Urgent Advice!

[Anonymous]

Hello!

Just joined the forum, no intro post yet so apologies for jumping straight in and asking for help!

We have 2 male and 4 female embden geese. The dominant male has been poorly and the other male has now taken his place in the dominant role. The problem we have is that he won't let the male (Barney) join the group at all and keeps attacking him, which leaves him on the outskirts and wondering around the garden on his own. They are all free range but we put them up at night - at the moment this is taking forever as Barney is being attacked and cowers - we have to physically pick him up and put him in the hut at night.

Any advice on how to deal with this? We did put Barney in fenced off enclosure yesterday but it didn't make much difference as the male still kept trying to attack him.

Thanks
Kate

 

[Davidd]

Hi, you need to separate the ganders asap- can you not put one goose in with the gander and leave the others with the other gander? Please dont put them all together as you will probably have a dead gander.
regards, David

 

[Anonymous]

Thanks David. Much appreciated.

They seem to be ok (mostly) during the day as they can get away from each other. We've taken the advice though - you'd confirmed my thoughts - and have divided their hut into two today. Hard work for a hot day! It was much easier to put them up tonight and we've checked on them and all seems calm. Such a relief but we'll be keeping a very close eye on them from now on.

Thanks again.

 

[Davidd]

Hello, good to hear- the old gander will be much happier with his wife/wives on his own They are normally fine all together out of the breeding season- say from July onwards you should see a big improvement on the aggression front. I have to keep my ganders all separate from January onwards until they moult in july.
I see you are in or near Downham- i live just outside Marshland St James.
regards, David

 

[Anonymous]

Thanks David. Separating them at night has made a massive difference, they're all much happier. Can't wait for breeding season to be over, they were lovely in the first few months of having them, roll on July!

Yes, very near Downham Market so not too far at all.