Few Questions about my new Embden Geese!

[JenniferPJRT]

Hi everyone, I'm a new owner of two Embden Geese. We've never had geese before, but are enjoying these two very much. I had a few questions about some behavior I'm seeing from them and a few 'care' questions - we want to make sure we do everything right by them!
1. They are supposed to be two females (sisters), but I'm pretty sure one is a male. They are 8 months old and one is much larger - s(he) also always holds her (his) neck above the smaller goose, has a much higher-pitched voice than hers, and walks very upright compared to the smaller goose. I've seen him pin her to the ground a few times as well (she doesn't mind.) He's also acting very protective of her - hissing at us when we get to close to her, always putting his neck over hers, etc. I don't care if he really is a male, but I'm just curious if it sounds like he truly is a male.
2. Assuming he is a male, should we get a few more female geese? I don't want goslings - but I was hoping the two we had were both females as I'd like eggs. Would he be happy with more females? If so, any breeds that you'd recommend to fit in nicely with Embdens? (I'm nervous to get more Embden in case we get another male - I've heard you should only have one male.) I'd ideally like two or three more female geese.
3. They are housed with our two horses and two donkeys in a 2-acre field. They have access to three large rubber-matted stalls with shavings / straw for bedding but they all come in and out as they please. The geese are fully-fledged members of the equine herd (they eat hay together, etc.) it's quite cute. I bought them a small outdoor igloo-type doghouse that they can go in to keep their eggs safe from being stepped on by the horses, but I've yet to see them go in. Anything I can do to help them 'choose' a safe play to lay eggs so they don't get crushed by the equines?
4. We feed them the layer crumbles plus some cracked corn twice a day, as much as they will eat. We also give fresh veggies twice a day (kale, cabbage, dandelion greens, romaine / Greenleaf lettuce, etc.) Is this an appropriate diet for them?

Is there anything else you can recommend to give them the best life possible? Thanks in advance - they are such cool animals!

 

[BarredBuff]

Hi everyone, I'm a new owner of two Embden Geese. We've never had geese before, but are enjoying these two very much. I had a few questions about some behavior I'm seeing from them and a few 'care' questions - we want to make sure we do everything right by them!
1. They are supposed to be two females (sisters), but I'm pretty sure one is a male. They are 8 months old and one is much larger - s(he) also always holds her (his) neck above the smaller goose, has a much higher-pitched voice than hers, and walks very upright compared to the smaller goose. I've seen him pin her to the ground a few times as well (she doesn't mind.) He's also acting very protective of her - hissing at us when we get to close to her, always putting his neck over hers, etc. I don't care if he really is a male, but I'm just curious if it sounds like he truly is a male.
2. Assuming he is a male, should we get a few more female geese? I don't want goslings - but I was hoping the two we had were both females as I'd like eggs. Would he be happy with more females? If so, any breeds that you'd recommend to fit in nicely with Embdens? (I'm nervous to get more Embden in case we get another male - I've heard you should only have one male.) I'd ideally like two or three more female geese.
3. They are housed with our two horses and two donkeys in a 2-acre field. They have access to three large rubber-matted stalls with shavings / straw for bedding but they all come in and out as they please. The geese are fully-fledged members of the equine herd (they eat hay together, etc.) it's quite cute. I bought them a small outdoor igloo-type doghouse that they can go in to keep their eggs safe from being stepped on by the horses, but I've yet to see them go in. Anything I can do to help them 'choose' a safe play to lay eggs so they don't get crushed by the equines?
4. We feed them the layer crumbles plus some cracked corn twice a day, as much as they will eat. We also give fresh veggies twice a day (kale, cabbage, dandelion greens, romaine / Greenleaf lettuce, etc.) Is this an appropriate diet for them?

Is there anything else you can recommend to give them the best life possible? Thanks in advance - they are such cool animals!

First,

1. He sounds like a male to me (I'd almost bet on it), and Geese mate for life. So she is bonded to him and vice versa.
2. As far as getting more geese, I would let her brood a clutch and keep the females she has. That way they will easily mesh into the pecking order. He will help parent them, and both will be VERY protective.
3. As far as housing, you may want to move them during egg time. Geese become very protective over their mates, eggs, nests, and anything will aggravate them during Spring mating season. I'd make an effort to give her and him a private place to lay eggs or raise a clutch.
4. Doing great on the diet!!

You may want to provide a place to swim for them (a kiddie pool works wonders) and they will love you for it. It makes them look so clean and pretty. Good luck with your geese!

