Here is my experience with geese
In 2006 I got a hatchling pair in a Murray McMurray special 7 ducklings, 7 turkeys, 2 goslings. I brooded them together with no problems. I was lucky and they were a male and female, the male white chinese, the female brown chinese. They imprinted on me and I allowed them to go with me everywhere, even sometimes in the house. Because of this I was very very familiar with their behavior. About by the time they were almost feathered out the male tested me with a little aggressiveness. I DID NOT allow this. I am the boss of my flock and I make that very clear to all my animals. Now both geese are friendly to humans and WILL NOT bite.
The geese do not consider the non water fowl their flock. However, they spend most of their time in the pen/yard with the chickens and since getting them I have had all hawk, skunk, stray dog, coyote, cat, owl, and even snake problems disappear. They do not protect the chickens, they protect their space. They also honk at unknown cars.
I have not had any problems with aggression. But I made it clear to them that they are not to be aggressive to the flock. And anyone new is introduced to the gander. I am especially careful of new chicks with him. I carry them over to him to inspect and tell him he is to be nice to them. He normally inspects them very closely sometimes even nudging them, if he shows any signs of aggression I tell him "NO! Be nice!" and after he walks away he doesn't bother them from then on.
Requirements are basically the same. I make sure they have a baby pool to play in and plenty of grazing time. They can go in the coop if they want but unless it's super cold they prefer to sleep out side.
Interesting side note. When I allowed both the goose and a hen to hatch some goslings the goose was a horrible mom and the gander took them over and was an awesome dad.
In 2006 I got a hatchling pair in a Murray McMurray special 7 ducklings, 7 turkeys, 2 goslings. I brooded them together with no problems. I was lucky and they were a male and female, the male white chinese, the female brown chinese. They imprinted on me and I allowed them to go with me everywhere, even sometimes in the house. Because of this I was very very familiar with their behavior. About by the time they were almost feathered out the male tested me with a little aggressiveness. I DID NOT allow this. I am the boss of my flock and I make that very clear to all my animals. Now both geese are friendly to humans and WILL NOT bite.
The geese do not consider the non water fowl their flock. However, they spend most of their time in the pen/yard with the chickens and since getting them I have had all hawk, skunk, stray dog, coyote, cat, owl, and even snake problems disappear. They do not protect the chickens, they protect their space. They also honk at unknown cars.
I have not had any problems with aggression. But I made it clear to them that they are not to be aggressive to the flock. And anyone new is introduced to the gander. I am especially careful of new chicks with him. I carry them over to him to inspect and tell him he is to be nice to them. He normally inspects them very closely sometimes even nudging them, if he shows any signs of aggression I tell him "NO! Be nice!" and after he walks away he doesn't bother them from then on.
Requirements are basically the same. I make sure they have a baby pool to play in and plenty of grazing time. They can go in the coop if they want but unless it's super cold they prefer to sleep out side.
Interesting side note. When I allowed both the goose and a hen to hatch some goslings the goose was a horrible mom and the gander took them over and was an awesome dad.
I don't have ducks anymore but I didn't have any trouble when I did. They did hang out with the ducks.
