- Jun 24, 2014
- 6
- 1
- 62
We have recently moved and are rebuilding our flock from scratch. Our plan is to have two flocks of chickens, each with a male and female goose for protection. We also want a separate flock of just geese.
We've ordered: 5 female goslings, 2 male goslings, and 3 unsexed goslings, plus all of our chickens.
We currently have one enclosure for just geese and a large chicken coop that can house chickens as well as some geese as needed. Eventually, we will have third structure for a second flock of chickens (plus two geese) and we can split our chickens, but for now all the chickens are combined.
I've heard that you shouldn't put more than 2 geese with your chickens or they might ignore the chickens and only protect themselves. I know geese mate for life and I'm aware that having too many males in one space could be bad.
My question is: how should I split up the geese (males/females) before the 3rd structure is available?
I was thinking of maybe putting two female geese with the chickens, then splitting them when we divide our chicken flock. Then we could add the males in later? That way both chicken flocks have a goose that's "a part of the flock." But then we could have too many males in the goose enclosure.
Or maybe put a male/female pair in with the chickens that will stay with half of the chickens, and then pull another goose pair from the goose flock once we have the third structure, to guard the second chicken flock?
Sorry if I'm not making any sense. I think the ultimate solution is to get the third structure asap....
but any information you can provide on having multiple guard geese, when geese select a mate, when males get aggressive, or having a mixed flock of geese is much appreciated!
We've ordered: 5 female goslings, 2 male goslings, and 3 unsexed goslings, plus all of our chickens.
We currently have one enclosure for just geese and a large chicken coop that can house chickens as well as some geese as needed. Eventually, we will have third structure for a second flock of chickens (plus two geese) and we can split our chickens, but for now all the chickens are combined.
I've heard that you shouldn't put more than 2 geese with your chickens or they might ignore the chickens and only protect themselves. I know geese mate for life and I'm aware that having too many males in one space could be bad.
My question is: how should I split up the geese (males/females) before the 3rd structure is available?
I was thinking of maybe putting two female geese with the chickens, then splitting them when we divide our chicken flock. Then we could add the males in later? That way both chicken flocks have a goose that's "a part of the flock." But then we could have too many males in the goose enclosure.
Or maybe put a male/female pair in with the chickens that will stay with half of the chickens, and then pull another goose pair from the goose flock once we have the third structure, to guard the second chicken flock?
Sorry if I'm not making any sense. I think the ultimate solution is to get the third structure asap....
but any information you can provide on having multiple guard geese, when geese select a mate, when males get aggressive, or having a mixed flock of geese is much appreciated!