Toulouse Geese Thread

[equustears]

Well I know the peeper is a girl

First goose egg ever , had blood on the shell , hope its because it was the first ((
I'm am a Grandma goose lol , so excited !!!!

 

[Miss Lydia]

Well I know the peeper is a girl

First goose egg ever , had blood on the shell , hope its because it was the first

((
I'm am a Grandma goose lol , so excited !!!!

Awesome, congrats Grandma goose. And yes blood on the first egg is normal.

 

[dianneS]

I witnessed my first gander fight today. I don't think they've ever fought like that before. I have two males, and they went at each other this afternoon, they had one another by the back of the head/neck and were beating each other with their wings. They were hitting each other really hard! It was crazy! One finally surrendered and the other let him go. Now at least one of them has a big bald patch on the back of his head.

Is this normal? I have five females and two males, this is their first breeding season and everyone has been getting along up until now. I hope they don't start beating each other up all the time???

 

[Chaneys Ranch]

I witnessed my first gander fight today. I don't think they've ever fought like that before. I have two males, and they went at each other this afternoon, they had one another by the back of the head/neck and were beating each other with their wings. They were hitting each other really hard! It was crazy! One finally surrendered and the other let him go. Now at least one of them has a big bald patch on the back of his head.

Is this normal? I have five females and two males, this is their first breeding season and everyone has been getting along up until now. I hope they don't start beating each other up all the time???

Once the ganders establish who is dominant it stops. He is also going to choose a goose, and be 100% devoted until she nests. During that time, your 2nd gander will get to choose his lady. Once the 2 goose are nesting, they will start over with the hens that aren't nesting yet. I have almost always had 2 or 3 ganders here.
Don't interfere with the fights, it will get you hurt. I never intervene unless there's blood drawn. And it will only prolong the fighting. Do not allow aggression towards you though!

 

[dianneS]

Thanks that's good to know. The girls have been laying eggs for a while, but no one is nesting yet. I sure wouldn't try to interfere in that fight, those wings sounded powerful! It was shocking to see.

They haven't shown any aggression toward me other than hissing if I get too close to their nest, but the pretty much respect me. They let me collect their eggs, but the follow me, the girls talking and the boys hissing.

 

[Miss Lydia]

Thanks that's good to know. The girls have been laying eggs for a while, but no one is nesting yet. I sure wouldn't try to interfere in that fight, those wings sounded powerful! It was shocking to see.

They haven't shown any aggression toward me other than hissing if I get too close to their nest, but the pretty much respect me. They let me collect their eggs, but the follow me, the girls talking and the boys hissing.

Don't let your guard down or turn you back on them their aggression may escalate especially once brooding begins. The joys of having geese. lol and their are many!!

 

[dianneS]

I've had a new problem recently. My new livestock guardian puppy (barely 4 months old) has been stealing goose eggs from the nest! He thinks they're his toys, and he doesn't break them. I've caught him in the nest more than once and tossed him in front of the geese and they pummeled him good until he ran away yelping. But, he has still managed to steal an egg or two since then. He used to be scared to death of the geese, now he has learned to avoid them, but he still respects them. He steals the eggs when the geese are busy grazing.

This morning I mounted an small piece of plywood up next to the nest, hopefully it will keep the dog out and allow the geese in. (The nest is currently inside one of my goat hutches).

I'm also in the process of repairing out pasture pond. I want to move the geese down there once the pond is filled, but I can't get them to leave their pasture? Am I going to have to carry them to the pond one at a time? I've tried luring them with food, leaving a gate open... they won't budge out of their comfort zone.

 

[Miss Lydia]

I've had a new problem recently. My new livestock guardian puppy (barely 4 months old) has been stealing goose eggs from the nest! He thinks they're his toys, and he doesn't break them. I've caught him in the nest more than once and tossed him in front of the geese and they pummeled him good until he ran away yelping. But, he has still managed to steal an egg or two since then. He used to be scared to death of the geese, now he has learned to avoid them, but he still respects them. He steals the eggs when the geese are busy grazing.

This morning I mounted an small piece of plywood up next to the nest, hopefully it will keep the dog out and allow the geese in. (The nest is currently inside one of my goat hutches).

I'm also in the process of repairing out pasture pond. I want to move the geese down there once the pond is filled, but I can't get them to leave their pasture? Am I going to have to carry them to the pond one at a time? I've tried luring them with food, leaving a gate open... they won't budge out of their comfort zone.

Have you taught your puppy the command "leave it" I don't have an LGD wish I did, but I don't think a 4 month old LGD should have the run of the goose area till he knows at least that command. Take him out there and begin to teach that to him. You might have to stand around for a while till he wanders in and helps himself so you can catch him in the act. If your planning on having goslings that command will sure come in handy. @Ren2014 found out with her young LGD with one of her Muscovy ducklings.

As for your geese they are grazers so that is probably why they don't want to leave their pasture, and if the pond isn't close to home and pasture they maybe afraid to venture to it.They have to be cautious there are alot of preds just waiting for a chance at a nice goose dinner.@dianneS

 

[Ren2014]

@dianneS I have the same problem with our two barely 4 mos old LGD's. The 'leave it' command works but only if you're there.

LGD's should not be trusted unsupervised with the flock until around 10 mos. of age. I knew this but thought ours were doing so well. Unfortunately, someone played with one of my baby Muscovy girls this week.

When we first got our ducks my plan was for to move them to our closest stock tank once they were old enough. I herded them to it daily but they wouldn't stay because their comfort zone was here at the house. I finally gave up. So, we dug a really nice pond for them here. Now they walk back and forth from our pond to the stock tank, lol.

 

[dianneS]

@dianneS
I have the same problem with our two barely 4 mos old LGD's.  The 'leave it' command works but only if you're there.

LGD's should not be trusted unsupervised with the flock until  around 10 mos. of age.  I knew this but thought ours were doing so well.  Unfortunately, someone played with one of my baby Muscovy girls this week. 

When we first got our ducks my plan was for to move them to our closest stock tank once they were old enough.  I herded them to it daily but they wouldn't stay because their comfort zone was here at the house.  I finally gave up.  So, we dug a really nice pond for them here.  Now they walk back and forth from our pond to the stock tank, lol.  

It does sound like you have the same problem!

I have one more solution I may try. I have a smaller pasture next to the dog and close to the pond. That small pasture is part of the geese comfort zone. They were actually raised in there before they got bigger and wise enough to go under the fence. I may goose proof that fence so that they can't get in with the dog anymore but they can access the pond. Hopefully that will work. I'm keeping my fingers crossed!