The tides have changed in my flock....a drake is chasing my boss goose.

[DoodlesDuckies]

The ducks have reached the 3+ month mark...a few boys are getting their green heads (too many boys in the flock), the girls have their coffee clutches and cackle at the neighborhood. The 2 geese were boss' of the area UNTIL this weekend. My one goose is very friendly with me and easy going, the other was a boss. Would chase the ducks out of the pools and just control the area.

I was out of town this weekend and had the neighbor care for everyone. I get back and I have a drake CHASING the boss goose around. The drake has now stepped up and keeps the goose from chasing the ducks out of the pools AND the other calmer goose has taken sides with the ducks and the boss goose is all alone. It does not look like the drake has caught the goose and I think the goose could clearly defend itself if it needed too. I am not sure if the drake wants to mate or fight.

I do feel bad for the goose but at the same time, that goose has had control over everyone since the start. So, I don't feel too bad about it. But I also don't want everyone stressed about it.

Picture is the goose who is being chased.

 

[Goosebaby]

The ducks have reached the 3+ month mark...a few boys are getting their green heads (too many boys in the flock), the girls have their coffee clutches and cackle at the neighborhood. The 2 geese were boss' of the area UNTIL this weekend. My one goose is very friendly with me and easy going, the other was a boss. Would chase the ducks out of the pools and just control the area.

I was out of town this weekend and had the neighbor care for everyone. I get back and I have a drake CHASING the boss goose around. The drake has now stepped up and keeps the goose from chasing the ducks out of the pools AND the other calmer goose has taken sides with the ducks and the boss goose is all alone. It does not look like the drake has caught the goose and I think the goose could clearly defend itself if it needed too. I am not sure if the drake wants to mate or fight.

I do feel bad for the goose but at the same time, that goose has had control over everyone since the start. So, I don't feel too bad about it. But I also don't want everyone stressed about it.

Picture is the goose who is being chased.

That’s not surprising. Ducks are more instinctual and high energy compared to geese so it’s inevitable that the cockier bossier ducks end up more dominant. Keep in mind that this can cause alot of issues, ducks don’t really have an off switch and can harass the object of their obsession to the point of exhaustion and if the gander ever gets sick of it and lashes out he can easily kill the drake.

 

[DoodlesDuckies]

That’s not surprising. Ducks are more instinctual and high energy compared to geese so it’s inevitable that the cockier bossier ducks end up more dominant. Keep in mind that this can cause alot of issues, ducks don’t really have an off switch and can harass the object of their obsession to the point of exhaustion and if the gander ever gets sick of it and lashes out he can easily kill the drake.

What happened that the entire dynamic changed? It was like day and night...And the drake that is doing it came out of nowhere. Although I am not a pro at duck/goose language so the signs may have been there and I didn't see it.

The neighbor mentioned with all the rain we have gotten, which has turned their yard to mud, may have something to do with it and they are all bored with not much grass/green to eat. They have crumble but not much green to eat/play in.

 

[Goosebaby]

What happened that the entire dynamic changed? It was like day and night...And the drake that is doing it came out of nowhere. Although I am not a pro at duck/goose language so the signs may have been there and I didn't see it.

The neighbor mentioned with all the rain we have gotten, which has turned their yard to mud, may have something to do with it and they are all bored with not much grass/green to eat. They have crumble but not much green to eat/play in.

It’s impossible to say what the cause is, from what I’ve seen with mine it can be a single moment where their relationship changes, like if the drake turned around suddenly and charged at the gander and the gander was caught off guard by the drake’s boldness. With birds size and attitude is generally an indicator of who’s in charge but attitude often outweighs size because the birds generally assume the sassiest one must have something to back up all that attitude.
It’s actually the same reason people assume geese are terrifying violent animals when in reality they’re mostly bluff and actually are pretty small and fragile. They aren’t that scary when one realizes that at most they’re only 22 pounds and most weigh between 10 and 15 pounds.

 

[DoodlesDuckies]

It’s impossible to say what the cause is, from what I’ve seen with mine it can be a single moment where their relationship changes, like if the drake turned around suddenly and charged at the gander and the gander was caught off guard by the drake’s boldness. With birds size and attitude is generally an indicator of who’s in charge but attitude often outweighs size because the birds generally assume the sassiest one must have something to back up all that attitude.
It’s actually the same reason people assume geese are terrifying violent animals when in reality they’re mostly bluff and actually are pretty small and fragile. They aren’t that scary when one realizes that at most they’re only 22 pounds and most weigh between 10 and 15 pounds.

I have noticed with having ducks and geese, the geese are a lot calmer than the ducks. I am sure threated they can get upset but the ducks are like little toddlers raising all sorts of h#ll when they can and the geese just hang out.

I have to reduce the males in the flock so chances are the 2 boys will be going to a different home this week. A home with a big pond and a lot of space to roam with many other ducks/geese and turkeys. Almost feels like they would have a better life there than with me with kiddie pools and a fenced in area. Pet life is different than farm life.

Renee