Gosling and Goose Tips and Stories

[Asha_Gail]

Hey yall! I'm getting a gosling pair come April and looking for any tips or tricks or little tidbits of knowledge anyone wants to share!

I've been doing a lot of research on the side but any little things are appreciated! Most large articles about raising geese often neglect little things so I'm looking to hear what its like raising them/having them! They're gonna be a pilgrim male/female pair, I'm getting them from Metzer. (Side note, but love Metzer. Have had great experiences with them.)

Anyways, looking for tips, stories, experiences, knowledge, etc etc. Lay it on me! Even if its a silly story lol

(featuring my silly graphic I made to prank my family and friends)

 

[Goosebaby]

Congratulations on making the decision to join the goose tribe!
Snuggle them, the more snuggles the better. Goslings are easy to bond with but once they become adults they perceive anyone who spends most of the day with them as their family but anyone who spends less time with them they can view as a potential nuisance or rival, this can make life interesting during breeding season, so everyone in the household should make a point to bond and maintain a bond with the geese.

 

[jwcarlson]

We got geese from Metzer last year. They're very fun. Ours are... friendly, but a bit standoffish. They're not particularly mean, however. We have two geese and a gander, it's mostly love nibbles. One of the geese is sitting a nest now for the last few days and the gander doesn't seem to care if I'm over by her. She's so sweet she does very gentle love nibbles only even when she's sitting eggs.

The gander will occasionally grab my pant leg or follow me very closely without me knowing and then he'll rear end me if I stop, his head/neck will stick out between my legs and then he gets very confused. He has gotten a bit more defensive during breeding season, but he's totally manageable. I have white leather gloves with orange padding on the back for if hit your hand with a hammer or something. I think that looks a bit like another goose's head to him so he'll run over and bite the gloves pretty hard sometimes. Usually in low light conditions. We have two Roman tufted and one Toulouse. Probably the best animals we've added to the farm so far. At least from an entertainment standpoint. They sure eat a LOT of grass and will make a mess out of water.

 

[Asha_Gail]

Congratulations on making the decision to join the goose tribe!
Snuggle them, the more snuggles the better. Goslings are easy to bond with but once they become adults they perceive anyone who spends most of the day with them as their family but anyone who spends less time with them they can view as a potential nuisance or rival, this can make life interesting during breeding season, so everyone in the household should make a point to bond and maintain a bond with the geese.

Thank you! Happy to be here, I absolutely adore geese!
I'd heard about this in my research. My household is a farm house with family visiting regularly to work daily. They don't live here but they're here daily so I presume they're going to need Goose Snuggle Verification too? Either way I'm definitely looking forward to Goose Snuggle Verification time lol (Goose ID is gonna be the next big way to unlock your phone I'm sure of it)

 

[Asha_Gail]

The gander will occasionally grab my pant leg or follow me very closely without me knowing and then he'll rear end me if I stop, his head/neck will stick out between my legs and then he gets very confused. He has gotten a bit more defensive during breeding season, but he's totally manageable. I have white leather gloves with orange padding on the back for if hit your hand with a hammer or something. I think that looks a bit like another goose's head to him so he'll run over and bite the gloves pretty hard sometimes. Usually in low light conditions. We have two Roman tufted and one Toulouse. Probably the best animals we've added to the farm so far. At least from an entertainment standpoint. They sure eat a LOT of grass and will make a mess out of water.

Your geese sound so sweet! Admittedly I've been a little nervous about breeding season, none of my other animals have a particular breeding season or at least not one that would affect their overall behavior so it's good to hear that it's not the Upheaval I feared it could be! Ironically, I forgot geese ate grass till you mentioned it... I've been thinking only of the feed that I'll need to worry about early on that I forgot that the honkers are little lawnmowers! Is the yard mutilated? We have plenty of land and pasture for them to graze and a nice, ill-kept pond for them to frolick in so I'm not too worried about our lawn. (Dirty ponds are a waterfowl paradise I've learned over time XD)

 

[jwcarlson]

Yard is fine, but we have 30 acres. And I rotate their "pasture" using premier1 electric netting. They are more grazers than chickens since the geese don't scratch. They do sometimes "drum for worms" or at least that's what I have heard people call it. In a muddy puddle bury their entire bill in the mud and kind of stomp their feet. Kind of funny to see. Not particularly destructive. If I had 30 instead of 3, I am sure the result would be different. Once the grass is in, I am not sure they eat much feed at all. When no grass they can go through a lot of food.

 

[Asha_Gail]

Update: getting the babies early! Im so excited however I did get sick recently so a little nervous about managing goslings with my sickness. Still, so so excited! I'm vibrating with excitement at the idea of getting to hold the fuzzy little things!

 

[Asha_Gail]

Update: getting the babies early! Im so excited however I did get sick recently so a little nervous about managing goslings with my sickness. Still, so so excited! I'm vibrating with excitement at the idea of getting to hold the fuzzy little things!

Arrived happy and healthy! Meet Snickerdoodle and (chocolate) Chip! They're a pilgrim male/female pair whom I'm already in love with!

 

[Pumperkinz]

Arrived happy and healthy! Meet Snickerdoodle and (chocolate) Chip! They're a pilgrim male/female pair whom I'm already in love with!

They will grow so quick!

Congrats with them, and just realize chicken math also applies to goose math. Mine keep me sane and out of breeding season also make me a happy guy. I have about 7 goslings inside (waiting on another 20 this week), and I have 7 adults and they are the best thing that's ever happened to me. I wouldn't trade a day for it at all.

 

[Asha_Gail]

They will grow so quick!

They already have and I haven't even had them for that long!

(Chip cuddling up to me and Snickerdoodle dead asleep in the back)

They're so cuddly and affectionate its insane. I only ever get this level of attachment from ducklings I personally hatch as singles. I'm already so in love and I fear I may be at risk to starting a goose farm.

I already discussed with my boyfriend about raising more the thought of not hearing those adorable little baby whistles in a few months crushes me. Why can't they stay tiny and fuzzy forever! I knew I was gonna love them immediately but I didn't realize how fast my love for geese was going to turn into an addiction for geese lmao

Right now the plan is to let these two grow nice and big and strong and then either hatch some of their eggs when Snickers starts laying or let her try and hatch some, then either keep a few or sell them as sexed pairs. Mostly because I promised my family I would keep the population in check! (Plus, if I remember correctly, Pilgrims are labeled as 'threatened' by the livestock conservancy and I think lending the breed a hand wouldn't be so bad.)