Geese refusing to be re-housed at night

[Carla Dene]

I have two geese, an Embden and a Toulouse. I keep them in my greenhouse at night. The room they stay in is approx 12' by 6'. It is surrounded by windows. I have taken two panes out of a bottom window so the geese can go in and out as they please. The yard that is attached to the greenhouse is also about 12' by 6' and is fenced in. I let my geese out of the greenhouse area in the mornings at about 8am. They either stay with me in the back yard while I am working in the garden, etc., or, if I am not going to stay with them, I will put them into a different fenced yard that is much larger than the greenhouse yard. I put them back in the greenhouse yard every night at dusk. My problem is…my geese have decided that they do not want to be put in the larger fenced yard. They would rather remain in the open yard. I live on 5 acres that are surrounded by woods. I do not want them out of a fenced yard without me out there with them in case some predator tries to get them. It seems I have two choices. Keep them in the greenhouse yard, (that is attached to their greenhouse room), or figure out a way to "make" them go into the larger fenced yard! Is the 12'x6' fenced green house yard large enough for 2 geese to stay in most of the time, or, how can I make the geese go into the larger fenced yard?

 

[Percheron chick]

Only put their food out when you are herding then back into their enclosure. Mine will do anything for a head of lettuce. Your pens are fine for 2. Geese complain about everything. Ignore their protests.

 

[The goose girl]

Maybe spend some time with them in the larger fenced yard, so they get to know it and feel safe there.

 

[JedJackson]

You can lure them with food as suggested or just let them do what they want and leave them by the greenhouse. In which case they will probably change their minds and decide they want to go into the larger yard after all. Geese are like that.