Our Goose is Nipping Lately

[Enchanted Sunrise Farms]

Our biggest goose, Baby Huey, has turned from a sweetheart into a problem. We have five Sebastopol geese outside. We have one 2-year-old male, three 1-year-old females, and then Huey who is 1-years-old. i think they are done with breeding season.

Huey is huge, and only has a handfull of curly feathers on his back. So whatever they cross Sebastopols with to make the Saddleback color pattern is probably the most dominate. i don't know if that matters in this issue.

He used to be a sweet guy, curious, and would yank at our clothes and nibble on our crocs when we're sitting outside, like the other geese. But lately he will pull at my clothes and then go to nip my legs. When i go to wave him away, he tries to nip at my hand.

My question is, how do you train a goose to not nip. i don't want to act with aggression back at him, as i think it might escalate his behavior. i know geese are curious and like to pull on things with their mouth. But this is different. He bites at our three goats when they pass by, and i've even seen him go for their ears. They are Nigerian Dwarves and i would hate so see them get hurt. Any suggestions?

 

[RURU]

Since Huey is a year old now I know the nips are harder and hurt. One of my ganders just nipped my thigh a few minutes ago because I tried to move him from the food so the young goslings could eat. He is 3 years old and a nipper. I usually back him off with my cane by pushing his chest with it.
Now since you let them nibble on you crocs and cloths you have given him permission to bite! Yes, we think it is cute when goslings but makes a nasty habit as an adult. You are going to have to try and grab his beak and hold it together and say NO BITE firmly. This does not hurt them but it makes them think about the next time. But you will have to repeat this on him until he stops nipping at you.
Good Luck. Sometimes once they have learned it is ok to nibble on you it is very hard to break.....

 

[Enchanted Sunrise Farms]

Oh my, not sure I am fast enough to grab and hold his beak without him getting me first. He's a very big goose. I can see now that letting them all yank and chew on our clothes and shoes was not a good idea. I wonder if I hand feed them treats for a while, if Huey will associate hands with positive things. And, he may still be partially in breeding mode. I need to work this out. I can't rehome him

 

[RURU]

No it will just make him worse because then he knows if he can eat from your hand why not bite it. Not a good idea to hand feed. Just makes them less afraid of you and more apt to bite anyway. Just try to grab the beak if you can. If you do get it hold on for a bit to show him you mean business. Just say NO bite! Make sure to say it harshly too and mean it.