goose attack

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hils

Joined: 08 Mar 2005
Posts: 568
Location: Nottingham

Posted: Mon Jul 18, 05 4:48 pm Post subject: goose attack

Last thursday my daughter (nearly 3) was attacked by a goose, luckily my OH and my father saw the goose go for her and managed to get there before too much harm had been done. My OH (daughters dad) instinct was to kick it off of her, (one kick) and minimal damage was done to her except bruising to her arm.

My OH is feeling guilty for kicking the goose as it limped after the attack. This goose is viscious which is why it was given away by the RSPCA in the first place. My grandmother had got it as a guard goose but my uncle looks after it now. We weren't aware that it was loose while we were visiting.

Would anyone else done the same thing in this situation - dads what would you have done?

pink bouncy

Joined: 14 May 2005
Posts: 174

Posted: Mon Jul 18, 05 4:53 pm Post subject:
I think I would have done something similar if it was attacking my toddler. Waiting long enough to decide the best course of action is the wrong thing to do, do what it takes to make the person safe then deal with the aftermath afterwards. FWIW, if it were mine, it would be in the pot by now.

hils

Joined: 08 Mar 2005
Posts: 568
Location: Nottingham

Posted: Mon Jul 18, 05 4:57 pm Post subject:
FWIW? I had kinda thought about the pot myself - apparantly it flew at her from about 20 ft away.

tahir

Joined: 28 Oct 2004
Posts: 45440
Location: Essex

Posted: Mon Jul 18, 05 4:58 pm Post subject:
Either the same, or run I can't see what else he could have done, I don't think he should feel guilty.

hils

Joined: 08 Mar 2005
Posts: 568
Location: Nottingham

Posted: Mon Jul 18, 05 4:59 pm Post subject:
I'll tell him that tahir - I don't think he should feel guilty either. He'd have been guilty if she lost an eye!

tahir

Joined: 28 Oct 2004
Posts: 45440
Location: Essex

Posted: Mon Jul 18, 05 5:01 pm Post subject:

hils wrote:

He'd have been guilty if she lost an eye!

Definitely

Treacodactyl
Downsizer Moderator

Joined: 28 Oct 2004
Posts: 25795
Location: Jumping on the bandwagon of opportunism

Posted: Mon Jul 18, 05 5:12 pm Post subject: Re: goose attack

hils wrote:

Would anyone else done the same thing in this situation - dads what would you have done?

If I couldn't have stood between the goose and child then yes I would. Perhaps now is the time to seriously recommend fencing the goose in as the noise should be the main deterrent and even if there was a burglar they would sue the owner for any harm they come to.

hils

Joined: 08 Mar 2005
Posts: 568
Location: Nottingham

Posted: Mon Jul 18, 05 5:18 pm Post subject:
I agree - now dealing with my uncle....

Stacey

Joined: 18 Jul 2005
Posts: 8380
Location: Kernow

Posted: Mon Jul 18, 05 6:24 pm Post subject:
I would definitely have done the same as your OH. Any right thinking parent/adult would IMO. I bend over backwards to make sure my animals are well cared for and come to no harm but if any of them attacked my kids I wouldn't bat an eyelid about a swift kick to stop the attack. He did right

pink bouncy

Joined: 14 May 2005
Posts: 174

Posted: Mon Jul 18, 05 6:43 pm Post subject:

hils wrote:

FWIW?

I had kinda thought about the pot myself - apparantly it flew at her from about 20 ft away.

Sorry Hils, 'for what it's worth' is what I meant to say.

dougal

Joined: 15 Jan 2005
Posts: 7184
Location: South Kent

Posted: Mon Jul 18, 05 7:54 pm Post subject:

I don't think anyone can really be criticised for an instinctive reaction when immediate action to protect the child was clearly required.

Very little force indeed would probably be actually needed. Carrying, and if necessary waving, a stick (even a bamboo cane) should deter future problems. (If all else fails, the stick can deflect the goose's lunge - no need to hit it!)
But don't necessarily expect the poor hormone-driven chap to learn from the experience...
And he *should* be calming down for the rest of the year quite soon now...

Hope the daughter wasn't too upset by the experience.
Growing up tends to mean lots of bruises, but I'd be most bothered about the potential blow to her confidence with animals.

And I'd just put in a really teeny weeny comment about not letting the child get closer to any known-to-be-agressive animal than it was to adult/parental supervision...

cab

Joined: 01 Nov 2004
Posts: 32429

Posted: Wed Jul 20, 05 1:33 pm Post subject:
If you know how to scare off a goose, as has been mentioned using a stick (I've even done it waving a wing feather) then they can be dissuaded, but that's not something a child is always going to remember. I'd look to fatten this goose up for, to be honest, if it can't dissuaded from having a go at a kid from so far away.

Jb

Joined: 08 Jun 2005
Posts: 7761
Location: 91ï¿½ N

Posted: Wed Jul 20, 05 1:43 pm Post subject:

cab wrote:

I'd look to fatten this goose up for, to be honest, if it can't dissuaded from having a go at a kid from so far away.

Unless there's an obvious reason an animal would attack (e.g. was it defending young?) which you can predict and avoid in future then it should be restrained or killed. As this goose was described as;

Quote:

This goose is viscious which is why it was given away by the RSPCA in the first place.

then I'd say this is one goose that's headed for the oven.

cab

Joined: 01 Nov 2004
Posts: 32429

Posted: Wed Jul 20, 05 1:44 pm Post subject:
I guess the only question is when the goose is likely to be tastiest...

Guest

Posted: Sun Aug 07, 05 8:19 pm Post subject:

The correct way to confront an aggressive gander, I am presuming this was a gander and not a goose, is to grasp it by the neck quite high up and close to the head (so it cannot turn and bite). Do this from arms length as you want to avoid the wings. Then drag the bird several yards lifting his feet slightly off the floor. This usually puts a stop to any attack at least for that time.

A good gander is naturally protective particularly at certain times of the year. They have to be to protect their geese from preditors. An undefensive gander is effectively useless.

It may be prudent to ensure that any child is accompanied at all times in any farmyard/smallholding situation. There are many dangers and many a lot more so than a gander. If you feel you cannot provide the necessary protection then maybe you should consider not visiting.

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