My Gander kills chickens

[dragon98]

My gander, Harold, killed one of my hens. So I moved him into a different pen where he could see his female but not get near the chickens. He's managed to get back in and has gone after the hens again. I'm afraid he's going to kill another. Can you tell me why he's so aggressive towards the chickens? Maybe I should just set up an area just for him inside the yard that he can't get out of? I'm new to geese and I got a pair specifically for noise makers and maybe to chase off a critter that might make it into the chicken pen. Harold and Maude are Toulouse geese. I was told the Toulouse was the least aggressive of the geese breeds. Was I misinformed? Thanks for any ideas that does not involve killing him.

 

[PeckPeckChick]

Maybe he thinks the chickens are on "his" land or that they could hurt his female
Not sure why you have the two separated that might be the problem

 

[livininbrazil]

My gander, Harold, killed one of my hens. So I moved him into a different pen where he could see his female but not get near the chickens. He's managed to get back in and has gone after the hens again. I'm afraid he's going to kill another. Can you tell me why he's so aggressive towards the chickens? Maybe I should just set up an area just for him inside the yard that he can't get out of? I'm new to geese and I got a pair specifically for noise makers and maybe to chase off a critter that might make it into the chicken pen. Harold and Maude are Toulouse geese. I was told the Toulouse was the least aggressive of the geese breeds. Was I misinformed? Thanks for any ideas that does not involve killing him.

Hi Dragon. toulouse aren´t THE gentlest, but the best thng you can do is separate him WITH his goose, keep the chickens separate.

 

[dragon98]

I separated Harold after he killed the hen. I had been thinking about taking him out of the pen because he was so aggressive towards the chickens. I just didn't do it soon enough.

 

[dragon98]

That probably is my best option. Guess I could divide the pen, put the geese on the side closest to the open part of my property where a critter might get over the fence. They have taken over a small dog house that was in the yard and that shouldn't be hard to move. I'll just get bit a million times because I'm touching their 'nest'. LOL I'm getting used to geese nips.

 

[livininbrazil]

That probably is my best option. Guess I could divide the pen, put the geese on the side closest to the open part of my property where a critter might get over the fence. They have taken over a small dog house that was in the yard and that shouldn't be hard to move. I'll just get bit a million times because I'm touching their 'nest'. LOL I'm getting used to geese nips.

I´m sure it´ll all be a lot calmer for everyone once they´ve settled.

 

[dragon98]

Hahahaha I'm sure it will! At least I won't be woke up out of a dead sleep because Harold is attacking one of the hens. Looks like they will be in about a 30' x 15' area when I'm done. I didn't measure it, just eyeballed it.

 

[livininbrazil]

Hahahaha I'm sure it will! At least I won't be woke up out of a dead sleep because Harold is attacking one of the hens. Looks like they will be in about a 30' x 15' area when I'm done. I didn't measure it, just eyeballed it.

That sounds ok. The hens will be relieved!!!

 

[dragon98]

I'm sure Harold will also be relieved because he won't have to fend off those evil hens from getting too close to his woman. He will even attack the emus if they get, what in his pea brain, is too close. Nobody chases off the emus. I've been meaning to ask if anyone else has had this problem of a goose attacking their hens. I thought they would all get along.

 

[livininbrazil]

I'm sure Harold will also be relieved because he won't have to fend off those evil hens from getting too close to his woman. He will even attack the emus if they get, what in his pea brain, is too close. Nobody chases off the emus. I've been meaning to ask if anyone else has had this problem of a goose attacking their hens. I thought they would all get along.

I´ve never had it with mine, but I have a lot of space and a very calm breed of goose. However, it´s fairly common, and a lot of people keep them separate.
Also, I do believe the emus have the pea-brain., Geese are actually fairly smart. And they´ll defend what´s theirs to the death...did you see this pic on another thread of a greylag pair protecting their gosling from a swan attack? The gosling survived.