New Goose House

[Kalsti]

Thanks Trefoil~ what would you use instead of chicken wire? I just used it on a few places where there could be small access to the shed (ie. 2" holes).

 

[Kalsti]

Great idea about the food box holder!

 

[Miss Lydia]

Ok thanks Livininbrazil~ I hope to find an older goose. How do I know how old a goose is?

You might try some rescues one of our BYC members just went to a rescue and got a gander for her goose both young. So rescues may be the way to go for your goose. She does need a friend of her own kind.

 

[Miss Lydia]

Thanks Trefoil~ what would you use instead of chicken wire? I just used it on a few places where there could be small access to the shed (ie. 2" holes).

Hardware wire or cloth 1/2" is best to use, if you have mink or weasels they can get right through chicken wire and even though very small animals are capable of killing a goose. I would replace the floor with plywood or something similar and put a piece of Cheap vinyl over that then put down pine shaving very easy to keep clean and as long as water fowl have access to bathing water can stay free of external parasites.

 

[livininbrazil]

Ok thanks Livininbrazil~ I hope to find an older goose. How do I know how old a goose is?

Good idea of Lydia...try goose rescue place, they´d possibly know if the goose is along in age. The reason I said a female or older male for her is that geese will breed up to the age of about 8 or so but live until 20 or so! Now if she´s not inclined to want to raise goslings, a young gander would be a pain in the .... (neck) for her. An older gander should be calmer, happier to sit in the shade under a tree........mostly!! Or a goose of any age isn´t likely to be a headache. As for how to tell... long claws/nails, worn or damaged bill....I have a female that has holes in her webs, no idea why, I guess barbed wire from where she used to live, but they look like old injuries. Some breeds like the pilgrims get a whiter head with age.....etc. Younger ones just look all nice and shiny!!

 

[Kalsti]

Interesting! Yes, she has long nails and a worn bill that is rough. Wish I could know how old she is though.... Ok, so I think I probably need to get an older female goose.....I don't know of any "rescue" places here for geese though. Need to do some research I guess. Thanks!!!!

 

[Kalsti]

Hardware wire or cloth 1/2"? I don't know what that is~ Sorry! What should I ask for at our local grange?

 

[Kalsti]

To clarify are you saying she should not be directly on the chicken wire/hay? It is nice and easy to clean daily the wood floor where all the droppings end up. Just hose it off and use vinegar sometimes. She waddles down the ramp to get out of the pen and jump into her pond each morning...... I will try to get a pic and maybe it will give a better idea of what she has for housing....

 

[RURU]

Honky and Penelopy have a wonderful pen, I love their pool.
Kalsti
I keep my goose in a shed off of the garage. It has a chicken wire 1/2" floor that is about 18"off of the wooden floor. A ramp folds up and down for her to access the area, which is roof-covered and has wood walls on a 4 sides. Chicken wire is on the outside to cover up some holes and protect her from raccoons. A door with chicken wire on the top half closes her in at night and it has a wood latch. Our winters here are around 40-50 with occasional freezes and snow, even though we are on the coast of Oregon. She has hay on top of the chicken wire that I sprinkle with DE to help control the mites. Will this keep her warm in the winter? This is my first experience with raising a goose. (The Vet said she was a female, but I am wondering how to bring in a friend for her--- should I consider a female or male? The Vet also said she was an older goose.)
-Whether you want a male or female friend depends on if you want goslings or not. If you don't, get her a female friend. The age probably isn't a problem, depending on what type she is, they live a long time if properly taken care of. I would be careful about using poultry wire to protect against coons. I'm in Michigan and our coons get BIG and are capable of destroying chicken wire to get at poultry. A good thing to remember is that chicken wire is to hold chickens in, not predators out. It sounds like her pen will be warm enough as long as it doesn't get soggy.

I am glad you said something about chicken wire it is easy for raccoons to get into! Plus you should not have a chicken wire floor for goose because they can cut their foot and get bacteria in the foot and get a bad case of bumble foot and that is hard to clear up...

 

[Miss Lydia]

http://www.bing.com/images/search?q...epot&qpvt=hardware+cloth+home+depot&FORM=IGRE


I have wood floors in all my houses, I put down vinyl floor covering over the wood I use deep litter which is about 6" deep in my goose house, I go in daily and scoop out the poop that is laying on top then take the pitch fork and fluff up the bedding turning it over. I usually put new shavings in every couple weeks. Using the vinyl keeps the floor from getting wet but using deep litter also keeps it from getting wet.