Free Range Geese?

[Daisy9696]

Can my geese and ducks be free range? Won't they fly? If I order from a hatchery will they clip wings?

 

[CelticOaksFarm]

YES they can free range (avoid ornamental ducks(wood, mandarin ring teal ect and bantam ducks like call and bei)

MOST domestic ducks cant fly.............many domestic geese cant fly.................no a hatchery wont clip their wings for you. You can not clip wing feathers on a newly hatched duckling or goslings as they only have down, no feathers.

Geese need to free range on pasture of some sort and graze for 90% of their diet to be healthy.

 

[Daisy9696]

Ok! I was just making sure!

 

[conny63malies]

I know that Ideal Hatchery will dewing theirs on request. I would call them and see what they mean with dewing. I hope they only cut the first joint to render them flightless

 

[Poultry Couture]

All of our hand raised ducks and geese free-range! They love it!

Like Celtic said! Geese love grass!

Our geese and ducks fly, but won't go anywhere. They might circle around our house and come back, but other than that they should be fine. I wouldn't worry. I would think our geese couldn't fly.... Their fat!

 

[1MrsMagoo]

My ducks and geese free range daily from the time it is fully light till right before dusk. While it is dark/night, they are all locked up in predator proof housing (I do not put food or water in overnight with them...they make a mess). As Celtic said, they need pasture during the day, clean water to drink, and enough water to bathe in as well (not necessarily a pond...lots use small tubs or kiddie pools).

Only a few of my birds can fly a little (19 ducks and 16 geese). The best flyer on the property is Harriet, my 9 month old Toulouse goose: She can get 10 feet off the ground and fly several hundred feet. She has never left our property and prefers to stay with the flock she was raised with.

If you live in an area that gets a lot of winter snow and the grass dies, you will need to provide the geese with some sort of replacement: Many have been discussed on an older thread that can be found here....https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/690124/drought-has-dried-up-all-my-grass-what-are-you-feeding

If you live more Southward (TX, LA, MS, AL, southern GA, FL...to name a few) you can grow annual rye grass during the winter for the geese. I throw in a few pounds of clover, alfalfa, chicory, and some oats and wheat seed too.

Good luck!

 

[Poultry Couture]

-thumbs up!-

Anyone seen the movie " Fly Away Home?"

 

[Daisy9696]

Love that movie!

 

[Poultry Couture]

Watched it for the first time a week ago.... Cried at least 7 times! I'm such a baby!

I especially cried when she hit " igor!"

 

[Miss Lydia]

That was such a great movie, okay now I'm going to have to watch it again.

been awhile.