Daytime pen size?

[Winisk]

I will be going away on weekend holidays occasionally now that summer is here and while I have my chicken coop/run set up to be self maintaining for a few days, my routine for my two new geese on these occasions has not been tested. Currently my geese free range near my home during the day and they return to a 10 X 4 nighttime pen for safety. They like it in there as they spend much of the day there too. I`m not comfortable keeping them penned in there for too long however. Or is that adequate for the short term? I could chance it and let the two of them do their thing without being caged in I suppose but that worries me too. I do have someone who can check in on my birds to collect eggs, water and such daily, however I am reluctant to put too many responsibilities on him. Ideally I will build a pen large and safe enough for them to live in. How large should a pen be for geese to be confined to for a couple of days while I am not home, nor my guard dog. I`m curious to hear what other folks do on holidays.

 

[CelticOaksFarm]

We don't travel, too many birds to expect someone else to care for them. I would say the larger the better. So go as big as you can. Maybe connect it to the nighttime secure pen so your egg collector can just open and close the door each morning and night.

 

[SummerChick]

I find myself not wanting to go away because I don't have a daytime pen yet. My boyfriend doesn't seem to understand this. He is the one who got me my first goose and didn't understand all the responsibility. I bought another gosling would have a companion...I take responsibility for them very seriously and have fallen in love with them, they are a part of me now!

 

[IslandChiks]

I would not worry about them at all if you are only going to be gone a couple of days. They can easily tolerate the night time pen for
that length of time as long as you have a large supply of food and water available for them. Expect to clean up a pile a poo when you
return.

 

[Winisk]

Thanks for the reassurance. I was hoping that was the case. I watched the pair most of the day and concluded they basically spend much of their time in their pen anyway aside from our walks to the pond and the grazing episodes. It was hot and they enjoyed the shade. I imagine they will not be happy about it just as a dog doesn`t like to be kenneled or left on a leash for too long but they get over it. I have plans to make a larger 10x12 protective habitat so my guilt doesn`t bother me so much for leaving them. Time and money being my obstacles at the moment.