- May 19, 2009
- 25
- 0
- 22
I just purchased four week-old goslings from a feed store. Talouse goslings were mixed in with White China goslings in the bin, and several of the Talouse were picking badly on the Chinas. Four of the Chinas had the down completely picked off their backs, and one looked like it might have bled. You could actually see the little offenders viciously chewing on their victims.
I HAD to rescue those four goslings, so they are the ones I picked. I also gave the store owner a piece of my mind, insisting he separate the Talous from the White Chinas, which he did. But now I'm concerned. Did I just buy four ganders? Why were those four, out of the ten or fifteen Chinas in the box, being especially targeted? Is it because they are ganders, and now I'll have four ganders with no females? Or is it because perhaps I just purchased four females - so timid that they were targeted?
My bottom-line question is: does anyone know what prompts one breed of gosling to pick on some of the goslings of another breed? Is it likely to be a gander thing, the little males sensing these are their rivals? Or what? There was no mistaking the fact that THESE four babies were the ones being heavily hit.
Any experience anyone has with goslings, ducks, or chicks picking on other babies would be most appreciated. I'm sure the reasons could be related, whatever the species.
Best regards,
Jessi
I HAD to rescue those four goslings, so they are the ones I picked. I also gave the store owner a piece of my mind, insisting he separate the Talous from the White Chinas, which he did. But now I'm concerned. Did I just buy four ganders? Why were those four, out of the ten or fifteen Chinas in the box, being especially targeted? Is it because they are ganders, and now I'll have four ganders with no females? Or is it because perhaps I just purchased four females - so timid that they were targeted?
My bottom-line question is: does anyone know what prompts one breed of gosling to pick on some of the goslings of another breed? Is it likely to be a gander thing, the little males sensing these are their rivals? Or what? There was no mistaking the fact that THESE four babies were the ones being heavily hit.
Any experience anyone has with goslings, ducks, or chicks picking on other babies would be most appreciated. I'm sure the reasons could be related, whatever the species.
Best regards,
Jessi