Why is my female goose attacking everyone and everything?

[erinszoo]

We have what we think is a pair of embden geese. One is bigger and beefier than the other and acts like he's in charge so we're guessing he's a male. The smaller one who has always followed before has started attacking everyone. She's never liked my daughter and always used to run away from her or yell at her but I've always been able to handle her. In the last week though she has even tried to attack me and she is pulling all the feathers out of the chickens and tried to climb on top of the turkey. I clapped in front of her one time she started to attack and she immediately backed up and looked at me like I had lost my mind but the very next time I went out she tried to kick through the fence to attack me.

I'm afraid she's going to hurt herself or one of the other birds if we don't do something to stop it, but I have no clue why she started or what to do about it. Any suggestions? Will she grow out of it as she gets older?

Right now they have free run with the chickens, a duck, and a turkey and they are all housed together at night. But we are getting a set of broiler chickens next week and I'm concerned she will kill the young ones. Should we be housing them separately?

Thanks!

 

[Oregon Blues]

I suspect that you have 2 ganders.

Geese aren't lap dogs and if you try to raise them like a lap dog, then you can have behavior problems with them.

Also, if your goose (gander?) has been hissing at your child continuously, you have been allowing the child to to torment the goose. They have long memories and aren't very forgiving. Something about the child's behavior bothered the goose so either the child's behavior should have been modified, or she should have been kept entirely away from the goose.

Perhaps if you can't handle the goose, you could rehome her (him?) with someone who can. Right now you are on target to get someone hurt. It might be your new chickens, but it could also very well be your daughter.

 

[erinszoo]

Thanks for the input .... BUT you couldn't be more wrong on all accounts.

We had our geese sexed yesterday by someone who raises them in our area and we do indeed have a goose and a gander. The goose was incredibly sweet while our visitor was here and even laid her head in my daughters lap while she was sitting in the lawn. No attacks, no screaming, no problems of any kind.

But we discovered today something new. As we went out to let the birds out to graze and change their hay, our geese and chickens were making all kinds of noise. When we got to the coop there was a squirrel sitting on the roof of the garage throwing nuts and sticks at the birds. Our goose was screaming and attacking the sticks and the fence and then the door to the coop and then came at my husband. Since there is a big tree over their yard, we are guessing that our goose has been upset by the squirrel. Not sure what we are going to do about it yet because there is no way to keep squirrels out of the yard but we may have to put up netting over the pen so the squirrel can't actually attack the birds with things.

 

[elbertchick]

We have a pair of chinese geese and when something gets them upset they go after anyone or anything near by. I usually put them in their coop for awhile to let them cool down and "have a time out". Later I will let them out. Yes I pick them up holding their neck so they can't get me and into the coop they go. I don't think they are intentionally after me they are just hysterical. My female also gets a little fiesty if she has eggs. Hers are all sterile since she had been attacked by a Husky about two years ago. It is so sad she so wants to be a mama, but two are enough for us. It took us an entire summer working with her so she would walk again.

 

[SouthernPride]

Sounds like you might need to do a little squirrel hunting.