Here are my four geese. I was told they were all Chinese from the people I got them from but on another forum was told they were Chinese/African crosses. They can stretch their necks out farther then even in the picture, but tend to scrunch it down when it is cold. Here is my dilemma. I am going to refer to them in number order from left to right. They have names but I don't want to confuse anyone with trying to keep it straight. Goose 1 (brown), 2 (white), 3 (brown with largest knob), 4 (brown with smallest knob).
Goose 1 and 2 are older and were supposed to be females (that is why we later got 3 and 4). Last summer I witnessed 1 mating 2 (read online this could be a dominance display, especially as they were rehomed and had to reestablish pecking order, now I am not so sure). We did find a goose egg at the bottom of the pond as well. We were told that 1 did all the setting and raising of the goslings at their old owners place (they were in a run with five other geese of other breeds but the owner also admitted to not paying much attention to these are her main focus were her sebbies). We then got goose 3 and 4 (they were hatched last Mother's Day and we got them in the summer from a different breeder then the other two came from) and goose 1 took them to raise as they were goose raised and did not want anything to do with us, 2 helped but 1 did most the work. Last fall, 2 laid us about nine eggs and attempted to set but the eggs weren't fertile. But now 1 is bullying 3 and picking at the feathers at the base of its neck and chasing it off from the other two. I am getting two eggs a day. I am pretty sure 2 and 4 are my females. I have witnessed 1 mating all three of the others. Will a male mate another male? I was told that a male will go for the head of other males and try to kill them that way not their backs. I have not seen or heard any fighting, 1 will pick at 3 until it leaves or is far enough from the others and then 1 leaves 3 alone.
I have watched these geese for hours for the "signs" that say they are either male or female and it seems that all of them display the traits at one time or another. I can say that 1 and 3 are more alert when out feeding. 3 will alert on anything including cars that drive by when they are feeding in the lower yard near the road. 1 walks more upright and for longer periods of time. I have been hissed at by 1 and 3, mostly when I am close to the goose coop to get the eggs or too close to the females in their run. I have found 1 and 4 in the goose coop on the eggs. The knobs are bigger on 1 and 3 and the head and neck of 3 is bigger then the others.
Are they chinese or chinese/african crosses?
Will a male set and raise goslings?
Are 1 and 3 males?
Will a male mate another male?
I got one too...I call them non-dewlap africansServ, I refer to that as a hatchery African. I have a few of them. They are stinkin' adorable.
