My goose pair are getting mean...

[DoodlesDuckies]

My goose pair are getting pushy with the ducks. They all have 5 acres to roam all day. At night they are separate from the ducks.

I have 2 kiddie pools set up and cleaned daily...the geese run the pools. Apparently, they decide when the pools are open and closed to the ducks. Same with the food/water stations.

My female was born in spring and her mate is a couple years older. He tends to push the ducks out of the way so she can eat and go in the pools. It is like an annoying HS boyfriend being over protective.

It is a touch comical when the 2 geese honk and waddle very quickly across the yard to the pool when the ducks even think of bathing in there.

The geese aren't too violent- just push them out of the way, and maybe a beak poke here and there. Enough that it caught my attention.

I thought mating and crazies were in spring? I am a little worried as they will all be fenced together in colder weather...100ft x100ft area, shelter separatly at night.

They are NOT being mean to me. No hissing, charging...nothing.

Thoughts on the bossy boss'?

 

[Goosebaby]

Breeding season starts in winter and lasts until just before whenever they decide to molt. “Winter is coming” has a whole different meaning to us goose people, welcome to the flock and brace yourself!

 

[DoodlesDuckies]

The word "winter" can mean a lot of things...especially when a winter can last 6 months in my part of the country. LOL!

So these two horn balls are going to be in a-hole mode for 6 months?

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

The word "winter" can mean a lot of things...especially when a winter can last 6 months in my part of the country. LOL!

So these two horn balls are going to be in a-hole mode for 6 months?

I see you are a northern neighbor of mine. Mine don't start with the breeding season until around April when hormones start to surge. My geese run the yard too. I had to design fences so my chickens and muscovy could slip under and the geese cannot. They get more aggressive towards the other species during the breeding season. They are bossy year round.

 

[JRies]

My goose pair are getting pushy with the ducks. They all have 5 acres to roam all day. At night they are separate from the ducks.

I have 2 kiddie pools set up and cleaned daily...the geese run the pools. Apparently, they decide when the pools are open and closed to the ducks. Same with the food/water stations.

My female was born in spring and her mate is a couple years older. He tends to push the ducks out of the way so she can eat and go in the pools. It is like an annoying HS boyfriend being over protective.

It is a touch comical when the 2 geese honk and waddle very quickly across the yard to the pool when the ducks even think of bathing in there.

The geese aren't too violent- just push them out of the way, and maybe a beak poke here and there. Enough that it caught my attention.

I thought mating and crazies were in spring? I am a little worried as they will all be fenced together in colder weather...100ft x100ft area, shelter separatly at night.

They are NOT being mean to me. No hissing, charging...nothing.

Thoughts on the bossy boss'?

It sounds like you have a good set up. Also sounds like your girl is still young and your boy is clearing the way for her. Really normal he is in the wine and dine stage. There still bonding and believe me he will do anything to impress her by spring. I have one girl with 2 ganders that have done that with her for 4 years now. Once your geese bond with the first egg life will get better. Oh and yes you will get hissing in the laying season really they are just protecting there new babys who are now in shells. In the winter I have pond days about once a week. Wisconsin had some crazy weather this year really gets waterfowl hormones out of sink.

 

[DoodlesDuckies]

It sounds like you have a good set up. Also sounds like your girl is still young and your boy is clearing the way for her. Really normal he is in the wine and dine stage. There still bonding and believe me he will do anything to impress her by spring. I have one girl with 2 ganders that have done that with her for 4 years now. Once your geese bond with the first egg life will get better. Oh and yes you will get hissing in the laying season really they are just protecting there new babys who are now in shells. In the winter I have pond days about once a week. Wisconsin had some crazy weather this year really gets waterfowl hormones out of sink.

I would absolutely LOVE if they had goslings in spring.

I have recently fenced them in for the winter. Turned out to be 150x150ft area. Nobody is happy about it but they will adjust I hope. Their time in the huts have increased due to the time change so that isn't fun either. A lot of changes lately.

The female is kind of funny because he seems to go out of his way to impress her, be a gentleman and she really just kind of ignores him. She follows him around and such but he is trying so much harder than her. LOL!

 

[JRies]

I would absolutely LOVE if they had goslings in spring.

I have recently fenced them in for the winter. Turned out to be 150x150ft area. Nobody is happy about it but they will adjust I hope. Their time in the huts have increased due to the time change so that isn't fun either. A lot of changes lately.

The female is kind of funny because he seems to go out of his way to impress her, be a gentleman and she really just kind of ignores him. She follows him around and such but he is trying so much harder than her. LOL!

Once her system tweaks for egg production she should start demanding his attention. Geese are flock birds my guess is they miss the ducks. Few years back I raised 4 runners and 4 geese together till they were about 4-5 months then put the geese in with the geese and ducks in with the ducks. for a year the first thing they did in the morning was run to the fence to discuss there situation.

 

[DoodlesDuckies]

Once her system tweaks for egg production she should start demanding his attention. Geese are flock birds my guess is they miss the ducks. Few years back I raised 4 runners and 4 geese together till they were about 4-5 months then put the geese in with the geese and ducks in with the ducks. for a year the first thing they did in the morning was run to the fence to discuss there situation.

Everyone is still together during the day in the fenced area. Just at night they are in separate huts. I am not sure the ducks would miss the geese at all if I fenced them separate. And the geese I think just need someone to boss around.

I have seen him climb on her in the kiddie pool a time or two and honestly it was kind of hilarious. He was very clumsy and she just gave him a look ( I swear I saw an eye roll) and left the pool. He sure tried.

I just don't want the "bossy" to turn into violent.