Ducks or Geese?

[Horsebackrules]

I'm really torn between which to get. Maybe I can convince my mom to let me get one of each. Both gave their own pros and cons and pretty much equal out. But as you said, geese need to be trained like a dog does or they could hurt you. I know how to work with dogs though. Like I said, I really just want an affectionate companion! I've noticed that I want so many pets hoping that they'll live up to the affection a dog will show. Especially since my dog doesn't care for me as much as she does for the rest of the family.

 

[Amykins]

A single duck and a single goose aren't likely to get along - case in point, hehe!

Although maybe if they're raised together from babies it's okay? I've never done it so I dunno. I still vote for Team Duck, since if you've never had either, they're a bit easier to care for, aren't as susceptible to angel wing, and their poops are a lot smaller! I do adore geese, though, especially captive-bred Canadian geese. They're hard to find, but real sweeties!

 

[Horsebackrules]

I think they'd be fine if they were raised together. Just to get them to imprint on me, I would love to hatch the eggs. But there are some problems I find with this.

1) I have no idea what gender I'd get and I do not want to deal with mating
2) I only want 2 ducklings/goslings and I'd probably end up with one or both eggs not hatching
3) I'd have to buy an incubator but I'd only use it once.

 

[Amykins]

You CAN buy day-old ducklings but they're more expensive, harder to find, and not a guarantee that they'll imprint on you. What I would do is to go ahead and splurge on the incubator (mine only cost $90 and it's one of the best, a small price to pay for safe hatches), get three eggs, and then hope at least two hatch. And who knows, you may wind up with one or all three. But at least that would give you good odds of having two. I have call ducks, which are notoriously hard to hatch, and even I had all three make it to pip, although sadly I lost one in the egg due to a severe deformity. :/

Besides, hatching is VERY addictive and you may find yourself using that bator again down the line!

 

[Horsebackrules]

I'd love to hatch them but there is still the problem of getting a hen and a drake. The drake would need more than one female so I'd either have to buy more or get rid of one. And I get very attached to animals so it would kill me to sell one.

 

[andreacroyle]

Maybe something on this thread will help you make up your mind. Water fowl are nice pets regardless of what kind you get. I agree with Amy. If you got one goose and one duck that were for certain imprinted then maybe it will work but its better to have two of the same breed.

I didnt read every single post but the last one i read makes me wonder if maybe you should think about getting a different animal. If you want something to bond with you and give you affection similar to a dog maybe you should get a dog. Little dogs bond with their humans and are absolutely devoted to them. I have 4 small dogs and 2 large breeds. Large dogs also bond with you, but little dogs are very needy, they follow you around and have to be with you. My experience is limited to chihuahuas, shih tzu and min pins. In order for the waterfowl to bond with you,it is going to take a lot of hours and dedication each day. It sounds like you are younger. You will have tests, friends events...what ever teenagers do now a days. All animals take a bunch of time and dedication but i have realized that the ducks seems to take more time to keep them trusting us. My dogs love me and follow me around regardless if i hold them everyday.

Once again just my experience, someone else might have a completely different opinion because their experience is different.

I still say to talk to your mom and you guys try and look up a local breeder/farm so you can go there together and see how the waterfowl act in their comfortable environment.

For example, i have always wanted rouen ducks, they are bred to be pets and supposed to be very personable. I went to a farm to buy some geese and they happen to have rouens there, they were so loud that i could never have them at my house, (the irony is that I did buy geese and they can sound like train horns if they want to! My new gander hasnt honked yet and i have had him for 3 days. I also have him outside with 3 muscovy ducks and 1 young drake. they are all less than 6 months. I have a special needs pilgrim goose that stays inside with us. She is the most affectionate bird i have ever met! I hope that one day she and our new gander will like each other and she will want to stay outside because right now she takes 24/7 care.)

I have read so many posts that say rouens arent very loud and how wonderful they are, but all it took is for me to hear how loud they were (for no reason, they were just standing around quacking) to make up my mind.

https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/561849/geese-training

Facebook has some awesome pages of people dedicated to their pet birds.
here are some links

https://www.facebook.com/groups/positivelyfowl/
https://www.facebook.com/groups/geesegoosegander/
https://www.facebook.com/groups/muscovyducks/
https://www.facebook.com/groups/436039083171375/
https://www.facebook.com/groups/388169774565866/

 

[Horsebackrules]

I actually do have a little dog and she doesn't care for me as much as the rest of the family, even though I spend the most time with her. That's why I want waterfowl. I am willing to put in the time to make them friendly. If I need to study I'll do it with them close to me. I just really don't want to end up with an animal that doesn't pay me any attention.

 

[Amykins]

I actually do have a little dog and she doesn't care for me as much as the rest of the family, even though I spend the most time with her. That's why I want waterfowl. I am willing to put in the time to make them friendly. If I need to study I'll do it with them close to me. I just really don't want to end up with an animal that doesn't pay me any attention.

I think the issue Andrea is trying to highlight is, ducks and geese require a LOT of time and energy. If you only have one or two, they will need constant attention and supervision or they'll get lonely and depressed. Even if you have a small flock that can keep one another occupied, they still need massive amounts of time to keep their pens clean and their lives enriched. If you're still in high school, there's just no way you can put in the time necessary to give them everything they need.

If you're determined and your parents give you their blessing, and you're 100% convinced that you won't get bored with them, I say go for it, but if you don't get the results you want I fear for the outcome for both you and your birds. Keep in mind, ducks can live over 10 years, and geese, up to 30 years. That's at least a decade of nonstop attention, care and commitment. And even if you can provide that in spades, what will happen to them once you go off to college? If they're bonded to you then it's unfair to just leave them behind with people they aren't close to who won't give them the attention you did.

Was the small dog your idea to get, or someone else's? I only ask since you say you put in the most attention to it even though it's bonded to other family members. If it was indeed you who wanted the dog but now wants another animal because you didn't get the affection you wanted out of it, that's another thing you must think about very, very carefully before deciding to get a new pet.

 

[Horsebackrules]

I am willing to put in the time to take care of them. I'm actually standing up to city hall to make it legal to own poultry. Their decision is supposed to be made on the 25. If your scared that I'm not taking care of my dog, don't worry about it. She still does like me, just not as much as the rest of the family. I still love her and take care of her. As for college, I'm going to a college near enough to me that I won't be staying in a dorm. I can still take care of them.

 

[andreacroyle]

I am willing to put in the time to take care of them. I'm actually standing up to city hall to make it legal to own poultry. Their decision is supposed to be made on the 25. If your scared that I'm not taking care of my dog, don't worry about it. She still does like me, just not as much as the rest of the family. I still love her and take care of her. As for college, I'm going to a college near enough to me that I won't be staying in a dorm. I can still take care of them.

I love Amy's reply and yes, said in better words than I can come up with =) (i dont communicate the best through typing)

I think you are making all the right choices, talking to your parents, making it legal in your city, considering everything and researching. waterfowl can be super fun pets if your willing to put in the time required. keep us updated on your decisions.