Getting ready for geese!

[SpicyDill]

I've been doing chickens and turkeys for years, but my oldest kiddo has been begging for a goose of his own next year, and I think it would be good for him. That said, I don't have a ton of experience with geese. I've browsed through the stickied topics (helpful - thanks!) but I'm wondering if anyone has any tips for helping a young boy bond with a goose. He has his heart set on hatching them himself in our incubator. The incubator will fit turkey eggs -- so will goose eggs fit? On the note of hatching eggs, is there a good source for them? I only found one hatchery that sells hatching eggs, and the minimum order is well beyond our incubator capacity and won't allow us to choose the breeds sent (which is important because we live in Alaska and are not equipped to deal with breeds that aren't cold hardy).

We're thinking that Buffs would probably be the best starter geese. They're hardy and have a reputation for being gentle and even-tempered.

Thank you in advance for any input you can provide.

 

[casportpony]

What incubator do you have?

 

[SpicyDill]

It's an HHD, with adjustable egg turners. Nothing fancy, but it works. It's rated for everything from quail to turkey eggs. I've admittedly never actually seen a goose egg in person, so I'm not sure how it compares to the size of turkeys'.

 

[casportpony]

Can you post a picture of it?

 

[SpicyDill]

Returning to the site I purchased it from, it seems I answered my own question re: will they fit. It states that it will indeed fit a few goose eggs. That's a relief! But here's a picture of it, anyway, for the curious.

 

[Leader Bee]

Geese, not goose, they need members of their own species so please consider two.

 

[SpicyDill]

Geese, not goose, they need members of their own species so please consider two.

Sorry, I was unclear! I fully intend to keep at least two, but one will be "his" goose and if possible, I am hoping to get it to bond more closely with him. (One of the things I'm awkwardly trying to inquire about.)

 

[Leader Bee]

I just spent lots of time with mine, if he isn't at school he should be with his goose as much as possible

It should understand he is it's provider so make sure he is the one that puts his gooses food out, talk to it lots, they're flock animals and feel safe with familiar noises... predators are sneaky and quiet so don't be quiet around your goose...it doesn't matter much what you say to it

Let him put the goose to bed - I always say " night night, bedtime" before switching off the light and leaving - he needs to do everything with his goose, even spend some time sat out in the grass with it just chilling out

 

[SpicyDill]

I just spent lots of time with mine, if he isn't at school he should be with his goose as much as possible

He'll be homeschooling, so no problems there! Does the gender matter at all? Should I avoid having a mixed-sex/mated pair? I know they can sometimes get grouchy during breeding season.

 

[Leader Bee]

I have two males, I was advised by the breeder that this is probably best for a "pet" situation as they're less likely to become agressive at breeding season...female/male as I understand it the gander can become super protective during breeding season, hes not being horrible, it's just in their nature to protect their families