When do ganders start acting like ganders?

[starrymutt]

I have 3 ganders (probably, unsure of one) and 2 females. Forrest, the oldest gander, keeps tugging at the other two's feet (mainly swimming) and acting a little aggressive towards them.

I'm probably getting ahead but when do they sexually mature and I should start worrying about fights? They're only 5 months and 4 months old. I don't really want to rehome since they're the sweetest things and seem bonded in the flock.

 

[Evadig]

I had three ganders and one goose. Mine were mature around six months (I think, can't remember now), but they really didn't start fighting until the spring (which was around nine months).

Mine were bonded too, but I had to separate two of the males from the other male and the female. I eventually rehomed the whole group because I was tired of their fighting and needed the room for ducks anyway .

 

[Goosebaby]

You may have to separate them into two groups at night to prevent horrible fights in the wee hours.
It’s most likely going to be something like 1 gander + 2 females, and the other group will be two ganders. You could also have it as 1 gander + 1 female and 2 ganders + 1 female, I have a group like that and it works for them because Delphi is a strong independent women who don’t need no man but has two anyway, and those two are very closely bonded.

You’ll have to watch their dynamics develop and it may switch around until they’re 2 years old. It can depend as much on the females and how they behave as much as it is for the males. Geese are very individualistic so it’s hard to predict.
Ganders can and do bond with each other well but some things to look out for is if two ganders bond and then feed off each others energy while they’re targeting the third gander. Ganders during breeding season aren’t in full control of themselves and are quick to anger, even bonded ganders will squabble with each other but they quickly make up. For the most part even non bonded ganders seem to tolerate each other the rest of the year, but not in every situation.

Females can also be spicy little firecrackers and can even get into squabbles, though that’s more unusual. They do have a knack for instigating fights between ganders, I have two ganders that generally tolerate each other but one goose “Dandelion” who likes to pit them against each other.

It’s best to have a very large area available to them if they’re all out with each other so if fights do occur they can generally get away from each other, when geese are hormonal in a tight space and a fight breaks out, the fight doesn’t stop.

 

[jshardy]

Hi - I'm new to geese(or any other birds). Had a gander and hen last year, but at about 6mo old they were taken by eagles. I live on a large lake in a rural location in East Texas where we have bunches of eagles.

Now have 2 ganders and 2 hens from day 2 after hatch, now they're 3 months. The bigger gander is already showing aggression toward other gander. The two pair have bonded with each other, so I'm wondering if I'll need separate coops for each pair, or a bigger coop with separate stalls for them at night?

Also, can I expect laying to start in next several months?

Thanks for any advice.

Steve

 

[Goosebaby]

Hi - I'm new to geese(or any other birds). Had a gander and hen last year, but at about 6mo old they were taken by eagles. I live on a large lake in a rural location in East Texas where we have bunches of eagles.

Now have 2 ganders and 2 hens from day 2 after hatch, now they're 3 months. The bigger gander is already showing aggression toward other gander. The two pair have bonded with each other, so I'm wondering if I'll need separate coops for each pair, or a bigger coop with separate stalls for them at night?

Also, can I expect laying to start in next several months?

Thanks for any advice.

Steve

I’d advise having separate night pens and during the day a large enough pen for them to socialize but large enough that if there is a fight they can get away from each other.