Goose pen meltdown

[Goosehill]

Good morning,
I'm at a loss to understand my geese at present- all was going well until the days started becoming longer, southern hemisphere spring. They are "West of England" geese, common farm geese here in NZ.
Older gander paired up with dominant goose, she set up a nest in an old tyre in their shelter shed, and sat tight for maybe 10 days- 23 hours per day, like clockwork
Younger gander paired up with 2nd goose, started building a nest which she shifted to a shelter I provided. Laid 3 or 4 eggs, and then the fun started
Older gander had several goes at 3rd goose, she is fast so no harm done- but 2nd goose took up this behaviour and chased her into the shelter where the dominant goose was sitting. This happened several times until 3rd goose would not come out of the shelter- I intervened when I realised 3rd goose had a large bare patch on her rump, she was terrified and apparently a bit tender so I removed her for recovery.
Dominant goose and 2nd goose had a fight, with the result that dominant goose abandoned her nest and 2nd goose started laying in it (this may have been going on for a few days as there were 3 additional eggs). To add injury, 2nd goose has plucked a patch of feathers from the (formerly) dominant goose's rump too
I have separated the pairs from each other and 3rd goose, but 3rd goose is not happy, just sitting in her shelter all day. 2nd goose has kept laying in her relocated nest, dominant goose has not attempted to nest again.
I have put 3rd goose back in with dominant goose and her gander, so far so good- but she isn't keen to socialise.

What to make of all this and what to do?

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

You have one too many gander. Geese usually pair up in trio's in my experiences. Do you just have the 4 geese?

Breeding season con be chaotic as hormones surge. I don't generally intervene unless real damage is being done. I'd start by removing one gander and see how it goes.

 

[Goosehill]

^^^
The two ganders get along really well and there haven't been any fights- just the girls getting stuck into each other
I have 5 geese- 2 ganders and 3 girls...

 

[Goosebaby]

Welcome to breeding season drama!

The girls are squabbling over nests, that’s pretty typical but it can get nasty. If they don’t share a nest nicely separating them is a must, meaning that you’ll have to restrict their access to each others nests while they’re being broody little shits.

 

[Tennessee Great Granny]

Last year we allowed our first year Sebs to sit on their eggs. I tried different nesting materials for them and nothing was really suitable. This year I came across a video on building an acceptable next. 4X4s in a big square and I mean more like 3-4 feet each side. Not 2X4's but 4X4.s. I have some scrap we are using this year. The bottom layer is dirt. But I worried about bacterial contamination over time because it's not going to stay fresh and new. I was thinking of using coconut coir because it's soft, easy to bury eggs in, and it is usually sterile when you get it in a compressed block. The next layer is fine wood shavings not left over from sawing but bedding litter which is clean . Both of these layers is a couple inches. Then the final layer is fresh clean dry straw. The nester will straighten it out themselves how they want. We have two goose pens. The pens all started out with two females and one male per pen but we lost Jacob. Romeo from the other pen is interested in all the girls and this time of year he is acting really frisky but the girls are not quite ready yet. I was told they breed best in the water. Last year we closed them off to their pond because our run got compromised from a fallen tree. We will remedy that as soon as the weather permits. Since Romeo is not Rachel's father we will probably breed her with him if possible. We only had one fertile egg that hatched out a little one (Rachel)last year but it was their first year and notoriously they often botch the job. Rachel was rescued as she was shoved out into the cold. I candled her and she was actually near term. She was born just fine in 7 days. I dropped her egg and it cracked in a circle so I used warm but still pliable wax and it was successful in sealing the egg. I want to be successful at breeding Sebs- I'll hatch them myself if I have to. But I'd prefer they hatch their own babies. I'd love to have one common run for all the geese but Rachel's mom chases her down and attacks her. We think she is Sophia's baby but Beatrix was also starting to lay close to the laying time for that hatch date and it was one big nest. Sometime Sophia allowed Beatrix to sit on eggs alone or join her and other times it was get out of my face. Beatrix really loves Rachel. All my geese are white except Rachel, the spoiled brat baby of the family who is a cool looking buff saddleback. I would love to hear from other Seb breeders and see if they agree with my strategies or have some other ideas and suggestions or bits of knowledge. I'm excited for this year to begin with our bird babies. We also breed Buff Orpington Chickens and Midget White turkeys. We finally have the turkey's sorted out with breeding and hatching their own after we worked on a big run with several safe nurseries for the chickens too.

 

[JRies]

Breeding and nesting Protocol is really different in any flock.
But the girls rule at this point.

18 pond buckets are put out every day Yet will find 3-4 girls all trying to jump in one because thats the Gander they want.

Will find girls breeding girls to convince them there bred so they get that boy next.

I collect eggs 4 times a day but end of season I let the broody girls go broody. Then the fun really begins.

Rolling eggs out of each others nests one will be full the other empty.

1-3 girls in one next all trying to claim the clutch or sometimes just being lazy and wanting to add there eggs to the clutch so they can go out and play.

My favorite boy is paying attention to that nest so I will move my clutch over there.

Actually had a girl who moved her nest every night to be closer to the flock.

Its all high School. Hormones are flying and Boys approval is everything.

If you are able to separate and there full broody locked down on there nest its the best thing you can do.

I have found having a step in nest with a 6 inch lip at least 2 inches above nesting material helps also high sides and back (mine are 3 feet) with a roof. Gives them the emotional protection they need so they can feel safe from me and other egg thefts. Nest need to fit the goose also so its big enough for them to lay down and cover it but not big enough for other girls to get in and share. If you have medium to small geese allot of folks have had good luck with 55 gallon drums with a large hole cut in front of them. Girls will be able to defend there eggs.

