Goose (gosling?) pecking older goose and nibbling feathers

[starrymutt]

I have 5 geese, I believe two ganders and three females. My youngest gander (4 months) keeps nibbling on my oldest female (7 months) primary feathers, tail feathers, and recently I've seen him bury down into her downy (near oil gland) and I'm assuming nip her since she made noise and moved away.

He did this as a baby to his sibling, always nibbling at the oil gland or back until one day he just...stopped. I think when I moved him to a bigger area. All 5 are in an, I think, 8x4 house with seemingly enough room and toys. But I've seen him do this outside too.

Any tips? I think she might be on the low end of the pecking order too.

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

I don't think you can do anything except separate or remove him. Do they pasture, or grass to graze?

 

[starrymutt]

I don't think you can do anything except separate or remove him. Do they pasture, or grass to graze?

They're free range 7am-5pm and then get cooped up with food and water. I mainly see it when I'm putting them in or they're grazing but he wants her to move

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

They're free range 7am-5pm and then get cooped up with food and water. I mainly see it when I'm putting them in or they're grazing but he wants her to move

Geese do some amount of picking at each other at times. I guess I wouldn't worry unless you are seeing blood, or other types of wounds.

 

[JRies]

By the time I get to breeding season many of my ganders tales disappear. Mostly on my older ganders. Seems to be a ritual of breeding order. The young boys want to stand out in the flock to the ladies. They seem to grow out of it once a hen bonds with them.