I need some advice, shall I take my geese to the river or not??

[thanasis]

Hi to everyone. I've had 5 geese (4 emdens and a grey sebastopol) and 3 ducks (a pekin and two mallards) for 3 months now, all of them in a coop next to my house with a fence about 1,80m, they are happy there as there is a lot of space. Though, there is a small river next to it, at about less than 10meters away, they are not aware of it as there are trees and plants in blossom now so my geese have no idea about it. I' d like to take them there though, they will love it. So, here's the questions, if I do it, will they come back?will they learn to go there alone and return at night?Will they fly over the fence in order to get there?Will they escape?

Last summer I used to have 2 pekin ducks, they learned to go to the river every morning and get back at dusk (however, two or three times they didn't and I had to go get them), that lasted about a month and then they disappeared, I assumed that somebody'd stolen them. The problem is that I wouldn't like them to get there every day. It may be dangerous. Oh, about the predators I think my group of geese will be fine as long as they get back home.

Thanks a lot in advance.

 

[RURU]

Since your ducks disappeared I would say a predator got them. It is just better if you purchase a child's pool fill that up and let them have a good time in it. But always dump it out at night and put fresh water in it every day. That is all they need to keep them happy.

 

[Miss Lydia]

Since your ducks disappeared I would say a predator got them. It is just better if you purchase a child's pool fill that up and let them have a good time in it. But always dump it out at night and put fresh water in it every day. That is all they need to keep them happy.

I agree, we have a mountain river below our home but i haven't let my geese or ducks go down to it, way to much danger with preds plus the river can rage at times when we get abundant rain like we have this year. they are very happy with their kiddy pool.

 

[thanasis]

Thank you for the response.I ll try this then,I m sad I won't have them in the river though..in my area there are only dogs and foxes and i ve heard that when there is a group of geese the dogs stay away..maybe i m wrong.

 

[Miss Lydia]

Thank you for the response.I ll try this then,I m sad I won't have them in the river though..in my area there are only dogs and foxes and i ve heard that when there is a group of geese the dogs stay away..maybe i m wrong.

A group of geese would not be a match for dogs, a gooses is only protection is their wings and they are no match to a dogs or foxes teeth. It's ultimately up to you what you decide to do of course.

 

[thanasis]

I guess you are right,miss Lydia.

 

[thanasis]

Oh,I ve got a qustion about the pool..how big should it be (I have 5 geese and 3ducks) and will it be easy for them to get in it?thanks again and sorry for the questions..

 

[Miss Lydia]

Oh,I ve got a qustion about the pool..how big should it be (I have 5 geese and 3ducks) and will it be easy for them to get in it?thanks again and sorry for the questions..

I bought the largest plastic pool I could find . Then we had some trees we had cut laying around so we cut some stumps out of them and put them by the pool so they could get in easier, My geese just slide over the top of the pool but the ducks were having a problem that's why the tree stumps. you can use old bricks or other things you have laying around for steps for them, Main concern is it not be splintery or they could get something in their feet and Bumble foot isn't something you want to deal with.

 

[thanasis]

Thanks for the info...and my last question is what if i take them to the river just once??they will fly over the fence (I mean they will do everything) in order to get there again??

 

[RURU]

I know you want to take them to the river to have a good time. But there are so many things that can go wrong and then you could lose your geese and ducks. There are things in a river that can grab their legs and bite them right off!!! Snapping turtles are good for doing that. Plus they can kill your birds.... Then you would have to take them to the vets to see if they can do anything for the injured bird.
But as Miss Lydia says it is up to you on what you want to do. All we can do is give advise. It's your call.