Why are my geese being hostile toward my gosling?

[marathonmultiplesmom]

Hey everyone, I hatched a gosling and she is about 13 days old. She follows me around as I do my chores but when she gets near the adult geese, they just go bonkers. I think they are being hostile because 2 of my ganders hiss a bit. The 2 geese come very close to look at the gosling but the way in which the geese surround us is borderline terrifying. They have not tried to attack me or her but I would like her to live with them when she is feathered... but not if they will be mean. And how will the adult geese behave when I hatch more goslings? I've got one due tomorrow and another 2 days later, 7 due next week, 12 due the week after and a couple due the week after that.

I have one female goose who has 3 eggs in her nest that I will let her sit on. My other female keeps getting her eggs stolen by predators, poor thing. I am hoping that when one of them hatches her own that maybe they will accept mine but if not then I don't know what to do.

Why are they behaving this way?

 

[Backyard_Chicken_rancher]

I am not sure about geese but I know with chickens they are interested to see what this new thing is.
if you intergrate them I would first allow them time to get used to it (pecking order and all) so this way they can all live togther like they should do. as for the ones fixing to hatch the momma will keep them safe.


Good luck to you I hope this helps a bit.

 

[Kim65]

It's possible they are hissing at YOU because YOU have THEIR baby. I doubt (though anything is possible) that they are unhappy with the gosling, they are unhappy with YOU because they are protective of their young

(whether they hatched them or not).

My adult flock of Toulouse were introduced to four female goslings at about a month old, and I never got close to them again. Even the nasty gander Pinhead was loving and tender with the babies.

I am raising three Rouen ducklings in my bedroom, and my female goose hisses and honks at me when she's visiting in the house and sees me next to the babies.

Once the gosling is three or four weeks old and can maintain it's body temp, you could introduce it to the adults. Just be ready to never get anywhere near it again lol, or for the gosling to be afraid of the adult geese because it is human imprinted.

Geese are different than chickens in that they have strong parenting impulses as a rule, and will usually not be aggressive with any sort of chick or baby. I've heard of a gander now and then being aggressive but this is pretty rare. Mine never were.

 

[marathonmultiplesmom]

Quote:
Oh, she's my baby

I don't want to let them have her....
I decided that the first (female) to hatch would be my companion and its my little 'Pipper', thats her name. So, now I feel conflicted because I want her to be my baby but I'd be pretty ticked if someone took one of my kids. Well, when she is feathered completely, I'll just introduce her and see how it goes. I'm sure she will always want to come to me because of the imprinting.

 

[Goosehaven]

My gander is not accepting of the goslings when they hatch for whatever reason so I have to raise them up until they and cannot put them with the older geese until they are big enough to defend themselves. Whatever you do, don't leave it unattended around them. I hate the fact mine doesn't just accept them but I improvised and had to make two seperate areas that are fenced off for the goslings and my grown flock. Good luck with the rest of your hatches!