aggressive geese

[CarolynEarley]

We have four geese but are not sure if they are male or female and don't know if this makes any difference to their behaviour. We have two that are going round together and 'see off' all the other poultry (we suspect that one is male and the other female) - we have geese, chickens, ducks and turkeys. A month ago one of our ducks was attacked (the back of its neck was ripped off) and we assumed a pole cat or something like that got it (we live in Crete where there are no foxes). We have penned in the ducks and turkeys now and the chickens have a house at night. Yesterday we noticed that one of the geese has been harmed as well - it has had a piece of skin ripped off by its leg. :shock: They are penned in with a high fence and gate. We now think that it may be this pair of geese that have injured the others as they are getting very aggressive. One of the geese attacked me and bit me on the leg the other day and it was very painful.
06 We have taken the injured one out and put it with the ducks to recouperate. Is it likely that they would injure other poultry and their peers? If it is, what can we do to prevent it apart from isolating the offenders? :? Thankfully, the duck is almost fully recovered now.

 

[Davidd]

Hi, it is normally ganders that can become aggressive- geese don't normally- sounds like you have a pair of ganders on the prowl- they may be coming into the breeding season over there and will normally become very territorial then. You may need to keep them apart from your other fowl to save injury.
regards, David

 

[CarolynEarley]

We have separated them from the other fowl already and taken the injured goose out as well - she is happy amongst the ducks, turkeys and chickens and seems to be getting stronger after being attacked. The ones on their own are two females and one gander and they seem okay as a threesome now. We have put them in with our goats as they have a shelter and fencing. They sometimes fight amongst themselves for first go in the bird bath which they love. We think that one is trying to make a nest in there as it is often full of twigs which we empty out every day. Are they old enough at 7 and a half months to lay eggs? Thanks for the advice

 

[Davidd]

Hi, your geese are too young to lay- they will "play" with twigs etc and put them in the water- when they start to lay they will cover their eggs with straw/hay/twigs--or whatever is at hand.
regards, David