Why are my ganders missing a patch of chest feathers?

[4 ganders]

Hi,

I'm the caterer and friend to 4 ganders at a nearby preserve/park (and their families, as they see fit.) I've known the he boys for nearly all of their lives, about 3-4 years now. They're a very tight-knit family and they've included me in *so much* of their lives and personalities. (I'd say how much I love them, but I'd feel like I was being unfaithful to my eternally wonderful doggie daughter of 12 years who I love first and foremost.)

I've noticed that the boys all have a tuft of feathers that appear to have been pulled out of their chests, an inch or two below their necks, in a distinctly beak-sized width. I first noticed it when they were bringing up their goslings, but the spots remain several months later. Only 3 of the boys had goslings this year and these boys appear to have the greatest chest feather loss. I would have expected these feathers to fill back in, instead, many look freshly plucked with the odd downy feather hanging oddly akimbo (I wouldn't rule out that they're doing this to each other, it seems likely, actually.) Any idea what's going on with these missing tufts of feathers?

Thanks!

 

[afarhat8]

even ganders who have been reared together will get aggressive toward each other when they are in the process of finding a mate. while this is especially true during mating season and of younger ganders who have not yet paired up, it happens between ganders that already have mates, too. this is how they fight. it's easy enough to understand why ganders would fight if they aren't part of a couple yet, but fighting even after they're paired up is a bit more problematic. i can sometimes see a fight coming on because the ganders (who are already paired up with a goose of their own) start their loud honking at each other, kind of a goose argument. then, sure as heck, they'll be some fighting in the form of grabbing a beakful of the other gander's chest feathers. these confrontations usually don't last long, and are seldom serious, so unless one of the ganders looks bloodied or injured, i wouldn't worry too much about it.

 

[The goose girl]

Same thing happened with my two ganders. It looked like a reversed bib.

 

[RURU]

I have been watching my ganders when they fight they grab onto wings and the back of the necks have not seen the too much grab the front. But I know they can.
But I also noticed something else. Grant my grey Sebastopol gander goes into the nest with his mate and she is all white and there are grey feathers in there. I think they pull feathers from their chest to help with making the nest with feathers along with the goose.....
I have noticed several gander of mine with that same upside down V and their mates have some of their feathers in the nest.
Just a thought but I have seen the proof of feathers in the nests. I know the females pull their feathers and noticed the same V on them as well.