Considering geese

[oldhenlikesdogs]

I'm considering adding geese to my hobby farm. Can they be kept in a large shed with other critters? Do they hang around or are they prone to wandering off? Please help educate me on geese. I have zero knowledge currently, but hope to learn all quickly.

 

[HuffleClaw]

@Table4Six @SniperGoose

 

[Table4Six]

I currently own two pairs of white Chinese geese. They are free-ranged 24/7 and take refuge on our small lake at night to avoid predators. Mine never wander off the property(3 acres not including lake space). I think this could also depend on breed, some varieties may be more prone to extensive foraging/wandering. They can certainly be housed in a large, predator-safe shed, but it depends on what other animals you plan on keeping them with. I wouldn't recommend housing them with chickens, although the two can interact peacefully while free-ranged. Geese can be successfully kept with ducks, however, there is a high chance that a drake and gander would not get along. Is there a specific breed you are interested in? Keep us posted and good luck.

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

I was looking at the American buff. My large 40x40 shed houses chickens, muscovy, goats, and donkeys.

No one is confined, and there's a few area birds can go to get away from each other. I was thinking of trying 4-6. I probably couldn't add them currently if they couldn't get along within reason with other poultry. I currently have 3 muscovy drakes, a bunch of hens and around 75 chickens in that shed.

I have no experience with geese except running in terror from them as a kid.

 

[SniperGoose]

That's quite a big shed, but I feel that geese wouldn't be too happy having all those other animals around them in an enclosed area. They'd probably need their own private area to be housed in at night. I have 2 Toulouse geese that I keep in the same 1 acre enclosure with my 8 chickens and 2 ducks (Pekin drakes) during the day. However, at night I put the geese in their own coop away from the others. I can't say I'd recommend keeping them all in the same area at night. Of course, it depends on the goose and all, but I know for a fact mine would not tolerate my ducks or chickens being around them in a more confined area. Geese like their own personal space. When they're in their outdoor enclosure during the day, they don't bother the chickens or ducks, unless they get in their personal space. Then they'll give a little nip (not an all out attack or anything, just a warning) to the chicken/duck in question. I'm happy to say that my geese have never actually injured my other birds, and vice versa.
Now you might be thinking my Pekin drakes would be a problem, given I have a gander too. Actually, not a problem at all. My gander is terrified of these little 3lb ducks and runs from them in fear lol. Yet the gander will try and take on a full grown person if he's not happy with them.. That's goose logic for you

I've never free-ranged my Toulouse geese. However, I did free-range my Canadian geese back when I had them. They pretty much knew this was their home and never left the area. Of course, they did have a large pond and stream to help keep them around too. They were also very heavily imprinted on when they were babies, so they just had to stay nearby to see when their people would come out of the house! I'm sure some geese will stay around, and some won't. Just depends on the individual.

Whichever breed you decide to go with, I'd advise getting goslings and really really imprinting on them. Also try and get them used to the other animals they would be around. Mine grew up around my chickens, and therefore didn't have an issue being in the same enclosure with them during the day. Hope this helps!

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

Thanks you. That does give me some stuff to think about. My chickens and muscovy ducks go back and forth on occasion with goosing each other. I have read muscovy act more like geese than mallard based ducks, so maybe their behavior in a mixed species shed would be similar.

Can geese get over fences? Or are they more grounded? Do they sleep on the ground?

What ratio are geese kept at as far as Hen to gander? One to one? Or multiple hens to a gander?

I may be able to arrange a separate goose area down the road after a few older goats go. I plan to stop keeping goats after my current batch all go.

 

[CindyinSD]

Geese sleep on the ground. If they’re going to be with the flock during the day, I don’t think they need a huge shelter. Smaller is cozier as long as it’s not TOO small. (And unless they’ll be confined all winter, more or less.) I’ve been reading Dave Holderread’s “The Book of Geese.” You can get it from Meyer Hatchery or from his own website, and I’m very glad I bought it.

I’ll be getting a gander and three geese in May, American Buff. As you may have read, they’re mid-sized and reputedly gentle and calm. Hopefully this will bear out, but if not, there’s always the roasting pan. Good luck to us both, and do get the book. You won’t regret it.

 

[SniperGoose]

Given Muscovy ducks are much closer to the size of a goose than my little Pekin boys, that may cause issues if you end up with a gander. Can't say for sure though. Definitely something to keep in mind. Usually if there's enough space, and the birds aren't cramped together, there should be less fights between the boys. If there are fights, and they get pretty bad, I'd separate them so no one would get hurt.

Oh yes they can! My female, Sniper has recently figured out that she can get over the fence by going up the chicken coop ramp, jumping up into the chicken coop, and flying out that way. This has happened multiple times, and I've had to make the fence in that area higher so she can't do that anymore. That can easily be fixed by clipping their wings though. I just choose not to do that with mine if I don't have to. My gander can get out too, but he only does so if Sniper gets out first lol. Heavier breeds can't fly too far, whereas smaller breeds can.
They'll take a nap on the ground if they're in the enclosure sometimes. They just have some straw in their coop that they sleep on at night.

This I'm not too sure of, since I've only ever had pairs of geese. I had a male and a female Canadian goose pair, and right now I have a male and female Toulouse goose pair. I'd recommend 2-3 hens for a heavyweight breed of gander (for example, Toulouse), but you could go up to 5 for a lighter breed.

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

Geese sleep on the ground. If they’re going to be with the flock during the day, I don’t think they need a huge shelter. Smaller is cozier as long as it’s not TOO small. (And unless they’ll be confined all winter, more or less.) I’ve been reading Dave Holderread’s “The Book of Geese.” You can get it from Meyer Hatchery or from his own website, and I’m very glad I bought it.

I’ll be getting a gander and three geese in May, American Buff. As you may have read, they’re mid-sized and reputedly gentle and calm. Hopefully this will bear out, but if not, there’s always the roasting pan. Good luck to us both, and do get the book. You won’t regret it.

Thanks, I always love a good reference book. I will try to get it.

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

Given Muscovy ducks are much closer to the size of a goose than my little Pekin boys, that may cause issues if you end up with a gander. Can't say for sure though. Definitely something to keep in mind. Usually if there's enough space, and the birds aren't cramped together, there should be less fights between the boys. If there are fights, and they get pretty bad, I'd separate them so no one would get hurt.

Oh yes they can! My female, Sniper has recently figured out that she can get over the fence by going up the chicken coop ramp, jumping up into the chicken coop, and flying out that way. This has happened multiple times, and I've had to make the fence in that area higher so she can't do that anymore. That can easily be fixed by clipping their wings though. I just choose not to do that with mine if I don't have to. My gander can get out too, but he only does so if Sniper gets out first lol. Heavier breeds can't fly too far, whereas smaller breeds can.
They'll take a nap on the ground if they're in the enclosure sometimes. They just have some straw in their coop that they sleep on at night.

This I'm not too sure of, since I've only ever had pairs of geese. I had a male and a female Canadian goose pair, and right now I have a male and female Toulouse goose pair. I'd recommend 2-3 hens for a heavyweight breed of gander (for example, Toulouse), but you could go up to 5 for a lighter breed.

I'm thinking maybe it's best for me to try a pair or trio first and see how it goes. Definitely lots to think about.