I have been planning on Runners for a year and have done lots of research and feel very prepared, but at the last minute decided to add a goose to the mix to help with predator protection. I know nothing about geese, other than they chased me as a kid, and I feel very unprepared. We picked up our newly hatched Fawn Runner's (three of them) on Wednesday, as well as a week old White Chinese goose, all females. Our little goose, Charlotte, bonded with us immediately. She cries when she can't see us, and wants nothing more than to follow us around the house (although i'm already tired of poop patrol and can't bring myself to "diaper" her...plus the cats are too curious). We are going to be building our housing for everyone, but I can't seem to find a lot of specific information on space requirements for geese. I want to build a house for the ducks and goose to share, but I don't want it to be shed size. It will be placed in a small barn yard we have, around a tiny barn that two Babydoll sheep occasionally use. The barn itself isn't big enough to add in their space, so it needs to be something separate, or added on. I am wondering how high the housing needs to be to accommodate the goose, as well as a suggested size for the nesting box of the goose. They will be housed at night, and let out during the day to graze the property. The barnyard is secured by a 5' fence, but no electric wire. I was hopeful that a goose might be able to scare off our predators, which are owls and raccoons (the neighbor looses ducks to both occasionally). Is it reasonable to assume the goose can chase those off? I'd love if I could just put them in the barnyard at night and not have to force them into the house. We live in the Pacific Northwest, so it's very mild weather year round. I'm not sure how much longer we will have the sheep (one of them is very destructive) so I can't count on them to help intimidate the predators. Other than this forum, can you recommend some good resources on learning more about raising geese? Everyone is being brooded in a very large plastic container right now, however the goose is already at a size where I feel like we need to go bigger, what is usually the next step? I'm not ready to move them outside yet, but perhaps to the garage next week. Is a kids plastic pool with "fencing" around it a good next step? The goose lays down in the brooder a lot, even to eat and drink she lays in front of the feeders to do so. I have been taking her out to walk around with me in the house just to be sure her legs are working okay. I can't find if this is usual or not. I was told she was a week old, but I feel like she hadn't quite learned to walk yet and was perhaps younger. I've been looking at this forum for the last two days, but haven't really found answers to my questions. Thanks for taking the time.
Yes, they need a water bowl, bucket, etc deep enough for their head to submerge. This is how they clean their nostrils, by blowing water through them. Very important to their well being.
