Well, after a little more research, it looks like Pilgrims it will be. Nice, friendly, good layers and mothers, small enough to manage. Now tell me this. I have a "coop" ready for them that measures 10 by 10 with at attached run that is about 20 by 40 and next to that a fenced in forage area that is about half an acre. I plan to include a small pool in their run that I will only fill a couple of time a week. They will be brooded inside my house in the same area that I have been brooding my chicks. I will be covering their run with chicken wire to keep flying predators out as well as them in and will not let them out into the forage area until they are adults.
Does that sound like adequate for two pair or would I be better off going with one male and 2 or 3 females?
Also, how should I set up their coop? Do they need roost like chickens? When they go broody and nest should I provide a separate nest for that apart from their coop?
Thanks,
Jon
I´ve found that they´re happier in a couple than a trio. Your arrangement there sounds good. You may find it much easier to just get a pair, let them breed and enjoy them. With two pairs you may need to separate them at breeding time if they get too on top of each other. Or they may be fine. In the forage area you shouldn´t have any problems, but if both pairs decide to nest in close proximity, there´ll be some squabbling. In that case, it may be easier to section off an area for each pair during this time. go with the flow. You could always get a pair this year, get the hang of it, then get another pair next year. The older ones could well adopt the youngsters next year if you should decide to do it that way (instead of them rearing their own the first year).
A note on the pool..if you only intend to fill it a couple of times a week, you´ll want to be careful of it getting fouled, as geese poop like mad, even worse in water. Best to chuck the water out the same day that they´ve had a good splash around, or at the latest the day after. Also, geese prefer to mate in water, and it´ll be more successful.
Geese don´t roost, they like to stay out in the rain, they don´t sleep much at night, so continually talk quietly to each other and walk about.
They like to nest in a depression in the ground, (but I tend to use old oil-drums on their sides, supported by a brick, and filled with hay.) in a quiet hidden-away place. If you only have one pair, the coop will be fine for them to nest. Once a goose has decided on a place, it can be very difficult to persuade her to use a different one.
The greatest part of a goose´s diet is grass, so greens are super important. They also need vit B3, niacin in their diet.
Enjoy your goslings, however many you get!
