Best breed for indoor/outdoor, well socialized, well trained pet goose?

I addopted one grey toulouse from the great goose rescue, but it just worked out that Iain had lots of males, and my one gray was a lady. I also adopted those exquisite white africans.

Hi everyone,

Thank you all for your great input!

I feel like I should clarify, as so many people are starting to bring it up: when I mentioned that bit about, "alone outdoors," it was in reference to whether I should have 1 goose or 2 geese, as the dog would not ALWAYS be outside near the kennel when I am gone or at work. One goose, if that's what I go with, would spend up to 6 hours a day alone, but only 3 or 4 days a week. This would be broken up throughout the day by brief visits from my roommate as she lets her dog out, and mine, and the random lake ducks that wander over to check things out (my birds can't get out, but the mallards sometimes fly in. hoping a goose would discourage that). But I still worry that it would be too much alone time. Wasn't sure if geese can tolerate it better than ducks?

That is the conundrum; not whether or not the goose should be outdoors. The ducks liked coming indoors for visits, and that is when those silly diapers came out. Otherwise, they were in the yard or their pen. So just think of the house as a coop (as one of you mentioned, I do have a dog kennel inside for them!). In at night, out when they wake me up in the morning. Yes, they will come inside sporadically throughout the day, but they aren't going to be house-pets. Just much more pet than livestock. For example, outside of the (QUIET) morning routine, I don't get all wibbly and sad indoors - I get snuffly outside, when the dog goes to the empty pen, looking around, or when I come home and it's quiet as I walk into yard.

Worry not. I am reading up on the BASIC care and keeping of geese. General stuff, like the differences between duck care and goose care. Feeding, watering, foraging, and the like. I am a dog trainer of the "dogs are dogs" mind set. Treat them like dogs and they will be amazing pets! I held the same belief for the ducks and it worked out beautifully. Nothing short of a hurricane could ruined things the way Sandy did. I will follow the same guiding principal with the geese.

I am still seeking answers to my original questions, though, since those are the abnormal bits!

Can singletons work? (I am leaning towards no.) If not, do two girls get along well? Because I have absolutely no interest in dealing with goosey mating seasons, reading everything I have. Or is it not actually as bad as I have read?

Can geese be raised with dogs? (I am leaning towards yes.)

Which is the friendliest, most sociable, small to medium sized breed of goose? (I am relying on you!)

And a few new ones:

Can you throw the grass clippings from the lawn mower into a stationary pen?

Do any of you have the Shetlands? I haven't even seen this breed before!

I have heard good things about Toulouse on this board and elsewhere - is that a general consensus?

Has anyone owned or dealt with the Oregon Minis? (Holderread's developing them?)

No, single geese will be very unhappy.

Yes, you could just keep girls, but just boys would probably work better. (unless you want eggs to eat)

My geese and dogs are friends, BUT our little dog (part terrier) must not be trusted around the very young - dogs instinct causes infant goose deaths. My adults and dogs (after age 1 month when they are bigger) get along great.

The friendliest small to medium goose I am aware of personally is the sebastopol. Also very ornamental, and yes, they are sweet and came be quite tame also.

Yes, they will eat grass clippings if they want

Don't know shetlands, but toulouse are sweet, but larger.

Never met or Oregon Mini either. I'd stick with Sebastopol or toulouse. Sebs are small end, toulouse are large end.

Any pair of geese are going to want to protect nests, I'd go with a pair of boys, seriously.

You need two...........no way around it they will want to be their own kind and will be lonely without.

Grass clippings are OK, but they need open space to graze on. If they are kept confined for hours the parasite build up will happen and make for poor grazing to no grazing.

Geese graze not forage, they dont like super tall old tough grass. They wont eat an entire area either (think selective eating some areas will grow tall while others are eaten short), they pick and chose spots to eat, tasting, tugging and testing for the best, softest, flavorful greens.

Yes geese can be raised around dogs. As you know not all dogs can trusted with geese though. We have three Great Pyrenees, and none of the geese pay them much attention. Our 3 year old male is found sleeping with the Sebastopols during the afternoon.

When geese are young they are prone to hawks, but by the end of the summer (for spring hatched goslings) they have grown enough to free range a backyard all day. Prior to that a fenced area with a top (netting or shade cloth or something) to protect from hawks is required.

Goslings NEED grass, they should never be kept inside in a brooder only 24/7. We turn all goslings out in daytime pens starting at 3 days old. they have unlimited mazuri starter waterfowl feed, water and all the grass they want. A dog house with bedding gives them rain shelter and they get put back in their stalls at night.

Loving all this info. I have had my chickens for a year now. I am abosutly in love with them. They really bring me so much joy and serenity. I have 9 chicks coming feb 18. .. A few breeds I've wanted to add.. And I hatched a few barnyard mix eggs of my own from my flock.. Under a neighbors broody Sussex lol how fun.

Sooo, I started reading and reading turned into researching and research turned into obsession and now I've ordered 2 Sebastopols from mcmurray, to arrive may 28.

I absolutely can't wait. Of course my husband assumes they will be outside .. But I'm ordering diapers hahahaha. Heck, I already bring in a random chicken to sit and watch tv with some evenings. They are so soft and soothing to hold and pet.

Anyway, you guys have already answered so many of my questions.. But I have two more.. Imprinting.. I want to imprint on my goslings, but they will be hipped as day old babies from mcmurray. Will they still imprint? They will of course be raised inside. Second, mcmurray only sells them st run. Am I in trouble with any st run combo? What are the advantages/disadvantages of a boy boy, girl girl or breeding combo? I've been stressing this non stop. Will ganders fight with each other? Do they still get pissy around mating season even if there's no goose present?
Will 2 females have problems together?
Will a mating pair be more about era other and not be as good of "pets", friendly etc?

Thanks guys. You've always been my best resource. Speaking of resource.. Any specific books I should get? This is going to be my first goose foray

Hi. I had a Toulouse. She imprinted on me immediately. I've never had a sweeter pet.
She would follow me for walks to the lake and would play " tweak the beak " with me and she loved to preen me....pulling on my shirt and hair.

People still stop in their cars to ask about her. Our neighbors' children loved her. Sadly, she died a couple months ago. I can't consider getting another one yet. But if I ever decide to get another goose I'll get a Toulouse.

Randy Watts said:

Hi. I had a Toulouse. She imprinted on me immediately. I've never had a sweeter pet.
She would follow me for walks to the lake and would play " tweak the beak " with me and she loved to preen me....pulling on my shirt and hair.

People still stop in their cars to ask about her. Our neighbors' children loved her. Sadly, she died a couple months ago. I can't consider getting another one yet. But if I ever decide to get another goose I'll get a Toulouse.

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Very sorry about your loss.

Welcome to BYC!