What breed is this?

[sunnydt]

So If I let them go to the pond they wouldnt get out to to back in their house at night? Also, we have been handling them a lot! thinking that would make them less aggressive.

 

[Kevin565]

If they are on a pond it is very unlikely that they will return at home. Also handling should reduce the chance of aggression with the exception of breeding season

So If I let them go to the pond they wouldnt get out to to back in their house at night? Also, we have been handling them a lot! thinking that would make them less aggressive.

 

[sunnydt]

Well I want them to be able to go to the pond but it is a large pond and I wouldnt have a way to get them out of it. What if I put their house next to the pond? hmm not sure what to do

 

[Iain Utah]

I think handling is ok, so long as you understand how a parent goose/gander would teach respect in the youngsters and try to imitate that.

 

[larkflying]

Oh, it would be nice if handling was okay -- I was just trying to follow the instructions in my goose books, which seemed to think handling at a young age would cause them to imprint on people which in turn makes them more difficult to deal with as adults.

We tried hard not to handle them, but we did hold the biggest gosling the most. Since he is now an aggressive, rush behind you as soon as you aren't looking, cowardly bully, more so than the others, I thought it might have been related to the handling . . . I know they get aggressive during the breeding season, but he is really much different than my other two ganders. He even had some issues before the breeding season.

If/when my broody geese hatch out some babies, I would really like to spend time with them . . . so it will be nice if handling isn't as big of an issue as I had thought . . .

 

[sunnydt]

Youre probably right. Although I hope not lol because we have been spoiling them rotton. Hopefully I have females too.

Now I am just wondering if I should put their house by the pond (which I wont be able to close up at night) or by the chickens coops so I can close them up but then they will go to the pond and maybe not come back?

 

[larkflying]

My geese like their routine -- I think if you put their house by the chickens and spent a couple weeks herding them into it at night that they would learn that is where they are supposed to be at night.

When I shoo the geese out to our seasonal pond, they love playing in it, but they always end up around their fence, waiting to be let in, or they come all the way to the house and hang out by the back door waiting for snacks . . .. so I think they'd figure out the routine. On the other hand, I can wade through the seasonal pond to round them up, and it sounds like yours is bigger than that. If you have them used to being fed, I'd bet they'd come for bread though -- mine will do anything for a nice snack of bread or watermelon.

I'd lean heavily on the side of safety for them, and deal with the pond issue when you can see how they handle the daily routine. I have to say, geese are MUCH easier to herd around than chickens -- no comparison. They stick together, move slowly, and actually can be steered with hand motions . . . nothing like the crazy chickens!

And I heard several things about handling goslings. Have only had mine for about a year, and am only really going on the one gander I have - who could just have a insecure personality . . . he is lowest on the totem pole, which tends to make me insecure! So, maybe handling as goslings isn't the problem that I thought it was. I'm really, really going to be tempted to try it out again if my geese hatch out any goslings . . . They are pretty smart so if you don't give in to them as adults they will be bound to behave better . . . it is when people start running away that they get all full of themselves.

 

[sunnydt]

Thank you that was very helpful for me to know. I didnt know if they were like chickens in the way they go in at night. We do the same with our chickens. We keep them in their coops the first couple of weeks then let them out so they know where they roost at night and they always go in at night. Now what both of mine are males or both females? Will that be a problem?

 

[20123001]

i have Africans, and i let them free range during the day in the yard and in a big pond. Every night they go back to their pen and they never bother any of my chickens that also free range with them. you just have to train them to where there house is and they will go back to it. My Africans are pretty friendly but now during breeding season he is getting a little mean, only when you bend down though! Good luck!