be attacked by a goose if they get too close. When they come after me, I'll grab them by the neck and wait. They usually calm down. If they don't, I'll scoop them up, turn around and put them back down. They seem confused by getting picked up and dropped off in a different spot, even if it is only a couple of feet away.

If it was just one mean goose, it wouldn't be too bad, but they work as a team and 3 of them will get in front of you to keep you occupied while the 4th one runs around behind you and bites and beats you with his wings. I've learned to carry a whip with me when I deal with them. I just have to swing it around my head and they back off. They do not like the sound of it for some reason. No, I do not whip my geese, I just need the sound of it to keep from getting beaten up.

 

[desertdarlene]

Has anyone here had success with the "open arms" gesture with their ganders? That is to open up your arms like when geese open up their wings to each other to drive the other away. I know it works really well with some ganders, especially the more feral ones. Perhaps it doesn't work with more tame ganders.

 

[grambysfarm]

To: Desert Darlene, My grandson (age 6) and my granddaughter (age 9) used to be terrified of the geese because the ganders would come at this with their heads down. The geese never bit the children but my granddaughter would say that they were "vicious geese" and she was afraid to go into the backyard. My grandson would insist that I carry him around in the backyard because he was afraid the geese would attack him. My husband and I taught the grandchildren to run toward the geese with arms spread wideopen, and yell at the geese while running towards them. This maneuver has brought peace to my grandchildren. When they do this the geese run away and "yell in fear". My grandchildren are now able to go into the backyard and are not afraid of the geese. If the geese come to close for their comfort they break into their "chase the geese away" maneuver. It's works! I'm sure my neighbors think we are crazy!!