Novice needs help FAST!

[Sandy Braman]

2 years ago, we bought 5 acres with a pond and last May I got two Khaki Campbells that were 2 days old. The unplanned purchase was two geese that no one wanted, who were about 10 days old.

The male Khaki Campbell drowned at 6 weeks, so we got a Heinz 57 hen (Lizzie) to keep Allie (the Khaki Campbell) company.

The ducks and the Chinese geese (Luke and Leia) have done well until this 4spring, when Luke decided he needed to mate with Leia AND the 2 ducks. He stands about 4' tall and probably weighs 15-20 lbs.

When I went out to the pen yesterday, Lizzie was dead with a broken neck. She had been severely pecked and Luke had blood on his chest and feet. Allie is terrified - we couldn't catch her last night so she stayed in the pen, but kept her distance from the geese and never turned her back on them.

I was able to catch her this morning and she is on the screened porch with a kiddie pool, food and water. She's slept all morning and seems better than when I opened the pen.

My question is this:

a. We are are definitely getting ducks (2 males and a female). Should we get another female to make 5 ducks rather than 4?
b. Should we get another goose hen or maybe two to keep Luke occupied?
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Another question: Should I continue to keep the geese in the pen at night or can they hold their own against predators? There is a creek that runs in front of the pond.

Sorry this is so long, but I really could use some advice from all of you who have done this WAAAAY longer than I have..

 

[sourland]

Welcome to BYC. The real problem here is that now that the gander has started breeding the duck hens he will most likely to continue doing so regardless of how many geese you add. In addition to injuring/killing the duck hens he may very well drown them if he tries to breed them in the pond. Other than separation during the breeding season, I can not think of a solution to this problem. Good luck.

 

[DucksOhio]

I don’t know a lot about geese, but I’d encourage you to get female geese if you intend to keep him.

As for ducks, I’d say one drake to 4-5 girls.

You really need to have as few male birds as possible. I’ve been there, they can be so brutal to the girls.

 

[Miss Lydia]

Geese can not hold their own with predators.

Very sorry for your losses.. They duck that drowned and now Lizzie.Since it sounds like Luke is still breeding that means he is hormonal and cannot be trusted locked up with other poultry. Even females during breeding season can be aggressive to other poultry.

I have 2 geese they are okay with everyone during the day but no way they could be penned up or closed up with the ducks and chickens during breeding season. Over winter they all sleep in the same house their choice.
I wouldn't even keep my geese inside a pen during breeding season with other poultry mine are on half acre during the day.

I would at least 3-4 females per drake so the female ducks don't get over mated. Actually 1 drake to 3-5 females would be best.

As for another female goose Luke may not even take to her they pretty much pair up for life and sometimes an extra females is a third wheel so to speak.

You def need to have separate pens and houses for your ducks and geese.

 

[PirateGirl]

Also 2 males and 2-3 female ducks spells trouble. Males may fight each other come breeding season and no doubt your girls will be over-bred, especially if the males decide they have the same favorite female.

 

[TSOWOATNKC]

Geese can hold their own. I wouldn’t coop them together with the ducks at night. You could build a three sided shack or leanto for them to have shelter.

The gander might be okay with the ducks again if and only if they can get away from him during the day. Otherwise I’d keep them separate.

 

[PirateGirl]

Oh, and as @Miss Lydia was saying, locking them up together without a safe escape route can spell trouble. I have stopped locking the ducks in their duck house this breeding season. I do not trust the drake in close quarters overnight with the ladies. For a few weeks my drake was separated entirely, now everyone is in the pen/run together, but I think if I were to lock them in the duck house together with less space it would be bad news. Things have mostly simmered down, but there is still occasional feather plucking and chasing by the drake. Drakes can be relentless. When mine was separated he would pace for hours, presumably trying to figure out how to get to the girls on the other side of the fence.

 

[Sandy Braman]

I don’t know a lot about geese, but I’d encourage you to get female geese if you intend to keep him.

As for ducks, I’d say one drake to 4-5 girls.

You really need to have as few male birds as possible. I’ve been there, they can be so brutal to the girls.

Ducks Ohio: I have a goose hen - they were raised together. He just likes to pick on the ducks

 

[Sandy Braman]

Geese can hold their own. I wouldn’t coop them together with the ducks at night. You could build a three sided shack or leanto for them to have shelter.

The gander might be okay with the ducks again if and only if they can get away from him during the day. Otherwise I’d keep them separate.

TSOWOATNKC: They're fine during the day. They have a house they can escape to- that's where I found Lizzie's body. Too small for the ducks to get to.

 

[Sandy Braman]

Ducks Ohio: I have a goose hen - they were raised together. He just likes to pick on the ducks

So should I get one drake duck and 3 more hens?