I live in a suburban area and had two ganders that were brothers. They would not go into thier cage for bed one night and one was killed by a fox . I am devastated and so sad for the gander left behind. The gander left behind isn't eating and is scared. ..Should I buy another goose/gander for him to make friends with?or will he be ok eventually ?My parents really don't want another goose or gander, and definitely don't want to risk having goslings... :-( :'(
Fox killed my gander
- Thread starter Gooselady
- Start date
Hi Gooselady, I'm so sorry about the fox attack and the loss of your gander. It's devastating when that happens, as too many of us on here will know.
The first thing to do is to improve security if possible. Urban foxes have little fear of people and he will be back, or another will come. This is the time of year when adolescent cubs are leaving the litter and trying to find food for themselves, and in their inexperience they're even less cautious about what they attack. Obviously, make sure the remaining gander is safely in his house at night, but be aware that there may also be danger during the day. Do they just roam the open garden, or are they in a secure mesh pen?
I haven't kept geese, but yes, I think one on his own might well be lonely. It would be best to get a female if you get one at all, as two adult, unrelated males are possibly going to fight. You don't have to worry about having unwanted goslings as all you have to do is to remove any eggs laid in the Spring so she doesn't get a chance to incubate them.
However, how big is the garden? Geese are large birds that eat a lot of grass and they really need a large area where the grazing can be rotated. As you know, a lot comes out the other end as well, and they are quite noisy. Lovely as they are, not many people keep them in a suburban garden for these reasons. It sounds as if the garden belongs to your parents, and that they're not very keen on getting a replacement. One possibility, of course, is to rehome the one you have, and think what to do next about what poultry to keep, if at all.
The first thing to do is to improve security if possible. Urban foxes have little fear of people and he will be back, or another will come. This is the time of year when adolescent cubs are leaving the litter and trying to find food for themselves, and in their inexperience they're even less cautious about what they attack. Obviously, make sure the remaining gander is safely in his house at night, but be aware that there may also be danger during the day. Do they just roam the open garden, or are they in a secure mesh pen?
I haven't kept geese, but yes, I think one on his own might well be lonely. It would be best to get a female if you get one at all, as two adult, unrelated males are possibly going to fight. You don't have to worry about having unwanted goslings as all you have to do is to remove any eggs laid in the Spring so she doesn't get a chance to incubate them.
However, how big is the garden? Geese are large birds that eat a lot of grass and they really need a large area where the grazing can be rotated. As you know, a lot comes out the other end as well, and they are quite noisy. Lovely as they are, not many people keep them in a suburban garden for these reasons. It sounds as if the garden belongs to your parents, and that they're not very keen on getting a replacement. One possibility, of course, is to rehome the one you have, and think what to do next about what poultry to keep, if at all.
Hi Marigold
Thanks for your reply and advice. Yes my garden is quite large so my gander has access to a lot of grass and normally we lock the geese in a secure cage at night.
I didn't know foxes roam during the day :-o.... Luckily I live on a main road so many cars drive past my house during the day which is a deterrent for foxes. I am fairly certain this fox has been coming at night because hardly anyone drives past my house at night and it is very quiet.
The night my gander was killed, my two ganders refused to go in thier cage so we left them free to roam the yard for that night ... I'm
very sad to lose my gander...i love both my ganders very much and I don't want to give him away.. .At the same time my parents don't want any more pets :-/ so it won't go down well if i buy a female. I'm thinking about giving him away to someone with a female but I really don't want to.
I bought a new big cage last night hoping that would encourage my gander to go to its cage around night time. Maybe I'll just see how he goes and make sure every single night he must go into his secure cage.
Hopefully with time he will be happier again, i can tell he is depressed and isn't as interested in food. :-( I'm lucky that the fox didn't kill both my ganders
Thanks for your reply and advice. Yes my garden is quite large so my gander has access to a lot of grass and normally we lock the geese in a secure cage at night.
I didn't know foxes roam during the day :-o.... Luckily I live on a main road so many cars drive past my house during the day which is a deterrent for foxes. I am fairly certain this fox has been coming at night because hardly anyone drives past my house at night and it is very quiet.
The night my gander was killed, my two ganders refused to go in thier cage so we left them free to roam the yard for that night ... I'm
very sad to lose my gander...i love both my ganders very much and I don't want to give him away.. .At the same time my parents don't want any more pets :-/ so it won't go down well if i buy a female. I'm thinking about giving him away to someone with a female but I really don't want to.
I bought a new big cage last night hoping that would encourage my gander to go to its cage around night time. Maybe I'll just see how he goes and make sure every single night he must go into his secure cage.
Hopefully with time he will be happier again, i can tell he is depressed and isn't as interested in food. :-( I'm lucky that the fox didn't kill both my ganders
