Aggrssive Geese

[Rainplace]

I have a yearling Buff American gander that I have never handled more than moving him from the nest to the brooder, moving out on pasture, and worming. He generally avoids me but even he will sometimes challenge me. So far the worst gander this season is the sebastopol, who is not tame but I got as a close to full grown bird.

I just expect ganders to be bad at this time of year, and I don't trust them.

Ultasol, are you still getting rid of your buffs? I might be interested in picking them up from you when I head to Oregon later this month. I've had a heck of a last few months dealing with the zoning people and will be moving most of the flock over to the 60 acre farm I work on. I'll have more than enough room now to get seriously into geese.

[fowlfriend]

I have an older Toulouse goose from a rescue and she has paired her self to a goose and gander and acts like a body guard. she chases off the other gander on the property. BUT the kicker is she will attack any duck that gets near her and the young female she "protects". she has ruoughed up a few male ducks while they pursue the girls around the yard. Any ideas how to alleviate this behavior or she will have to go. IF this behavior ca n't be remedied, any thoughts on where to take her. i.e rescues

[ritterhahn]

The oven! Goose is delicious rosted. An under-appreciated food in America.

Richard

[Patrick]

I agree, but first string her up in the market place, a la "A Christmas Carol", as a warning for all those who must make pets out of goslings, as to how their "babies" will end up as a result of their "love".

[ritterhahn]

We kept geese for the Christmas goose, and some turkeys for the same holiday. I recall hearing that the geese would harass the ducks if their numbers were uneven. Ah, goose liver – a food almost too good to be real.

I find it strange, some of the questions here: ‘what is wrong with the animal’ when the husbandry is what is really wrong. Animals easily become neurotic when THEIR needs are not understood and satisfied.

We are grown too emotional, too given to shallow edification. Dogs, cats, geese, children indulged, overfed yet still malnourished, pampered and coddled into unhappiness. Then we are surprised when they become antisocial. Why must we try to be Snow White and make nature into harmless pets?

I got beaten by a goose when I was young (I tried to have a peep at their nest in the early Spring). Father punished me – for not remembering what I ought to have known: don’t fiddle with the geese in the breeding season!

[fowlfriend]

She is an older goose and my wife is against her demise, but we are racking up vet bills treating the unfortuneate drake that gets near her and her two charges. the lone gander is a very pleasant dude, but hte toulouse goose is terror for the ducks, not to the humans who provide care and food. they share a large fenced in yard, but maybe not large enough

[ultasol]

Some geese are just not compatible yard mates with ducks. They should be separated. I do not keep my geese and ducks together during breeding season, and outside of breeding season it is still a risk.

[precious]

I have a yong white chinese gander. He is about 6-7 months old, he was hatched here and raised by my indoor American Buff goose along with a brother and sister. The other gander is normal I guess, not super friendly but not mean. The girl is great very sweet
My problem goose is name Precious he hatched 7 days late, and looked a bit diffrent. His head had a bit of a bump and was also a bit flatter and his eyes were a bit higher. He looked so cute that is why he was named Precious. I realy didn't think he would live.
He started biting right away. When I moved him from the hatching box to the heated one he latched on and twisted. (we had a problem with my buff eating the shells as they hatched so I gave them back once they were dry)
He has been off ever since. He is not the normal kind of aggresive. He doesn't hiss, he only raises his wings a bit (not all the way) once he is into it. He does fluff latley. He will charge anything that moves including a peice of paper grab it and try to kill it. He bites hard and twists his head, he doesn't let go I have to pry him off. He also attacks rocks, fence posts and cars I have gotten to the point of 5 brusies or less a day is a good day. He has drawn blood. He has killed 2 ducklings and hurt my 75 pound dog and smaller dogs. He chases and will bite my son if I don't catch him.
Latley he has started fighting his brother over the pool and I have to keep a fence between them. I let everyone out for a walk and streatch twice a day, there pen is suffiecnt but I feel they need to run and play, sometimes they get into it then to. Mainly it is because he is biting me and my other boy gets between us and Precious hates that and I have to pull them apart. At witch point I get bit by him pretty bad again.
I love the goose and won't put him down like a lot of people tell me I should and I won't rehome him as some one else would. I need help on how to at least make him safe. He will listen to NO some times if I say it just right and point at him, he bitches about it but backs off. Till later at least.
I have sat on him it doesn't work, as soon as I let him up his mouth is latched on to me again before he even turns around. I have to do it like 4 times in a row to get through to him, this is like every day. I have a friend who told me she does this with her goose but only 2-3 times a year.
Please help me

