Embden geese

[AnimalLover]

Hello and apologies if this is in the wrong place.
There are two Embden(?) geese which have been living at a local woodland area (former reservoir) for the past two amd a half years. I understand that they were previously kept as domestic geese,but were abandoned there by the owner. They seem to be coping ok, and I do my best to look out for them, and feed them duck and Swan pellets (which they love). They have a safe place to sleep on (an island in the middle of the reservoir).
I have no idea of their sex. I've assumed them to be males, but wondered if anyone could tell from the attached picture please?

 

[dorsetduckowner]

Hi! They look in wonderful condition and thank you for looking out for them, they are very lucky. really hard to sex this breed, easier if you have a male and female as the neck is usually bigger in the male and males tails are more stiff upward in the water... but if they are the same sex, really hard to tell! I guess if they don't nest then they are likely both males, if they nest then you won't see one or both for about 4-5 weeks in April/May.
zo

 

[Honk]

Also, DDO feel free to correct me, but in our geese, it's only the boys that arch their necks (hard to explain) or stick their necks out and lower their heads close to the ground as well as potentially charging. The girls might stick their neck out and hiss if sitting on a nest if I get too close but ordinarily they're far more circumspect around me despite having grown up with me.

 

[AnimalLover]

Thanks @dorsetduckowner , I do try to look after them but wish I could do more.

Based on what you've said, I think they are a pair, as they both disappeared for about a month last April. I have no idea where they went to, as I don't think they can fly (well, they've never flown away, and this year they defintely couldn't as one has a slightly damaged wing - looks like a dog or fox got him/her). I was very worried at the time, and assumed the worse. When they did return, one of them had patches of feathers missing on his/her back of neck and head. I've noticed in the past week that one of them sits down (as if on a nest that isn't there!) on the bank a lot, with the other one keeping guard, whereas they both usually stand together.
Attached is a pic of them on the water, just in case that helps sex them.
Thanks for replying. I appreciate this is a forum for owners, but I suppose that I'm the nearest they have to an owner.

 

[dorsetduckowner]

what a lovely spot they have there!!! I think thy look like boys by their tail position You never know though! I would expect goslings if they are a pair, but if they are still young they may not have started. They would be mating now if they were a pair and the right age

 

[dorsetduckowner]

Honk... I agree with the charging However only two of my ganders charge me, the other one/two are white benign

 

[Honk]

Interesting. Do you keep them apart? I've got two ganders and three geese. The ganders are only interested in one of the geese. They fight now and again but for the most part there's a constant edginess as they follow the goose round... at least until Summer.

With regard to AnimalLover's last description, I recognise that behaviour as very typical of a male, standing all the time, keeping watch. I'd be inclined to think that was a gander. The other could be either though. We initially had two ganders (didn't know it at the time) and they would take it in turns watching over one another. That all changed with the introduction of a goose and they started to show their true colours. It also became very obvious what sex everyone was at that point. As DDO has said, good on you for keeping an eye on them.

 

[AnimalLover]

Thankyou Honk. They've helped keep me sane during lockdown, as I'm lucky enough to be able to walk to and around the reservoir each day to see how they are doing and give them some swan pellets to eat. I call them Ant & Dec, as it's rare to see one without the other and they make me laugh ?.
I've always seen Ant (the one who's currently keeping guard) as the dominant one, although I noticed yesterday that Dec seemed to be calling the shots when they were swimming off.
I suppose we'll know in the next few weeks and I'll let everyone know the outcome, and their new names if they aren't two males ?

 

[dianefairhall]

I know nothing about geese, but thank you for the lovely pictures, AnimalLover. Keep up the good work. Lovely birds.

 

[bigyetiman]

We have a few Emden geese. They were here on the lake when we arrived. Charlie the head boy is a wonderful guard goose and patrols around the gate more than being on the lake, in fact he likes being around people, especially if they appear nervous then he instinctively chases them. The girls are good layers we got our first eggs of the year this week.
Glad you are looking out for this pair
Which reservoir is that ?

 

[AnimalLover]

Hi bigyetiman, it's a former reservoir in Bradford, now owned by the council and open as a public space with walks around the reservoirs and woods.
'My' geese know me now, but when they first arrived they chased and hissed at everyone. In fact, when I saw them I would change direction to avoid them. I started feeding them (from over the wall where they couldn't get me!) about 18 months ago, and progressed to where they come out of the water and run (well, waddle) over to me when they see me coming. They now feel the need to protect me, as they recently chased someone who had the audacity to walk past just after I had fed them.
Your geese sound very enteraining and productive!!

 

[bigyetiman]

Thanks for that.
They definitely are entertaining, and slightly haphazard with egg laying. They have a nice area to lay in, but oh no. Lets try the compost heap, manure heap looks good today. Lets try sharing with the Canada Goose. Whilst the Crows circle like Spitfires hunting a Messerschmidt.
I think they are the best bodyguards you can have