Getting geese for first time in spring

[Nodaksnakelover]

two years ago when I raised a group of geese, I noticed one gander was head gander and did all the mating attempts. So, yes you can have several ganders, they could fight here and there, but not to the extent chickens do. But if you want to raise pure breeds, I'd separate them by breed. You COULD have them bonded to each other, but that won't prevent a goose from accepting matings from other ganders in a mixed flock. It probably isn't very high an incidence rate, but it can happen when being kept in a group. But that might not trouble you if you can recognize the crossed babies and have an outlet for them in the fall.

 

[KayElle]

Ok great. I don’t intend to do any specialized breeding... if they produce babies then yay! I basically want some because I love my chickens (too much) and want to add a different type of bird. I tried guineas but they ran away! I figure a small amount of geese will be easier to handle, plus I just love them when we visit local farms. We have a large piece of land and lots of grassy areas for them to walk about. I’m slowly learning what will work best; and am finding they’re a lot diffeeent than chickens, perhaps easier?

 

[Miss Lydia]

Just remember they need protection too just because they are big doesn't mean they can hold their own against a predator with teeth even a mink or weasel can kill a goose. And they are all bluff they can try to fend off a predator with their wings and they can bite but they still can't defend themselves against a real predator.

I love my 2 geese I have an Embden who will be 11 yrs old this coming April he was hatched here. And his mate Who is Toulouse she will be 6 in April. The only problems I have out of them is during breeding season the gander Sammy gets so hateful he wants to get me and fights with my Muscovy drake so things get pretty interesting here come late Jan thru May each year, They rarely mess with the chickens unless they get too close then they just lower their heads and the chickens know to stay away.

They make awesome parents nothing more precious than watching mom and dad goose with lil ones in tow. The gander takes as much of an interest in his kids as does the goose.

Enjoy your new adventure.

 

[Welshies]

Waterfowl are SUPER wet. SUPER wet. Just so you know.

 

[KayElle]

We have an English mastiff, we are used to slop

 

[Welshies]

We have an English mastiff, we are used to slop

Haha, maybe so. However, waterfowl do need water to eat. They'll dribble food and water back and forth and make mud just to play in it. But they are very hardy and ducks are very happy, geese should be too.

 

[Nodaksnakelover]

I find geese to be far less messy than ducks, and hardier than chicks to raise. But I agree with the above post, yes they may make noise, and posture, and flap their wings at a predator. But if the predator isn't bluffed, it's a dead goose! I did feel the goose flock kept the avian predators away. But it didn't keep the fox away that took my flock of 48 chickens down to 16 in just four days! But the geese were untouched.

 

[Percheron chick]

GeeseMake a fraction of the mess and mud of ducks.

 

[Miss Lydia]

Yep geese actually seem to have manners compared to my Runners boy they are slobs good thing I love them bunches. Of all my ducks Muscovy's and Buffs the Runners take the messy slobby trophy

 

[Pyxis]

Yeah, geese are much less messy with water than ducks are. While ducklings always manage to soak their brooder within a few days no matter what waterer I use, geese almost never do. And as adults they aren't out making mud and slopping water everywhere like ducks do.