American buff geese

[Eliraice]

I recently purchased 2 American buff females from craigslist. I have them about a week they have gotten a little used to me but still hiss when I come near by and are constantly trying to escape their fenced in area should i be worried they would run away if i let then range with my chickens? Its always tough corralling then into their house at night.

 

[sourland]

Give them time to adapt to their new home and to you. Tempt them with treats so that they come to associate you with good things happening.

 

[Eliraice]

Give them time to adapt to their new home and to you. Tempt them with treats so that they come to associate you with good things happening.

Thanks for the advice. I've read that geese go to shelter at night but if I were to free range them should I be worried they would wander off?

 

[Iain Utah]

Bring them a fresh bucket/bowl of water when you go visit. Even if they have water, they still often think a new fresh bowl of water is the best treat. If they know food treats, that works the best. My geese like romaine lettuce, shucked corn, watermelon, and bread.

Feed grain every evening same time, same place, in their enclosure. It takes about 3 days of consistent routine for geese to figure out where food/safety and precious fresh water is. I find my geese also really like lights at night, so if there is a way to turn a light on for them in enclosure (even solar/battery landscape light), may make it easier to put them up.

Congrats on the new geese and good luck with their transition.

 

[sourland]

I would be concerned that left unsecured at night they would be very vulnerable to predation.

 

[Eliraice]

Thanks for the responses! I have chickens free ranging and before I let the geese range I was wondering if they will just wander off or they know where there home is?

 

[Miss Lydia]

How long have you had them? It’s always a good idea to keep them penned for a few weeks so they learn where home is an feed them close to their coop so they come back to eat. Also to get them back at dusk or before begin training them before you release them get whole corn put it into a container with a lid and go into their enclosure shake the can and give them some corn when they run up to you. I shake the can an whistle and my geese and other flock members come running since they associate the whistle and shaking can with a treat. Then when you let them out do some practice runs that day so they get the idea then just do it in the evening when you want them up for the night. Like @sourland says if you leave them out they will be vulnerable to predation.

 

[Wicked Storm]

I recently purchased 2 American buff females from craigslist. I have them about a week they have gotten a little used to me but still hiss when I come near by and are constantly trying to escape their fenced in area should i be worried they would run away if i let then range with my chickens? Its always tough corralling then into their house at night.

Hi and My geese hiss at me when they are excited, so you think that is what it is? They like it when we bow our heads to them. It's their language. How long have you had them? It may take a while for them to get used to you, but once they have a bond, you'll have it forever!