Nest Bandit

[marathonmultiplesmom]

I have a sitting goose and my other female is trying to kick her out and sit on her eggs. I went out there today and made lots of noise and banged on the roof to her nest shelter until Pretty (nest bandit) ran off. Then I looked over a Becky, the momma and told her to return to her nest. She did and then I started to walk off and found Pretty was trying to bully her off the nest again so I started again with my aggressive behavior and chased Pretty off. Pretty might be something to look at but she is among the most aggressive birds I have. Is there a way I can stop the nest bandit behavior without separating them? I don't have another place to put them because the other sectioned off area is being taken up by the goslings with no parents.

If I put her in with the parent-less goslings, do you think she will protect them and have an outlet for her maternal instincts. Too bad for her, really. The reason she doesn't have a nest to sit on is the raccoons.

But that is no reason to take Becky's babies from her.

 

[jojo@rolling acres farm]

I would put her in with the goslings and see how that goes...if you don't she may end up ruining the nest she's trying to steal.

 

[sourland]

Put her with the goslings. If she and the other goose start fighting, they may destroy the eggs. I hope you have the nest secured from the raccoons. They will be back. Even if you trapped the culprit, more may be in the area.

 

[marathonmultiplesmom]

One egg was destroyed so I netted Pretty and put her in the gosling area. She seems to be upset and missing her friends. She hasn't much interest in the goslings, either negative or positive so that is okay with me. I will check on them frequently. The other 6 eggs seem to be fine and Becky is back on her nest and seems thankful.