Housing for two Tufted Roman Geese

[Falaha Center]

Hi, everyone!

I am enjoying raising two lovely and boisterous geese. They are just about 4 weeks old and I’m planning on transferring them to the coop/run area soon. I’m in the Hudson Valley, NY...so the temps are finally starting to warm!

Questions:

1) Any advice on the best timing to transfer the geese outside? Considerations?

2) Thoughts on shelter/nest size or dimensions? I’m looking at a simple design like this (https://byscottie.com/quick-goose-nesting-boxes/), but am unsure of how big the geese get.(I haven’t doing anything about height, etc...only pounds.)

Thank you!!

 

[casportpony]

Welcome to BYC and congrats on your new geese. I don't have any advice, but let me tag some people that might be able to help.
@jtn42248, @Miss Lydia, @oldhenlikesdogs, @Pyxis, any advice?

 

[Pyxis]

I used nesting boxes similar to those for my Tufted Romans. I believe I made them three feet wide at the base and made the sides also three feet long. It's been awhile though so that might not be 100% accurate.

For shelter for a pair, I'd probably at least want it to be four feet by four feet. Bigger is always preferable in case you decide to keep more geese in the future. And of course it must be at least tall enough for them to stand up in without knocking their heads. Four feet tall is a safe bet.

 

[Falaha Center]

Great! Thanks so much! Much appreciated. Do you remember how old they were when you transferred them outside?

 

[Pyxis]

Oh, that varies. Last year I did it when mine were five-ish weeks old, probably? I put them outside with access to a heat lamp, and then one of my ganders adopted them to raise them himself, so it worked out well.

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

I'm no help. My geese stay with my goats, and nest in their bedding. My geese took forever to feather. I finally moved mine out at around 5 weeks. I raise mine in June, so it's warmer out already.

 

[Falaha Center]

Thanks to everyone for your responses! I built a nest/hut this weekend and am happy with the size and shape. Looking forward to introducing the geese to it! My concern now is leaving them outside in the chicken coop/run area as anytime I take them outside to graze (they are 4 weeks old now), they need to see me nearby or they start squealing and trying to get through the fencing to find me. I’m happy they have bonded with me, much better than the alternative, but I hope this is just because they are young? Any advice here?

 

[Pyxis]

Sorry for the slow reply!

Yep, they get less needy and clingy as they get older

 

[Falaha Center]

Ah that’s a relief! Thank you!!