Anyone keep their geese in a "goose tractor"?

[DryCreekFarm]

For Easter, my husband gave me a 1 month old African Gray Gosling and a 4 month old African Gray gander. I am keeping the gosling inside until she feathers out, but I don't know what to do with the gander. Right now he's in an old chicken coop with a run and a paddling pool. I know that geese graze and was thinking about making him a goose tractor for him and his companion, when she's old enough. Anyone done this before? Advice? I've never had geese before, and to be honest, am a little bit afraid of them.

 

[lovesgliders]

Might be cheaper and easier to go with some sort of chainlink dog kennel that can easily be lifted and moved... it'd have to be a pretty large tractor to accommodate two geese.

Of course, if you go that route you'd need to put them up at night, every night, in some sort of building, as predators can reach through chainlink.

No need to be afraid of them, they won't hurt you. Just be loving, but firm and consistent. You are in charge! (but no need to be a bully or a tyrant) That gosling can probably go out with the gander during the day as long as he is kind to her (and I would bet my last dollar that he will be, geese are very intelligent and social).

 

[DryCreekFarm]

Thanks for the info! I was considering using a chain link kennel for the run, and attach to it a 16 sq. ft. house that could be locked up at night. Whether they chill with the ducks at night or in a tractor, they will be locked up. I lost too many pets as a child to possums to not.

 

[StevenW.]

I've been looking at those Chain-link fences but I just don't have the $500 some dollars for a new one.

A moveable tractor would be more pratically for us since we get most of our wood we get for free. I just have to figure out how big to build it and build a shelter that is light.

 

[larkflying]

I have my geese in a moveable electric fence -- they eat the grass, and I don't have to mow as much! If you built a light frame for the day you would want as much as you could move easily -- they need space to flap their wings and what not. I'd think 4 ft high would be enough, and you don't have to cover the top . . .

 

[lovesgliders]

Steven, check your local bulletin boards/classifieds. You'd be surprised how many people have them for sale for cheap!

 

[extraordinaryfowl]

When my geese are not breeding, or I am raising young I pasture them around the yard in portable pens - a 10'X12' two-by-four base, on top of that A frames, about 5 foot high in the center, covered with chicken wire. I herd them back into their shelters at night, and herd them into the pen during the day, which is surprisingly easy and fast. Using that hex chicken wire I do not expect it to keep them safe from all predators, so if I am going away all day I usually leave them in their secure shed. They graze a lot of grass, fertilize extremely well and it really cuts back on the amount of grain they consume. Good luck, and I hope it works!

 

[StevenW.]

Steven, check your local bulletin boards/classifieds. You'd be surprised how many people have them for sale for cheap!

We have a bunch of cheap people out here! If they buy a chain-link kennel for $400 there gonna want back $399!
But I'm still gonna keep looking because I'm HORRIBLE at building things! LOL

 

[NorthTexaschick]

I hope you enjoy your geese as much as I enjoy mine. I have brown Chinese, Chinese and Saddleback Pomeranians. Mine free range out with my chickens. They self-segregate I'll go out to the back, squat down and call to them. They will ALL come waddling up to me and then stand there "talk, talk, talking" for a couple of minutes. Then they're done and they quit yelling and go do something else. They are so cute and entertaining! Mine are about 9 weeks old now.

 

[DeerRunFarm]

I have kept young geese in a chicken tractor, but not adults. Electronet is great for geese, and I've kept them in two-strand poly-wire with plastic step-in posts, though they'll occasionally get out if something spooks them, and it's by no means predator-proof.