[Angela]

Why in heaven's name, would you keep this creature? He is obviously dangerous. Do you have children?
You can not control this bird. He is dangerous. You have been given the best advice possible under the situation...either sell him, or put him down. You have chosen to do neither....so deal with it. That may sound harsh, but that's the reality. You stated that he wasn't right...so why do you think that you can train him? I get it, you love the bird....so if you chose to keep him, quit griping about his behavior.

Gosh that sounds mean, even for me.....

Geese are not pets. China geese can be petulant even at the best of times. If this bird is "damaged", there will be NO controling his behavior. He is old enough that his behavior is set. Other then tuning him up with a shovel when he gets to close...you're stuck. How many other animals are you going to allow to suffer?

[jungle]

You have created this monster and you need to deal with it now. There is no magic answer that will let you keep it under horrible conditions and make it act in a way that you are comfortable with. Geese are NOT indoor pets and should not be denied the pleasure of living the life they evolved to live OUTDOORS. You are not giving the animal a better life, you are not making things easier for the creature. Don't even waste your time trying to tell me how much they LOVE living in the house because they obviously DO NOT. You do not even have the sense to recognize the attacks on you and your family as the problem that they are. You are only feeding your own desire to have something that you want, they way you want, under the conditions you want and have now found out that it does not work that way. You cannot puppet this poor animal to satisfy your whimsy. If you came here looking for support you are sadly mistaken. In this forum we keep poultry in a responsible and respectful way for the ANIMAL and not to satisfy our own cravings. Forcing poultry to live indoors is considered cruelty here and you will not likely find the type of support you seek. The suggestions that other people have given you are sound and should be followed. Your refusal to listen to reason clearly illustrates your inablilty to understand proper animal care. For the sake of the poultry, please stop keeping them and get a yorkie that will actually appreciate being treated like a lap pet.

[precious]

He does not live in the house, as soon as he and his siblings were old enough they moved outside. Even the Buff is outside all day and some nights she comes in when she wants to and during very cold or bad weather.
I refuse to give up on any creature that is mentaly unstable, I have deppression and if my parents had given up on me I would be dead. I am on good meds and in a situation that works for me now. My son is autistic, I could have given up on him and put him in a home but I don't believe being unstable as some say ,is my son's fault my fault or this birds fault.
I don' cuddle my birds I will hold my indoor goose now and then and I pick them up when I need to move them or put them somewhere, otherwise they are treated like geese. They have pools good food and a nice pen. They have shade and room to play, they enjoy staying out and sitting in the sun and pools. My birds do goose things they eat bugs, forage for grass and other foods. They dig holes and play in the mud, they are given hours to play and flap and run and enjoy being alive.
I am sorry if you have the impression that these are babies that I coddle and spoil and hold and fuss over. The one I mentioned hurt his foot the other day, I picked him up cleaned it quickly put some spray on it and put him back down that was it all done. The other boy got stuck in a corner a week ago I went over put my hand on his chest lifted just enough to help him move and left him alone. The girl has been pretty good so far just got in a tight spot once and a bit scared, I moved the board and she got out and walked out.
I do give treats of lettuce and corn and watermelon if that is spoiling them so sorry but it is healthy for them. 2 of them and my older girl will eat out of my hand.
If one of my birds got injured and it was bad I would have no choice but to have my dad butcher it for dinner. I know that. But after working at an animal shelter and helping put down healthy animals is just not something I can do any more. Precious may be unbalanced but he is healty.
He does have good times. I have been able to work around him fixing the pen for 3 days now and he only came at me once but backed up when I said NO. So he is able to work with I just need to learn a few tricks of the trade.
I was hoping you guys would help but you seem to only want to slam me for having him. If you don't have any ideas for me to try just don't answer me. Ignore me. I understand most people would not work with this goose but I feel the need to.
He is not a monster and I did not create him. He came into the world like that. I have worked with him his whole life and put several hours a day into working with him one on one. I had a horse rescue and had horses no one else would touch, I was able turn them around. But these are my first geese and birds are alot diffrent. Even if your attitude is that I spend to much time with him I am sorry. But works for a time until he just blows again. So I am just being patient at this point. It is more a respect thing rather than love as you would call it. I respect him for who he is and what he is. I am hopping one day he will respect me.
So if you have any good ideas please let me know, thanks and put him down won't work. If you think he needs his own house in his own pen or anything like that. Right now he has his own shaded pen with his own pool and stays in the goose house at night with Tubby they seem good together at night but let me know if you think I should get him a seperate house to. I point at him when I say NO is there another word or had signal i should use. He is smart and can learn i just need to know how to teach him. He can be very sweet every once in a while. I just want to get more good days, I don't expect him to be sweet all the time or even often but he needs to be safe.
In parting anyone going to say to kill him, put him down, that I created a monster or anything else don't talk to me. I would love to hear good idea though