 

[RURU]

Hi everyone, I'm a new owner of two Embden Geese. We've never had geese before, but are enjoying these two very much. I had a few questions about some behavior I'm seeing from them and a few 'care' questions - we want to make sure we do everything right by them!
1. They are supposed to be two females (sisters), but I'm pretty sure one is a male. They are 8 months old and one is much larger - s(he) also always holds her (his) neck above the smaller goose, has a much higher-pitched voice than hers, and walks very upright compared to the smaller goose. I've seen him pin her to the ground a few times as well (she doesn't mind.) He's also acting very protective of her - hissing at us when we get to close to her, always putting his neck over hers, etc. I don't care if he really is a male, but I'm just curious if it sounds like he truly is a male.

The one with holding the neck up high and has a higher voice is a gander. I do not own Embden's but goose care is pretty much alike. The mounting her is practice for breeding and saying you are mine. Males are very protective of females and more so going into breeding season.

2. Assuming he is a male, should we get a few more female geese? I don't want goslings - but I was hoping the two we had were both females as I'd like eggs. Would he be happy with more females? If so, any breeds that you'd recommend to fit in nicely with Embdens? (I'm nervous to get more Embden in case we get another male - I've heard you should only have one male.) I'd ideally like two or three more female geese.
Geese are seasonal layers in the Spring so if you want more eggs a couple more girls would not hurt. A gander can service only 2 females and be fertile if too many he will not breed them all and maybe that is what you might want. It is up to the person on what they want.
There are people on here with Toulouse they keep with embdens.

3. They are housed with our two horses and two donkeys in a 2-acre field. They have access to three large rubber-matted stalls with shavings / straw for bedding but they all come in and out as they please. The geese are fully-fledged members of the equine herd (they eat hay together, etc.) it's quite cute. I bought them a small outdoor igloo-type doghouse that they can go in to keep their eggs safe from being stepped on by the horses, but I've yet to see them go in. Anything I can do to help them 'choose' a safe play to lay eggs so they don't get crushed by the equines?

Do you have an enclosuer to lock them in at night so no predators can get them and kill them? You need to provide them with a safe enclosure. The dog igloo are great to put in a predator proof enclosure.

4. We feed them the layer crumbles plus some cracked corn twice a day, as much as they will eat. We also give fresh veggies twice a day (kale, cabbage, dandelion greens, romaine / Greenleaf lettuce, etc.) Is this an appropriate diet for them?

An all flock fed would be what you feed right now the layer pellets can be added at breeding time. I do not feed corn only left overs from our dinner as a treat. I use 50% all flock feed and 50% cleaned whole oats. Plus the romaine, celery and so many other greens, as well apples, grapes red or green, watermelon, there are many things they like... Others will jump in and tell you more.

Is there anything else you can recommend to give them the best life possible? Thanks in advance - they are such cool animals!

Make sure you let them know you are the head goose! Do not run from them go towards them with your wings, arms out. Greet them with the goose greeting head down and sweet soft talking. Make sure they have plenty of fresh clean water to drink and a pool fill with fresh water daily This helps them keep clean and in healthy condition. Make sure the drinking water is deep enough to clean the nostrils. They love clean fresh water to drink or play in. Mud puddles are real fun too!
Hope I have helped you just a bit. And

 

[JenniferPJRT]

Thanks guys for the replies!!

We have a woven wire fencing that is 4' high and goes down to the ground with cedar rails and electric tape top and bottom. We breed and raise working Jack Russell Terriers, so we have the fence 'terrier proofed' so they (or any other type of predator) can't get in to the geese! They have 24/7 turnout with the two guardian donkeys and two horses. We've had the geese for three months now and hear coyotes howling every night (and have heard them since we moved to this farm) but so far none have tried to get into the fence (if they even tried, the donks would do their job protecting everyone for sure!)

Right now I have heated buckets down low enough for them with water - they enjoy bathing themselves and splashing around. I already have two kiddie pools for them to have in the Spring / Summer / Fall. Right now (we're just outside of Boston) we have a ton of snow & ice - they are keeping themselves very clean in taking snow baths!

I will pick up some of the different feed as well. I've found that they LOVE apples as a treat - sweet potato peels as well.

I'll try to figure out something to provide them with a different area for egg laying......I really didn't want goslings (especially as now it seems like they are brother & sister - instead of the sisters I was told they were) and I mainly got them for fresh eggs. Both geese seem to get upset when they can't get to the horses - they really are part of the herd and like to stay together........when can I expect the egg production to start? They are 8 months old.

I'm really attached to them already - even though the male does try to go after us sometimes. We're staying very consistent with chasing him off when he tries to be assertive.

Really appreciate all the help! Here they are with 'their' herd

Esther & Effie (now that we know Esther - the one on the left - is a male, we'll have to change his name to Esteban LOL!)

 

[RURU]

Very nice pictures of the group together... Is that one donkey pregnant or just very well fed?

 

[servpolice]

Haha i was looking at that donkey too haha

 

[Miss Lydia]

Very nice pictures of the group together... Is that one donkey pregnant or just very well fed?

Might be twins.