- Apr 11, 2009
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I used to have four geese. Three came with the house when we bought it, the fourth I hatched from their eggs. A fox attack in broad daylight last summer took out the three adults. The remaining male goose bonded with my ducks that I hatched last year, and all was well. For a while. Now they are all sexually mature he keeps trying to mate with the female ducks, which hurts their hips, leaving them limping. So I separated them. And they pined for each other. But the bigger problem is that the goose is the sheriff of the yard. If there's any chicken squabbles he steps in, biting the instigator. This protective urge is cute, until it goes wrong. A few months ago we think he chased my rooster into a fence where he then died, probably of a heart attack. He's attacked hens in distress a few times, leaving them bloodied and bald on their back. Last week my favorite chicken got her foot caught in the fence. In her panic he was attracted to her noise and attacked her and pecked her to death (we think - I wasn't home). And this afternoon he killed a male duck. I think the male was probably mating with the female and the goose got involved (I've seen him do that most mornings) and them trampled him to death, or similar.
So, now I'm nervous he's going to do it again. I've tried to find him a goosey-partner locally, but found none for sale. I've tried for 2 years to find eggs locally, but no-one sells them. (I am in italy). I found someone who will post goose eggs, but at a steep $8+ per egg, which would probably be a 25-40% hatch rate after going in the mail.
Should I hatch him a mate? Would it help or would he still try to mate with the ducks? Should I rehome him? I would miss him terribly, he's lovely with me, and a great guard-goose but I can't keep losing more hens and ducks to him.
Anyone have similar problems?
So, now I'm nervous he's going to do it again. I've tried to find him a goosey-partner locally, but found none for sale. I've tried for 2 years to find eggs locally, but no-one sells them. (I am in italy). I found someone who will post goose eggs, but at a steep $8+ per egg, which would probably be a 25-40% hatch rate after going in the mail.
Should I hatch him a mate? Would it help or would he still try to mate with the ducks? Should I rehome him? I would miss him terribly, he's lovely with me, and a great guard-goose but I can't keep losing more hens and ducks to him.
Anyone have similar problems?
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