[jungle]

Unfortunately, you will never find the day he respects you because you raised him to dominate you. You had him in the house, handled him, got him used to you and now he wants to dominate you. You can't turn that back. That is how poultry works. They are not horses, dogs, cats, etc... There have been many discussions on here about NOT imprinting waterfowl unless you want ot deal with what you have now.

[Angela]

In parting anyone going to say to kill him, put him down, that I created a monster or anything else don't talk to me. I would love to hear good idea though

I've this really strong feeling that you are a very young person...that is not meant as a criticism. You are not experienced with birds, so listen and try to learn from those of us who are.

Since you are firm about keeping this creature....let me give you some advice...since I have raised quite a few geese, and made every mistake that you can think of. Try to listen and learn.

China geese are flocking creatures....therefore you will need at least two. That said, understand that you are jeopardizing the health and well being of any other bird that comes in contact with the twisted goose. He is aggressive, and that will not change. He is also obviously territorial, so be cautious...Chinas do not attack direct, but from behind...where they think that you cannot see them.

He needs to be segregated. So, figure a good sized pen, with shelter, and a small pool for water. Carry a big stick, or be prepared to kick him as he will attack on occasion.

Good luck

[precious]

he dose have his own pen and pen with lots of shade. I raise all my birds hands on this is the ony one with this issues. he comes from behind but also from the side and front. he does not have a favorite spot

[jungle]

You refuse to listen to anything that anyone has told you to do. There is no magic way to cure this. The animal is aggressive and will not be "tamed". Comparing this animal to a person with depression or autism is in no way accurate. It is what it is and you have already determined that behavior modification is not working. You say that you don't want to give up on the goose? What about your autistic child? How safe is he while his mother protects the goose that attacks him? You need to get your priorities straight and realize that sometimes you cannot have everything you want. Have some responsibility and put the thing down. If the head is misshapen and it attacks fenceposts then it is obviously has issues that cannot be fixed with training. If you won't take any advice you're given then why are you here?

[Patrick]

