Space requirements for geese and ducks

[BirdBrain]

Trying to slip in some geese and ducks to the plan and wonder how much space to allow in the coop and run.

 

[BirdBrain]

So, does no one know?

 

[LilRalphieRoosmama]

I can't answer about the geese, but I guess it depends on how many birds you have in what size area, and whether they are only in the coop at night. My ducks share the coop at night with the chickens and there's no problem but they are outside all day. The chickens roost which leaves the entire floor area for the ducks. Works out well.

 

[BirdBrain]

The ducks and geese would have their own space.

In your set up, do the chickens poop on the ducks?

 

[LilRalphieRoosmama]

No - haven't had that problem. We built a long sawhorse-type roost which runs along one long side. The ducks sleep along the other long side.

 

[rainplace]

Holderread's "The Book of Geese," advises 10sq ft for the night pen as a minimum and at least 20 for the day... per bird. That seems small to me. /shrug

 

[BirdBrain]

Do most of you let your geese free range or do you pen them? I am afraid I would have to pen them as we can't fence the whole acre.

 

[rainplace]

I let our 2 free range with our 17 ducks. I had to put a front yard fence in because they thought the grass was greener across the street in the neighbors front yard (it is). I have less than a third of an acre and it's only partially fenced. I did keep them tightly fenced when everyone was younger. Now they prefer to be close to the house, but mid day they head to the lower backyard to graze. My backyard backs against a private park that's shared by the neighborhood. I use to be afraid they would head down there without me since I take them there daily, but they stick to the unfenced property line. Honestly though this is my first year with waterfowl (or any poultry for that matter). I may have something different to say come next year....

 

[WNCUrbanAgrarian]

I've only had geese for a year and a half, but I did end up fencing the entire yard to keep out roaming dogs. I also found that they would go explore if given the opportunity. Have a quarter acre. I have Sebastopols, so they don't fly -- so I don't know about other types of geese. But with Sebastopols, I only need fencing that is a couple of feet high, so I have the green wire fencing within my fenced yard, to keep them out of areas I don't want them, like my veggie garden. Geese are vegetarians, so they will go where the foraging looks best. I also live in Western North Carolina, where the weather is temperate, so I don't house them at night. I have A Frame nests for them to get out of the rain if they choose to, but they don't much. The females use that to lay the eggs in during breeding season. However, if I lived in the country where wild predators could be a problem, I would house them at night.

 

[goosedragon]

Quote:
Take some advise from Central NC,western neighbor, You do have preditors there, you have just been lucky to avoid them, so far, There are going to be dogs, and if a female in heat gets loose she will have a pack of male companions! Make sure that your exterior fence will keep them out.
You would be suprised at the number of racoons that live in cities and suburbs (you could check with your local animal control, because of the rabies proplem they are more aware of racoons than most people). Racoons can clmb fences faster than they can trees! They are smart and handy with those paws, I have seen them open all kinds of non-locking latches, hook & eye, and turnbuckles. They also are known for reaching through mesh with those paws, catching a bird and pulling it to the mesh and then eating them through the mesh.
Don't be so sure that there are no preditors. I don't want to sound too dumb but it seems every spring we see stories about bears coming into town in both the mountains to the west and the swamps to the east. There are stories here that the game department imported coyotes and turned them loose to control deer populations here in the central region....