My goose is gay

[WallyG74]

She could be gay, though being honest it’s hard to really say that what humans experience as homosexuality is the same as what geese experience, if it’s even the same thing.

I’ve seen males mount males, and females mount females quite a lot, you could say they’re gay, or you could really say they’re bisexual because when they get frisky anything goes.

To say that they’re truly gay they would probably prefer only to be with and breed with their same sex throughout their lives, but with mine I haven’t seen that, they’ll mess around but generally when things get serious the girls and boys will gravitate into opposite sex pairs.

Geese do form strong bonds with others regardless of sex, some boys prefer the company of another gander, and the same thing with girls, come breeding season they’ll start propositioning the opposite sex, but still want to be around their bonded friend, male or female, sometimes those bonded pairs will mount each other, sometimes they don’t, if they do it sometimes will lead to squabbling because they both want to be dominant.

Geese are really hormonal mostly once a year, so breeding isn’t on their mind much for most of the year, so it’s hard to really compare it to sexual preference in humans for that reason and because they seem to be willing to mount whatever when the mood takes them, they’ll mount boots, packs of wood shavings, the ducks, they’re not always particular.

Birds in general will pair up for breeding purposes but will also pair up out of a purely platonic love based on if their personalities click, gender doesn’t have much to do with that, but when horomones spike it probably will lead to them mounting each other, but they’ll also mount others unless it’s a sworn enemy. It’s hard to say if that’s truly homosexuality really, maybe but maybe not?

To say geese are gay is projecting human behavior onto them, geese are more like us than many realize in some ways, but also very very different so it’s really difficult to say that what some of their behaviors are is truly homosexuality.

There have been some cases with swans and flamingos that definitly do seem to be homosexual pairs, so it's possible with geese also, though with your girl it could also be that she feels really intimidated by the gander. Only time will really tell.

You lost me after the first paragraph. Condense ideas into quick, intelligent responses. 50 shades of goose gay was not that.

 

[Goosebaby]

I think you nailed it!!! The ganders were really rough with her. Biting, pulling out feathers, she actually was bleeding from the side of her head several weeks ago.

I guess instinctually she knows what should be happening to her during mating season, but being young and with young male mates, she is avoiding those that harmed her.

I get the whole anthropomorphic reference and warning. I was making light of a mildly frustrating situation: no fertile eggs from a very capable goose during a short mating season. I guess I could try locking her up with one gander and see what happens.

You might have better luck next year, two year olds have more of a brain, I think that’s when they’re truly adults, one year olds are fuzz brained teenagers.

 

[Goosebaby]

You lost me after the first paragraph. Condense ideas into quick, intelligent responses. 50 shades of goose gay was not that.

I’ll make sure to limit my responses to elementary levels just for you in future then.

 

[Albert the Saxony]

You lost me after the first paragraph. Condense ideas into quick, intelligent responses. 50 shades of goose gay was not that.

If someone doesn’t care to read it, then they don’t have to. I myself read the full message.

 

[WallyG74]

I’ll make sure to limit my responses to elementary levels just for you in future then.

Thanks. I knew you would see it my way.

 

[OhBother]

All domesticated animals have 'traits' selectively bred for; whereby other traits may 'disappear' (ie broodyness, etc). As well as 'situational stressors' effects.

This 'gay' thread discussion illuminates a ridiculous level of IGNORANCE that can be overcome by common sense, reading old books and turn off your TV.

 

[Goosebaby]

One of my geese I would define as gay, just saying.

 

[Goosey Girl]

The use of the term "gay" has unfortunately been politicized to such an extent that apparently it can no longer be used in a light-hearted discussion amongst similarly interested individuals (i.e. poultry enthusiasts). I'm from an older generation that does not see "gay" as a trigger word or a strongly divisive connotation.
I merely used the adjective as a description. One which everyone understands immediately. Three little letters that accurately and, I believe, succinctly portray my goose's behavior. Nothing more, nothing less.
I never intended to lessen or insult the current use of the term in human interactions. I chose to be pithy instead of delving into a scientific, wordy description of goose quirks. I stand by my initial description regarding my one seemingly confused female goose. She is not engaging in normal behavior.

 

[Goosebaby]

The use of the term "gay" has unfortunately been politicized to such an extent that apparently it can no longer be used in a light-hearted discussion amongst similarly interested individuals (i.e. poultry enthusiasts). I'm from an older generation that does not see "gay" as a trigger word or a strongly divisive connotation.
I merely used the adjective as a description. One which everyone understands immediately. Three little letters that accurately and, I believe, succinctly portray my goose's behavior. Nothing more, nothing less.
I never intended to lessen or insult the current use of the term in human interactions. I chose to be pithy instead of delving into a scientific, wordy description of goose quirks. I stand by my initial description regarding my one seemingly confused female goose. She is not engaging in normal behavior.

She’s perfectly normal, most of my girls get frisky with each other.

How is your goose anyway? Is she still afraid of the gander?

 

[Goosey Girl]

The intricacies of goose interactions continue to amaze me.

As one big flock, the majority gang up on the little goose. When the more submissive gander is separated from his buddy, the aggressive gander, and put in a separate pen with the little goose and her "friend" the aggression disappears. Right now they are all loose in an elongated pen with obstacles and places to hide. The gang occasionally chase the lone goose, but for the most part, they leave her alone.

Complications will surely arise when I try to merge the new ducklings and goslings with the gaggle. I am continuously tweaking the areas and hope to minimize any serious conflicts. Hoping the frisky season is almost over!!!

Chickens are easy to raise, ducks are easy to handle, geese are a handful.
But, I love them all!