Just some thoughts it would be up to your girls if it works. There in charge during breeding season.

 

[Tennessee Great Granny]

Last year we allowed our first year Sebs to sit on their eggs. I tried different nesting materials for them and nothing was really suitable. This year I came across a video on building an acceptable next. 4X4s in a big square and I mean more like 3-4 feet each side. Not 2X4's but 4X4.s. I have some scrap we are using this year. The bottom layer is dirt. But I worried about bacterial contamination over time because it's not going to stay fresh and new. I was thinking of using coconut coir because it's soft, easy to bury eggs in, and it is usually sterile when you get it in a compressed block. The next layer is fine wood shavings not left over from sawing but bedding litter which is clean . Both of these layers is a couple inches. Then the final layer is fresh clean dry straw. The nester will straighten it out themselves how they want. We have two goose pens. The pens all started out with two females and one male per pen but we lost Jacob. Romeo from the other pen is interested in all the girls and this time of year he is acting really frisky but the girls are not quite ready yet. I was told they breed best in the water. Last year we closed them off to their pond because our run got compromised from a fallen tree. We will remedy that as soon as the weather permits. Since Romeo is not Rachel's father we will probably breed her with him if possible. We only had one fertile egg that hatched out a little one (Rachel)last year but it was their first year and notoriously they often botch the job. Rachel was rescued as she was shoved out into the cold. I candled her and she was actually near term. She was born just fine in 7 days. I dropped her egg and it cracked in a circle so I used warm but still pliable wax and it was successful in sealing the egg. I want to be successful at breeding Sebs- I'll hatch them myself if I have to. But I'd prefer they hatch their own babies. I'd love to have one common run for all the geese but Rachel's mom chases her down and attacks her. We think she is Sophia's baby but Beatrix was also starting to lay close to the laying time for that hatch date and it was one big nest. Sometime Sophia allowed Beatrix to sit on eggs alone or join her and other times it was get out of my face. Beatrix really loves Rachel. All my geese are white except Rachel, the spoiled brat baby of the family who is a cool looking buff saddleback. I would love to hear from other Seb breeders and see if they agree with my strategies or have some other ideas and suggestions or bits of knowledge. I'm excited for this year to begin with our bird babies. We also breed Buff Orpington Chickens and Midget White turkeys. We finally have the turkey's sorted out with breeding and hatching their own after we worked on a big run with several safe nurseries for the chickens too.

Chicksville drama continued. This year our younger sebs were into their first laying season, Sebs are known for totally botching their first hatching season. Which is why we only got Rachel hatched last year because I stole her from a bunch of rotting eggs. Sophia is once again dominant goose on the nest with Beatrix climbing in with her from time to time. Those girls used to squabble but they are devoted as if they were close sisters now. If Sophia needs a break or some company Beatrix is always right there for her. We have 3 babies about to hatch from Sophia(and three that fizzled out), she's on the nest herself. Not sure if Beatrix is laying into the nest but she spends most of her time with the gander. I had six fertile eggs we took from the nest initially and replaced with Leah and Rachels infertile eggs. The infertile eggs were marked and removed as Sophia replaced the eggs we stole with hopefully more fertile eggs. Sophia is now sitting 24/7. We don't dare mess with the nest anymore. Rachel and Leah's mate Jacob died and we could find nothing as a causal factor. None are exposed to wild birds at all. Any birds who are - are quarantined for a month. We obtained a new male who's owner did not understand their geese at all. Obviously they had insufficient water and were totally filthy with cracked feet and chaffed bills. We gender checked the two geese they were getting rid of since we only needed a male. Their reason for dumping their geese was that they free ranged them and suddenly they turned against them and the other geese and attacked everyone including their kids. They decided they had two bachelors on the outs with the other geese because they were not laying eggs. Actually they probably had a nest hidden somewhere and this couple (one male and one female) were defending their eggs and nest at all costs. The feisty behavior only started with these two when all their geese were laying eggs. I told her to watch the goose because eventually she will go to the nest. She wants to incubate any eggs she gets. Sebastopols are a bit more difficult to incubate than most breeds of geese, and even with the most meticulous of care some can be lost.
If you think domestic geese are bad- keep your toddlers away from wild geese and their nesting sites at all cost. They have been known to drown small children and dogs while defending their turf. Little kids don't always heed a gooses warnings to stand clear- some kids actually run towards them wondering what's going on. Nothing has been scarier to me than dragging a very bruised and bitten toddler out of the water as I'm being waylaid by angry biting geese who simply want to be left alone. BTW we needed to get rid of one male because he was not the purebred goose we wanted to breed. He had a mate selected and they were very strongly attached. She had such a squawking temper tantrum fit attacking everyone including the other geese that we put her into a time out cage where she was thumping around loudly smashing herself into the sides of the cage trying to break free. After a few hours she suddenly went quiet and I was hoping she was settling down. I went to check on her and to give her a greens treat but saw she had her head stuck in between the bars of the cage trying to nip at other birds in our bird hospital. She strangled herself to death in her fury. She was still warm and I tried mouth to beak resuscitation to no avail. She was a very gorgeous bird. From that point on long before they come of breeding age we separate those with genetics we don't want so the ones we want to propagate form alliances with birds of their choice who have the traits we are looking for. I don't think I could handle a repeat of finding another dead goose so needlessly. The longer we own birds the more we seem to understand them. They want to select their own mates and some really want to become parents while others do not. They get feisty for real reasons.