He does not live in the house, as soon as he and his siblings were old enough they moved outside. Even the Buff is outside all day and some nights she comes in when she wants to and during very cold or bad weather.
I refuse to give up on any creature that is mentaly unstable, I have deppression and if my parents had given up on me I would be dead. I am on good meds and in a situation that works for me now. My son is autistic, I could have given up on him and put him in a home but I don't believe being unstable as some say ,is my son's fault my fault or this birds fault.
I don' cuddle my birds I will hold my indoor goose now and then and I pick them up when I need to move them or put them somewhere, otherwise they are treated like geese. They have pools good food and a nice pen. They have shade and room to play, they enjoy staying out and sitting in the sun and pools. My birds do goose things they eat bugs, forage for grass and other foods. They dig holes and play in the mud, they are given hours to play and flap and run and enjoy being alive.
I am sorry if you have the impression that these are babies that I coddle and spoil and hold and fuss over. The one I mentioned hurt his foot the other day, I picked him up cleaned it quickly put some spray on it and put him back down that was it all done. The other boy got stuck in a corner a week ago I went over put my hand on his chest lifted just enough to help him move and left him alone. The girl has been pretty good so far just got in a tight spot once and a bit scared, I moved the board and she got out and walked out.
I do give treats of lettuce and corn and watermelon if that is spoiling them so sorry but it is healthy for them. 2 of them and my older girl will eat out of my hand.
If one of my birds got injured and it was bad I would have no choice but to have my dad butcher it for dinner. I know that. But after working at an animal shelter and helping put down healthy animals is just not something I can do any more. Precious may be unbalanced but he is healty.
He does have good times. I have been able to work around him fixing the pen for 3 days now and he only came at me once but backed up when I said NO. So he is able to work with I just need to learn a few tricks of the trade.
I was hoping you guys would help but you seem to only want to slam me for having him. If you don't have any ideas for me to try just don't answer me. Ignore me. I understand most people would not work with this goose but I feel the need to.
He is not a monster and I did not create him. He came into the world like that. I have worked with him his whole life and put several hours a day into working with him one on one. I had a horse rescue and had horses no one else would touch, I was able turn them around. But these are my first geese and birds are alot diffrent. Even if your attitude is that I spend to much time with him I am sorry. But works for a time until he just blows again. So I am just being patient at this point. It is more a respect thing rather than love as you would call it. I respect him for who he is and what he is. I am hopping one day he will respect me.
So if you have any good ideas please let me know, thanks and put him down won't work. If you think he needs his own house in his own pen or anything like that. Right now he has his own shaded pen with his own pool and stays in the goose house at night with Tubby they seem good together at night but let me know if you think I should get him a seperate house to. I point at him when I say NO is there another word or had signal i should use. He is smart and can learn i just need to know how to teach him. He can be very sweet every once in a while. I just want to get more good days, I don't expect him to be sweet all the time or even often but he needs to be safe.
In parting anyone going to say to kill him, put him down, that I created a monster or anything else don't talk to me. I would love to hear good idea though

You guys are wasting your time trying to talk any sense into this idiot. This is a classic example of the dumbing down, the emotion fueled irrationality of Americans today.

[dhw]

This person lets an adult goose into their house... They are as crazy as the goose!

[Oregon Swedes]

If you won't rehome him and you won't put him down, I suggest that he be isolated full time. Give him his own pen where he can not reach your other livestock and your children to harm them.

I also suggest that you arrange the pen so that you can pour the food over the fence and water him without going in there.

If you must go inside his pen, carry a broom and point it at his chest if he approaches you. Make him move out of your way when you move. Do not allow him to approach within a 5 foot circle of you. Never turn your back on him.

If you want to equate this to human disabilities, he is not autistic. He is Hannibal Lecter. If good old Hannibal the Cannibal were your child, you would not keep him at home because it wasn't his fault. You would keep him locked up where he couldn't harm anyone.

Well, your goose is harming the innocent members of your family. Lock him up where he can't hurt the others any more.

Then enjoy your 20-30 years of it because geese are very long lived.

[wyldehorses]

I originally started this thread and have a new question about geese. The aggressive ones are GONE! Started over with eight toulouse goslings. They are close to five months old. I have tried to raise them to not fear me, but not be pets either. I want to show them and I want to do well. They don't have fits if I am close, come to their pen if I have a feed bucket, or it is night time. (They free range during the day. ) I have not petted or taught them to be touched. So my question is, as long as they will stay in a show cage without going crazy when someone approaches, do I need to teach them to let people handle them? I have never seen a judge take large waterfowl out to examine them. As it is now they do not invade my personal space, and I'm fine with that.

[dhw]

I'd want them calm enough that they don't trash when a hand comes in but thats about it. You won't see a good judge do much handling of toulouse.