[colliebird]

I need to home my goose and gander as soon as possible.  I'm near Horncastle in Lincolnshire.  They are making my hens lives hell.
Anyone know where I can advertise them where they'll find a new home QUICKLY pleas
I'm loathe to do this, but my hens were here first, and for the moment, Lilli, my young Greylag, thinks she's a chicken and prefers to sleep in their quarters where it's peaceful.

xx

[Vember]

The Greylag really needs some goose company of some sort, it is cruel to keep a wild bird with out one of it's own kind for company in my opinion

Geese will attack hens they can kill them it's a fact and it's rare to get one that wont, even sweet little greylag will start to have ago especially as she gets frustrated at not having her own kind around.

Sarah

[colliebird]

I'm advertising and ringing Gaz to see if he has a female Greylag, so she won't be alone.
I mixed hens, ducks, turkeys and geese for many years, and never had a problem.
I didn't think there would be a problem with this couple, but unfortunately there is, much to my regret, because I love my geese, but if "terror" reigns for my chooks, the guilty parties have to go. 

[pushrod]

Goose pie, liver pate ?  (tin hat on)

[Vember]

How long have they been together Colliebird?

Could you not separate with chicken wire for a bit so they can get more used to one another?

Sounds awful just because they don't fit they are to be booted out, especially if they have bonded with you 

[joyfull]

Goose pie, liver pate ?  (tin hat on)

Pushrod you'll need more than a tin hat with coments like that 

[colliebird]

Goose pie, liver pate ?  (tin hat on)

I had thought of that and my neighbour is willing to kill them for me, but plucking geese is
a reeeeeeeeeeally messy job (I used to slaughter and kill my own geese, ducks, turkeys, chickens years ago).
I Lived in Switzerland for over 35 years and you can take your live or dead birds to the local prison, go do your shopping, and when you come back the birds are ready for the table.  Cost? about 30 pence a bird.  In the UK alas, this service isn't available.

If I could get someone to do it for me, I'd be willing to let them keep the goose for themself and I'd have the gander (Christmas din-dins!)    Any offers?  You with the tin hat?

x x x

[colliebird]

How long have they been together Colliebird?

Could you not separate with chicken wire for a bit so they can get more used to one another?

Sounds awful just because they don't fit they are to be booted out, especially if they have bonded with you 

They haven't been together long, a few weeks.  And it isn't because "they don't fit" it's because they are very aggressive towards my hens and the young goose.  I used to have very big flocks of geese, and none of them tried to kill my other animals.  These two have already injured the young Greylag, prevented my hens from going to the nest boxes and my broody hen has come off her eggs.  I don't want to make two separate
runs, it would mean reducing their space and I don't want to do that
If they can find a good home (Gaz has offered to take them), that's what will be done, so please don't try and make me feel guilty, cos I don't!  I want what's best for the majority of my animals.

[colliebird]

The Greylag really needs some goose company of some sort, it is cruel to keep a wild bird with out one of it's own kind for company in my opinion

Geese will attack hens they can kill them it's a fact and it's rare to get one that wont, even sweet little greylag will start to have ago especially as she gets frustrated at not having her own kind around.

Sarah

I have finally found another Greylag goose to be company with Lilli.  They aren't an easy goose to find. 

[Vember]

  I used to have very big flocks of geese, and none of them tried to kill my other animals. 

I think you've hit the nail on the head Colliebird they are flock birds that need space with their own kind then they don't need to go near other birds

I am really pleased you have found company for the Greylag and hope that you manage to re home the other 2, if I were nearer I would have jumped at them

I am sorry if you think I was trying to make you feel guilty that was never my intention and I hope that other people who think about having geese will take all of the above posts on board before they actually get them, geese truly are a long term pet (unless they are going for meat) and should be treated as a cat or a dog some as can live 15-20 years and they form very strong bonds 
If everything in life was easy I fear we would all be very boring as would our pets



Sarah

[colliebird]

  I used to have very big flocks of geese, and none of them tried to kill my other animals. 

I think you've hit the nail on the head Colliebird they are flock birds that need space with their own kind then they don't need to go near other birds

I am really pleased you have found company for the Greylag and hope that you manage to re home the other 2, if I were nearer I would have jumped at them

I am sorry if you think I was trying to make you feel guilty that was never my intention and I hope that other people who think about having geese will take all of the above posts on board before they actually get them, geese truly are a long term pet (unless they are going for meat) and should be treated as a cat or a dog some as can live 15-20 years and they form very strong bonds 
If everything in life was easy I fear we would all be very boring as would our pets



Sarah


In fact geese can live easily until the age of 60 years and more (in captivity) and a neighbour I had many years ago had a 70 year old gander (Toulouse) that had belonged to his father and before that, to his great grandfather.  He was still alive when I left Switzerland, but I am no longer in touch with them.

I'd love to have the large flocks I used to have, but they need land, and we were lucky enough to have 32 acres and woodland, and sheep, geese, goats used to all graze together.  The hens, ducks, turkeys were in an enclosure and were shut in at night, but the geese used to either spend the night on the ponds or go in the barns at dusk with the hens.  I do miss my big flocks of geese though.

[GrannieAnnie]

I wold have had them Colliebird, but haven't really got enough room to make them really comfortable!  If Gaz wants them, they will have loads of room!!!