Housing Geese

[LogCabin]

I have plenty of chickens but I was thinking about getting 3 geese. Can any one tell me what kind of house and pen I would need to build for them to stay in at night and when we are not at home.

Thanks

 

[Barb Schuetz]

All geese really need is 1- WATER! and 2- A place to seek shelter in severe weather. I have three geese and plan to build a little mud hut for them but right now I have a small dog kennel set up with a tarp zip tied over it. One website I saw before I got the geese said all you needed to do was put together a few bales of straw in the shape of a 'u' and anchor a piece of plywood over the top. Oh, and have it facing south. At night and when you're not home they should be fine. My just roam around and at night they come back up by the kennel(by the house and btw I just leave it open at all times) and in the morning bright and early they're wondering about again.

 

[silkiechicken]

What about predators and geese? Do geese instinctively get away?

 

[Barb Schuetz]

As far as I'm aware, geese pretty much stand their ground. My pair of Embdens had been on their own for about a year before someone finally moved onto the farm they were at and they did just fine.

 

[suburbanhomesteader]

You forgot the third need of geese: something to torment.

I have travelled by myself all over the world; I have hunted near dangerous big game animals and handled poisonous snakes, spiders, and scorpions.

I am terrified of geese! They have always chased me, and they bite ferociously hard! In Venice, CA, I met a man who kept "guard geese" instead of a guard dog. He said dogs are notorious for being "bought off" with a treat, but geese cannot be "bribed" and are a much more reliable alarm system.

 

[4H kids and mom]

Geese will fight off anything from hawks to humans! They are big and tough, and a good gander will outdo any early warning system you could have installed!

They don't let people in their yard that they dont know, and they deffinately dont let other critters in their yard that they havent grown up with. Even young geese can stand their ground! They do NOT back down! My smallest goose has a thing for one of my 6 week old chicks and constantly chases it away from food, or the pool. They can be relentless!

As stated above, geese need water (most importantly or they DIE quite quickly without it) and shelter from intense heat or cold. Geese love the snow and can roam your yard year round if you provide their very basic needs. Ours have a small night time pen (roughly 5.5 x 6 feet- we will expand it as they grow) but are out ranging the yard with the chickens and goats all day. They have learned that at dusk, I come out and open the door to their pen and they go right in on their own. Because they are very young, I lock them up at night. Possibly when they are adults, I will open the pen but leave it open so they can come and go.

 

[Barb Schuetz]

Quote:
Geese have gained a nasty reputation for being mean but fortunately, it's not the case with all geese. They are merely protective, mostly when they're breeding, setting and rearing. Alot has to do with breed, age and treatment. Obiously a goose that has had a lot of human contact and even exposed to other animals(4H) will be a much more tame, gentle bird.

 

[feathersnmore]

HMMMM I'm wondering would it be possible to get a baby gosling raise it with your chickens and have a great watch goose over your chickens while their out roaming?? may sound silly but thought i'd throw it in?????