Breeding pens for geese

[1goose2ducks]

so my geese just started mating today and I was wondering how I should make them a special pen. They live with my 9 ducks and the females are notorious for sneaking their eggs into a broody’s nest. (That’s why we have so many ducklings) I know that duck eggs hatch quicker than geese eggs so I don’t want the goose to abandon her eggs. We have a very large coop for the ducks and a medium sized one for our chickens so should I just section of an area for the geese or do they need something more special. Also my goose is a buff and the male is a Toulouse so nest box sizes??? Thank you ahead of time.

 

[Upper Brook House Farm]

I suggest wiring a large area round with their own coop/outbuilding. Geese don’t need and use nest boxes. Hope this helps.
James

so my geese just started mating today and I was wondering how I should make them a special pen. They live with my 9 ducks and the females are notorious for sneaking their eggs into a broody’s nest. (That’s why we have so many ducklings) I know that duck eggs hatch quicker than geese eggs so I don’t want the goose to abandon her eggs. We have a very large coop for the ducks and a medium sized one for our chickens so should I just section of an area for the geese or do they need something more special. Also my goose is a buff and the male is a Toulouse so nest box sizes??? Thank you ahead of time.

 

[sylviethecochin]

I suspect that when the time comes, you'll be able to tell the goose eggs from the duck eggs and simply remove them from the nest. Unless your pair is extremely overprotective of their nest, anyway.

 

[1goose2ducks]

Ok thanks

 

[Pyxis]

I keep mine in general population for breeding season, so they don't need a special pen. I do make them nesting boxes, which they use and love. I got the idea from another goose breeder who uses them.

Basically, it's a A-Frame structure made from plywood. Metzer Farms, the huge hatchery in California, uses the same boxes for their geese.

Here's a link to instructions from someone else who uses them:

https://byscottie.com/quick-goose-nesting-boxes/

Then I just put a lot of hay in and around the boxes and they build their nests how they want them

You'll definitely have no trouble telling the goose eggs from the duck eggs - the goose eggs are much larger. So you'll be able to remove the duck eggs. You'd probably want to do that when the goose is having her daily walk around to eat, drink, and swim, so that she doesn't bite the heck out of you while you try to pull eggs out from underneath her.

Here's two of my geese using one:

Only the white one was brooding. The brown one was just visiting

 

[Miss Lydia]

How precious

 

[1goose2ducks]

Wow beautiful geese I will definitely build that for mine thanks for the link. I was wondering if they will start laying eggs sooner because they have been mating or will they still wait till spring.

 

[Miss Lydia]

Breeding season for geese can usually start in Jan through Feb and egg laying usually starts soon after. Depends on where your located I reckon. I am in mid south in the mountains my geese begin mating in mid Feb. By late May breeding season is over for the year.