Protective Mother Goose

[AndreaV636]

Hello!

Our year-old goose laid her first eggs this spring. We incubated the eggs inside and gave our goose the goslings when they were several days old. She immediately abandoned her nest and took to the babies. At first, all was well... my daughter and I spent a lot of time outside sitting with the goose and her goslings. They are now about 6 weeks old and the mother goose has started being aggressive toward my daughter. She seems to be protecting her babies. I don't understand why it took her so long to start acting this way, and more importantly, I'm wondering if the protective behavior will subside. My daughter is young (6yo) and has gotten bit pretty badly a couple times in the last few days. We've had to pen the goose, which makes me sad. I have the opportunity to sell the goose with one of her babies and it breaks my heart to consider doing that, but I don't want to worry about my daughter when she's out playing in the yard. Anybody with a protective goose have any insight? Will the aggression and biting likely stop as the goslings get older? I know she's just being a good mom and I'm willing to wait it out if it's temporary...

 

[Sarkchick]

I wish I could answer your questions. But I can not. I also have a year old goose with goslings. But she has been very protective since day 1. The goslings are now 6 days old and mom killed a bag of shavings today when I was cleaning the coop.
So, as far as I can see, you had a few weeks of calm before the storm hit.
Best of luck with your goose and goslings. Your daughter is much more important.

 

[The goose girl]

It's most likely temporary, and it will probably happen with any goose. I haven't seen my goose with goslings yet, but she gets really protective around her nest. Usually she enjoys most human company, but right before she gets broody she throws a fit if anyone other than us two caregivers gets in the vicinity of her goose house.

My goose has never had goslings, and her protectiveness disappears as soon as she's off the nest, so I don't have any insights as to how long it'll take with your goose.

I think it's a good sign that your goose has let your daughter be close this long. Just a thought: Did your daughter wear anything different when the goose started biting her? Or did anything unusual happen? My goose hissed and honked at me from her nest once because I was in my new bright orange and purple raincoat. She refused to recognize me and I had to leave the jacket inside before she would calm down. When she left her nest a week later she didn't care about the jacket anymore. She's also reacted to other people wearing new shoes she didn't know.

 

[AndreaV636]

Thank you both for your input!

Yes, something did trigger it... my daughter was carrying a garden hoe one day when she stopped to love on one of the goslings. I think it really triggered mama goose. But there have been several aggressive incidents since that day - almost like she's holding a grudge!

I really hope that this will resolve on its own. Our goose is normally such a sweetheart and I'd really hate to have to get rid of her. She's been really hard to get along with lately, though... she also started going after our dog and she began rejecting two ducklings that'd been raised alongside her goslings. We've had to change our arrangements on the farm to keep everyone safe and it's made life a little complicated!

 

[Miss Lydia]

I think as the gosling grow up the mama will def be less protective. Give it time. But I wouldn't have your dd around them right now with out a fence between them just for her safety. Mamas can be very protective Right? lol

 

[Sarkchick]

You are so right Miss Lydia, moma geese can get very protective. And so can the ganders. For that matter any goose in the flock will if a gosling peeps.

 

[Jase The Butcher]

Hello!

Our year-old goose laid her first eggs this spring. We incubated the eggs inside and gave our goose the goslings when they were several days old. She immediately abandoned her nest and took to the babies. At first, all was well... my daughter and I spent a lot of time outside sitting with the goose and her goslings. They are now about 6 weeks old and the mother goose has started being aggressive toward my daughter. She seems to be protecting her babies. I don't understand why it took her so long to start acting this way, and more importantly, I'm wondering if the protective behavior will subside. My daughter is young (6yo) and has gotten bit pretty badly a couple times in the last few days. We've had to pen the goose, which makes me sad. I have the opportunity to sell the goose with one of her babies and it breaks my heart to consider doing that, but I don't want to worry about my daughter when she's out playing in the yard. Anybody with a protective goose have any insight? Will the aggression and biting likely stop as the goslings get older? I know she's just being a good mom and I'm willing to wait it out if it's temporary...

They say if the goose is protective at youth, just be more stern with them. Show whose boss and they will understand that you are no threat.

 

[BlackHackle]

They say if the goose is protective at youth, just be more stern with them. Show whose boss and they will understand that you are no threat.

Additionally, don't be too stern with them or they'll become quite skittish

 

[Jase The Butcher]

Additionally, don't be too stern with them or they'll become quite skittish

Yah, that's right, not to stern.

 

[sourland]

They say if the goose is protective at youth, just be more stern with them. Show whose boss and they will understand that you are no threat.

In my experience reacting aggressively to parent geese is the worst possible reaction. They are all about protecting their goslings and any aggressive reaction will be regarded as a threat to the goslings causing them to become even more protective. As others have said, her behavior is normal maternal goose behavior. In her case it was delayed but triggered by your daughter inadvertently approaching with an object in her hand. Once the goslings are raised, she will go back to 'normal', but the behavior will reappear next breeding season. She's just a mother goose being a good mother.