Anybody keep geese in the backyard?

[Nutcase]

Thankyou for your advice. If we decide to get them, I reckon two it is.

 

[coffeychicks]

After my son got ours as a birthday present I did a lot of research that is the best thing to do besides the forum here.

My pair Loosy and goosy. Goosy (gander) is in the pool

 

[Nutcase]

Thanks, I've done heaps of research on geese but it's good to hear comments from other people with experience.

 

[livininbrazil]

Putting the 2 questions together, this is what I think:

To keep a dog out, put up electric fencing. Or an ostrich?!

Geese can bluff, but if the dog has not fear........

Geese will go everywhere, they´re inquisitive. They´ll go on your veranda and poop all over it!

Kept in a smaller space, geese will need more feed so will prove more expensive to feed than chickens, and don´t provide eggs like chickens will. If it´s just for fattening to eat, then again you´ll spend money on them to feed, and if they´re not out grazing this could prove to be quite an expensive dinner. They need greens. I spend more money on rearing my goslings than I ever get selling them as adults.

Providing water is no problem, just put out a pool, but you need to replace the water at least once a day as they poop in it all the time.

 

[Miss Lydia]

Yes I will probably do that. Especially to our newest neighbours. Do you have problems keeping geese off your verandah?

I have fences and gates to keep my flock out of areas I don't want them to frequent, once in a while I'll let them come into the back yard to visit. but my gander likes to come to the back door and knock and my dog doesn't appreciate it she grabbed him through the dog door once so he doesn't get to come in as much any more.
Here are my Muscovy ducks checking out the back door. lol

 

[Iain Utah]

I have fences and gates to keep my flock out of areas I don't want them to frequent, once in a while I'll let them come into the back yard to visit. but my gander likes to come to the back door and knock and my dog doesn't appreciate it she grabbed him through the dog door once so he doesn't get to come in as much any more.
Here are my Muscovy ducks checking out the back door. lol

So cute!

 

[servpolice]

Hmm i want a peacock

 

[Chaneys Ranch]

Hmm i want a peacock

Peas take 2 years to mature. The peachicks can be fragile. and need high protein game feed. They can be difficult to raise.
I feed mine 30% game bird feed, and have it ordered weekly since I raise quail also.

I have raised and been around geese my entire life.
I keep Embden, Chinese, and African geese, Muscovy, Perkin duck, several breeds of chicken, turkey, quail, peafowl, Guinea etc.
My geese, we don't eat and are not food animals to us. They are our watchdogs and beloved pets.
My favorite girl is a brown Chinese (WeWee) and Gee my gander (white chinese) with our fist hatched gosling, Paddy:

Paddy (pictured) is our first incubated hatch. He is a very strong young adult gander now, and fiercely watches over his mom.
WeeWee is an excellent mother and egg layer. Any gosling hatched is HERS! The true mom is Angel, or Snowy grazing in the background.
(pssst don't tell her that one isn't). She is my only brown Chinese, and we just love her.
Geese are no match for a fox, raccoon or stray dog. They do sound a loud alarm if someone or thing is not normal visiting the coop!
I do want to mention that domestic geese do not choose a mate for life. My Chinese gander covers 3 goose hens.
My embden and African are only at 4 months, but I have had the breeds off and on all my life. Same for them.
Canadian geese do choose a permanent mate, and will only seek a new mate if one passes away.
Geese are a long term commitment and difficult to rehome, but raised properly are a fantastic addition to a flock.
Main thing is do not hand feed (biting problems later) and they have to know you are the alpha/boss.
Young ganders will bite and be aggressive. You have to be firm and chest bump/pin the aggressive bird to establish you are the flock leader..

 

[servpolice]

Ive alot of goose breeds and africans are my fav. And your right with the hand feeding bit ! They may be tame but rip your fingers open and and i like the way you gave that yellow gosling a pure irish name

 

[flockman]

Peas take 2 years to mature. The peachicks can be fragile. and need high protein game feed. They can be difficult to raise. I feed mine 30% game bird feed, and have it ordered weekly since I raise quail also. I have raised and been around geese my entire life. I keep Embden, Chinese, and African geese, Muscovy, Perkin duck, several breeds of chicken, turkey, quail, peafowl, Guinea etc. My geese, we don't eat and are not food animals to us. They are our watchdogs and beloved pets. My favorite girl is a brown Chinese (WeWee) and Gee my gander (white chinese) with our fist hatched gosling, Paddy: Paddy (pictured) is our first incubated hatch. He is a very strong young adult gander now, and fiercely watches over his mom. WeeWee is an excellent mother and egg layer. Any gosling hatched is HERS! The true mom is Angel, or Snowy grazing in the background. (pssst don't tell her that one isn't). She is my only brown Chinese, and we just love her. Geese are no match for a fox, raccoon or stray dog. They do sound a loud alarm if someone or thing is not normal visiting the coop! I do want to mention that domestic geese do not choose a mate for life. My Chinese gander covers 3 goose hens. My embden and African are only at 4 months, but I have had the breeds off and on all my life. Same for them. Canadian geese do choose a permanent mate, and will only seek a new mate if one passes away. Geese are a long term commitment and difficult to rehome, but raised properly are a fantastic addition to a flock. Main thing is do not hand feed (biting problems later) and they have to know you are the alpha/boss. Young ganders will bite and be aggressive. You have to be firm and chest bump/pin the aggressive bird to establish you are the flock leader..

Cute gosling! I sure hope I get a few goslings from my American Buff trio this year!