I want to keep my geese... but I dont know where to keep them?

[GunnyBun]

Ok so I'm new here, and new at being a goose mother. I've looked up so much goose related things it's crazy! Anyway we recently got ten canadian goose eggs, only one was infertile and we have had two die. Since me and my sister have taken the most care and precaution and poured our attention and love over the first five to hatch, we feel a deep bond with them and the thought of parting is so sad! The last two that are in the incubator are close to hatching and we plan to give them to a family friend who has a big pond and lots of space for them. We on the other hand want to keep five! And our pond is not the biggest thing in the world. It's not close to our house and we aren't sure if it holds water year round. We really want to keep them. Any suggestions on how to make our yard a healthy environment for our babies? How to mainly keep them here and healthy?

 

[Niche Flock]

They're cute!! Congrats on incubating as well! Will you be releasing them into the wild once they are fully feathered? I am just beginning to learn about geese myself, and imagine that with a wild breed like Canadian you might be? Otherwise, do you have a coop or a solid structure outside of the brooder that they can move into once they outgrow the brooder? If you're concerned about the pond you currently have and are afraid they will overwhelm it, you could always suppliment their water options with a smallish pool temporarily during dry patches, but I imagine the instinct of the geese is to want to find water for sleeping/mating/feeding etc. Not to sound too morbid, but do you wish to someday clip their flight feathers if you intend to keep them close to your home? Or will you allow them the option to fly? If the pond does dry up, or is too small it might be best to leave their flight feathers as a form of defense against predators and also as an option for them to find a new pond home Raising them successfully is a job well done, you're giving them a leg up in survival already. Up to you what happens next! Best of luck and keep us all posted, I don't have a lot of goose experience but am really curious to learn more and see what you decide to do!

 

[Miss Lydia]

I have geese they are very happy with their kiddy pool that’s all they’ve ever known. They will need some type of secure housing to protect them from predators and I suggest fencing because predators don’t just come around at night. They sure are adorable!

 

[GunnyBun]

They're cute!! Congrats on incubating as well! Will you be releasing them into the wild once they are fully feathered? I am just beginning to learn about geese myself, and imagine that with a wild breed like Canadian you might be? Otherwise, do you have a coop or a solid structure outside of the brooder that they can move into once they outgrow the brooder? If you're concerned about the pond you currently have and are afraid they will overwhelm it, you could always suppliment their water options with a smallish pool temporarily during dry patches, but I imagine the instinct of the geese is to want to find water for sleeping/mating/feeding etc. Not to sound too morbid, but do you wish to someday clip their flight feathers if you intend to keep them close to your home? Or will you allow them the option to fly? If the pond does dry up, or is too small it might be best to leave their flight feathers as a form of defense against predators and also as an option for them to find a new pond home Raising them successfully is a job well done, you're giving them a leg up in survival already. Up to you what happens next! Best of luck and keep us all posted, I don't have a lot of goose experience but am really curious to learn more and see what you decide to do!

Thank you! I love them so much all I am concerned about with the pond is the predators we have around here coyotes, bobcats etc. and since it's not close to our home we have no way to protect them. We hope to keep them close to us, or at home. So I guess clipping the feathers might be done. We had another baby hatch this morning around 6

 

[GunnyBun]

I have geese they are very happy with their kiddy pool that’s all they’ve ever known. They will need some type of secure housing to protect them from predators and I suggest fencing because predators don’t just come around at night. They sure are adorable!

Thanks I'm probably gonna have my hands full here for a while We were talking about getting a pool for them, and the predators are my main concern. I've lost too many pets to them

 

[Miss Lydia]

Yes keeping them safe is so important. You don’t have them outside all the time now I hope. Congrats on the newly hatched.

 

[GunnyBun]

Yes keeping them safe is so important. You don’t have them outside all the time now I hope. Congrats on the newly hatched.

Oh no ma'am we dont, we let them out in the yard with supervised attention I do not want the resident hawk to get any ideas, we live in the country so there are many dangers.

 

[Miss Lydia]

That’s good!