Geese Housing

[bantams galore]

Yes, I did a search first, but I didn't find what I was looking for. I am purchasing a trio of Pilgrim Geese in the spring. They will only be goslings. However, I want to make sure that I have all the things I need for them by the time they grow up.

I need to keep these geese confined. I live in Canada, so we have real winter. I am looking for some ideas on how to confine them. I basicly need a house with a run area. I am hoping to learn how large a building and exercise area they need for the winter and nights. Any ideas, pictures any help appreciated.

 

[Miss Lydia]

Yes, I did a search first, but I didn't find what I was looking for. I am purchasing a trio of Pilgrim Geese in the spring. They will only be goslings. However, I want to make sure that I have all the things I need for them by the time they grow up.

I need to keep these geese confined. I live in Canada, so we have real winter. I am looking for some ideas on how to confine them. I basicly need a house with a run area. I am hoping to learn how large a building and exercise area they need for the winter and nights. Any ideas, pictures any help appreciated.

I have 4 geese inside this house

they have access to an half acre fenced in property so can't help with pen. 54"wide by 77"long I have 2 Toulouse 1 Buff and a large Embden gander,That sleep inside this house nightly.

 

[bantams galore]

Does anyone keep their geese inside for the winter? or inside, and letting them out sometimes? Does anyone have any good plans for a hay rack for geese?

 

[Miss Lydia]

Does anyone keep their geese inside for the winter? or inside, and letting them out sometimes? Does anyone have any good plans for a hay rack for geese?

I don't keep mine in during the day I open their door and leave it open so they have access to their house all they want but the don't go inside till i lock them up in the evening. I'd think if I lived in northern states where there are blizzards I'd probably keep them in on those days, but geese are very hardy and as long as they have a choice of getting inside if they want I'd say they do pretty well in all kinds of weather.

I made my own holder for the bale of hay using plastic fencing like this except it is the dark green I laid it out on the ground laid the bale of hay in it then cut and used tie wraps to close it up all around like you'd wrap a present. works great.I hung it under the wood shed to keep it dry.

 

[Miss Lydia]

for some reason the pic wouldn't come up on the post I just did. I bought the fencing at Lowes

 

[Skytopz]

I live in NH with plenty of predators - foxes, coyotes, owls, bears, raccoons, etc. so i had to put a lot of thought into my goose enclosure. This is my current goose house (the green house on the right, left is for the chickens). It's a 20x20 fenced in area with a 4x8 shed that i lock them in at night. the fence is 5' tall with two strands of electric wire on top and aviary netting over the whole thing (to keep owls out). I also dug the fence down to prevent digging. This winter I've confined them to that area alone, but during the summer I used electric netting to provide a secure grazing area - approx. 60'x100'. I really wanted an area that i could leave them in if i went on vacation, etc., knowing that they would be safe. I hope this helps - I know i went a bit overkill but couldn't help it - I've really grown to love these guys and would be heartbroken if anything happened.

 

[Miss Lydia]

I live in NH with plenty of predators - foxes, coyotes, owls, bears, raccoons, etc. so i had to put a lot of thought into my goose enclosure. This is my current goose house (the green house on the right, left is for the chickens). It's a 20x20 fenced in area with a 4x8 shed that i lock them in at night. the fence is 5' tall with two strands of electric wire on top and aviary netting over the whole thing (to keep owls out). I also dug the fence down to prevent digging. This winter I've confined them to that area alone, but during the summer I used electric netting to provide a secure grazing area - approx. 60'x100'. I really wanted an area that i could leave them in if i went on vacation, etc., knowing that they would be safe. I hope this helps - I know i went a bit overkill but couldn't help it - I've really grown to love these guys and would be heartbroken if anything happened.

You did a great job and I really don't think there is over kill when protecting our flocks, I still don't know if I could go on vacation even with all you've done. lol I am really obsessed. Lovely geese and
Welcome to BYC.

 

[bantams galore]

Thank-you all for the ideas and pictures. I like the hay rack idea, a place to put the whole bale. I hadn't even thought about that. I was thinking about filling it daily.

I like the idea of the 20X20 pen. I will have to give that some thought. I was thinking green house hoops, wit welded wire on the bottom of the hoops and netting over the top, but don't know where to get the hoops, so I like the thought of the pen. I see three geese in the picture, so You only run a trio too?

You are giving me lots to think about.

 

[bantams galore]

Do your geese nest, set and raise their own young?

 

[Miss Lydia]

Do your geese nest, set and raise their own young?

My goose has brooded 2 yrs in a row, but this past year she actually had one egg get to hatch and it died in the shell. So sad. But We went and got 2 day old goslings and her and my gander adopted them both. They are now 6 months old now my gander is 7.5 yrs old and I am beginning to wonder about his fertility.
They are wonderful broody's and awesome parents. The whole flock of geese cares for the goslings.