In a pen of 5- 2 ganders and 3 geese, one of the geese has a bare patch on her rump, feathers pulled out and raw. I have identified the dominant gander as the instigator of this and if given a chance he will chase her until he catches her and just pull feathers until she escapes.
She is penned separately at night for her own protection but has become a timid creature even during the day when they have free range; she wants to be with the others but he chases her away. She is a little lighter in weight than the others and certainly not as strong but has improved with being penned with supplementary food at night
I'm considering a bitrex type product as used for chickens, but it seems to me that this gander won't give up this bullying behavior readily? and can't be trusted with smaller geese or ducks. I am considering placing him in confinement for a few weeks to change the pecking order but it seems the picked-on goose will likely be at the bottom of a new pecking order...
Any ideas, I'm thinking he may need a new home and that could be in my freezer yet?
She is penned separately at night for her own protection but has become a timid creature even during the day when they have free range; she wants to be with the others but he chases her away. She is a little lighter in weight than the others and certainly not as strong but has improved with being penned with supplementary food at night
I'm considering a bitrex type product as used for chickens, but it seems to me that this gander won't give up this bullying behavior readily? and can't be trusted with smaller geese or ducks. I am considering placing him in confinement for a few weeks to change the pecking order but it seems the picked-on goose will likely be at the bottom of a new pecking order...
Any ideas, I'm thinking he may need a new home and that could be in my freezer yet?