Inheriting Geese and clueless to care and keeping of Geese

[Yetti]

sounds like you need to train them to walk on command. I use a couple sticks to guide them when young. about 4 foot long will do. hold them about 45* to your body out at the side. they normally turn away from the stick on one side or the other so reach forward with the right stick to go left and so on.
secondly if they fear you or are just not there yet get an old pair of sneakers to leave out with the laces hanging loose.
let them get used to the shoes in the yard and they will chew the laces. put the shoes on later once they get used to them. sit in a chair in the area near them and relax. mine come right up and start chewing. once they know they are safe there they will calm down and be your buddy. doesn't hurt to find something they like for treats as well.
my wife feeds them frozen or canned peas. they see her with a bowl they take off towards her. she can't even get them out of the bowl they want to knock her down to get at them.

this works well for getting them to bed as well.

as you can see it doesn't matter if its 5 or 5000 animals they respond the same. this guy uses a longer stick.

 

[Miss Lydia]

sounds like you need to train them to walk on command. I use a couple sticks to guide them when young. about 4 foot long will do. hold them about 45* to your body out at the side. they normally turn away from the stick on one side or the other so reach forward with the right stick to go left and so on.
secondly if they fear you or are just not there yet get an old pair of sneakers to leave out with the laces hanging loose.
let them get used to the shoes in the yard and they will chew the laces. put the shoes on later once they get used to them. sit in a chair in the area near them and relax. mine come right up and start chewing. once they know they are safe there they will calm down and be your buddy. doesn't hurt to find something they like for treats as well.
my wife feeds them frozen or canned peas. they see her with a bowl they take off towards her. she can't even get them out of the bowl they want to knock her down to get at them.

this works well for getting them to bed as well.

as you can see it doesn't matter if its 5 or 5000 animals they respond the same. this guy uses a longer stick.

That's amazing. and great advise too Yetti.

 

[aoxa]

sounds like you need to train them to walk on command. I use a couple sticks to guide them when young. about 4 foot long will do. hold them about 45* to your body out at the side. they normally turn away from the stick on one side or the other so reach forward with the right stick to go left and so on.
secondly if they fear you or are just not there yet get an old pair of sneakers to leave out with the laces hanging loose.
let them get used to the shoes in the yard and they will chew the laces. put the shoes on later once they get used to them. sit in a chair in the area near them and relax. mine come right up and start chewing. once they know they are safe there they will calm down and be your buddy. doesn't hurt to find something they like for treats as well.
my wife feeds them frozen or canned peas. they see her with a bowl they take off towards her. she can't even get them out of the bowl they want to knock her down to get at them.

this works well for getting them to bed as well.

as you can see it doesn't matter if its 5 or 5000 animals they respond the same. this guy uses a longer stick.

Good someone mentioned herding them.

I walk with my arm extended. They are so easy to get in, because they stick together.. unlike the chickens. If you walk slow they will get the picture.. Maybe not the first couple times, but eventually.

Geese aren't that much different to care for apart from chickens other than they love water. I feed all my birds the same starter feed (unmedicated) fermented with whole grains.

 

[livininbrazil]

You guys are awesome!

I will check out the Goose 101.

So far they are terrified of me and I have had no luck getting them into their own shed. they just run off. Today is freezing but most of the time the weather is good and there is tons of green grasses and food for them to graze upon. I think they are feral. I am not sure what I am going to do with them as I can't get near them and I will keep trying. I heard them fussing at 0500 this am but by the time I got up and dressed and out the door they had quieted down.

I will not give up and hopefully things will turn around!
Caroline

Short grazing grass is better than longer grass if you can manage that, as the longer grass can cause problems. Grass is a very important part of their diet.
Also, geese don´t sleep like chickens do, they can chunter away at night, sometimes walk about, nibble.....my geese stay out all the time, and on a full-moon night, I can see them down there wandering about.
Can you find out what is their favourite treat? You may be able to buy their 'affections' to get them trained. They´re probably not so much feral, as only used to your neighbour, as they get to know individuals, and I doubt that she did much with them as she got older. I´m sure they´ll come round to you. You´re very nice to take them on for her. BUT WE NEED PICS AS PAYMENT OF ADVICE!

 

[write2caroline]

Posting the photos of the elusive Geese. They run any time I get near so I had to use stealthier tactics.
Caroline

 

[write2caroline]

More advice please???? I know the photos are far and I will try to use the telephoto lens. I think I have one female and the rest are ganders.
Caroline

 

[Miss Lydia]

More advice please???? I know the photos are far and I will try to use the telephoto lens. I think I have one female and the rest are ganders.
Caroline

What makes you think that?

 

[livininbrazil]

More advice please???? I know the photos are far and I will try to use the telephoto lens. I think I have one female and the rest are ganders.
Caroline

What sort of advice are you looking for? For instance, do you want to move the geese to your property?
Do you want to know more about goose behaviour and breeding? Feeding? Needs?

 

[livininbrazil]

I see what you mean about maybe only one female. The photo shows most of them holding their heads quite high. Does only one have a smallish knob on her bill?

 

[Yetti]

well since the winter is light down your way I suspect you will hear the fighting that come with mating season. if they are all ganders then it will start sounding like the WWE set up shop in the back yard. my males get to fighting and the girls all squawk like cheerleaders at a football game. you will find out fast as most males want to be the king of the pen. couple of mine found out they can work together on the big tough bird then they fight easier between themselves. they even tried to tackle me one day. they hung behind a shade structure in the yard then they both ran out and tried to take out my legs to bring me down. I got a good laugh, but they were serious.