Heh, there's no reason to keep them locked up in their house for a week. That's just silly. The only time I've locked waterfowl in the house was when I was getting them use to being in the pastures, but even then they had a small yard. Geese are easily herded and seem to desire the security...
It is good not to let them free range for at least a couple of weeks. I have never had geese who came from someone as close to me as the people you got yours from are from you, so I cannot answer your "homing question." However, I do know that it takes a few weeks for waterfowl to become...