Stupid question... what do you use geese for?

[Chickens? WOW]

Hey! I know that sounds like such a stupid question but I am wondering cause I was thinking of getting a goose. Or do you need two to make it feel happier?
Anyway do you use your geese for meat, eggs, or protecting? If I have forgotten a use please excuse me. Also how big of a hole do you need for a goose to fit through? Are they good for cold weather? Do they like chickens? I am so sorry for no knowledge on this subject

 

[gryeyes]

Chickens? WOW :

Hey! I know that sounds like such a stupid question but I am wondering cause I was thinking of getting a goose. Or do you need two to make it feel happier?
Anyway do you use your geese for meat, eggs, or protecting? If I have forgotten a use please excuse me. Also how big of a hole do you need for a goose to fit through? Are they good for cold weather? Do they like chickens? I am so sorry for no knowledge on this subject

I "use" geese for protection of the flock. And because they are such hoots (pun intended - the goslings "hoot" or whistle softly) to have around.

They do better in pairs or multiples. Mine grew up with chickens so they're okay with them, but they do sort of want a bit of space around themselves, so they sometimes poke at chickens to get that space. Nothing mean, just a kind of warning about personal space, I think. And yes, they need a pretty large opening into their lodgings but I have some Jersey Giants, so I have a larger chicken door, anyway. A foot wide and about 15 inches tall is sufficient.​

 

[Denninmi]

I hatched 3 Pilgrims this spring. Pets for sure. They are the sweetest, most amazing birds. Right now, they love me and can't wait to come out and play, graze in the lawn, and then sit on my lap. I hope they love me this much when they mature.

 

[larkflying]

I use my geese for mowing the lawn under my orchard trees -- they nibble on the trees a little, but I have way less mowing to do. I also like them because they help discourage the hawks and eagles . . . they don't actively protect the chickens, but as a passive deterrent they are great. They also alarm and let me know if strange things are happening. But really, if you get down to it, I keep them for fun, because they are so neat to watch : )

You definitely want more than one -- they love talking to each other and hanging out together. I think one would be lonely even with chickens. My geese do okay with my chickens. They just boss them around. I'd recommend a separate nighttime house for the geese -- they are so messy that they will stink up your chicken house, they will eat all the chicken's food, and they can be hard for the chickens to get away from in a small space. I have heard of geese killing chickens in crowded circumstances. They love grass so a fenced area of lawn, field or orchard is ideal -- and they have to have shade in hot weather.

Geese love cold weather - they prefer to sleep outside even in snowy conditions I hear. Heat is more of a problem then the cold. They need lots of water that they can dunk their heads into. They don't lay a lot of eggs, so that is more of a side item. As meat birds they are large and good to eat, but plucking waterfowl is a big chore!

Good luck!

 

[cgmccary]

larkflying:I use my geese for mowing the lawn under my orchard trees -- they nibble on the trees a little, but I have way less mowing to do. I also like them because they help discourage the hawks and eagles . . . they don't actively protect the chickens, but as a passive deterrent they are great. They also alarm and let me know if strange things are happening. But really, if you get down to it, I keep them for fun, because they are so neat to watch : )

You definitely want more than one -- they love talking to each other and hanging out together. I think one would be lonely even with chickens. My geese do okay with my chickens. They just boss them around. I'd recommend a separate nighttime house for the geese -- they are so messy that they will stink up your chicken house, they will eat all the chicken's food, and they can be hard for the chickens to get away from in a small space. I have heard of geese killing chickens in crowded circumstances. They love grass so a fenced area of lawn, field or orchard is ideal -- and they have to have shade in hot weather.

Geese love cold weather - they prefer to sleep outside even in snowy conditions I hear. Heat is more of a problem then the cold. They need lots of water that they can dunk their heads into. They don't lay a lot of eggs, so that is more of a side item. As meat birds they are large and good to eat, but plucking waterfowl is a big chore!

DITTO on what lark says . . . and I would add that their poop is great fertilizer and unlike chickens' manure, it is cold and can go directly in the garden. The geese are good at weeding the garlic patch too! We haven't eaten a goose yet because my 4 grown ones are pets, but I have 7 goslings right now & having never eaten goose, I'd like to try one. Their eggs are good to use in baking (whites are thicker). Apparently, geese are sacred animals in some cultures. I have a neighbor (and good friend) who lived some years in Bali, and she won't even eat a goose egg (she says their eggs are sacred) & found it abhorrent that I wanted to raise one of these goslings up and make a meal of it. I do find geese are very intelligent (in the poultry world), and I sometimes have trouble eating something with more intellect (just my hang-up).​

 

[Oregon Blues]

I keep geese because I like them. They are beautiful to look at and funny to watch. I like their personalities.

The side benefits: excellent weed control, predator warning and total protection of the goslings and incidental protection of the ducks. Roast goose.

I show my geese.

They aren't kept for eggs. Geese lay small numbers, so unless you want the eggs for crafts, they won't pay for their feed with eggs.

 

[Orcae]

We keep geese because we enjoy having them. Their eggs taste good and some people use the eggshells for decorative painting. They alert us when anyone comes on our property (and will chase them away too!). They also make good lawn mowers!

Our geese attack our chickens if they come in contact with them - they're African/Chinese geese.

 

[misfitfarm]

My two male chinese are fun to watch. Yes they are horrible and love to sneak up and bite but I can put any baby bird out there and they protect them from everyone. They love to herd the babies all over. Right now they are playing nurse maid to four baby muscovies. In a couple of weeks they will be nurse maid to a dozen delaware chicks. Guess it depends on their individual personality.
Good luck !

 

[froggie71]

I'd say we use our geese to protect the rest of the birds. We lost a few chickens to hawks, none since the geese are full grown. They are a trip. Hubby goes out every morning to talk to them and they talk right back. This is what my son does with them. (They are his geese)

He shows them at 4-H shows. Here they both wanted to sit in his lap.

 

[The Yakima Kid]

Chickens? WOW :

Hey! I know that sounds like such a stupid question but I am wondering cause I was thinking of getting a goose. Or do you need two to make it feel happier?
Anyway do you use your geese for meat, eggs, or protecting? If I have forgotten a use please excuse me. Also how big of a hole do you need for a goose to fit through? Are they good for cold weather? Do they like chickens? I am so sorry for no knowledge on this subject

You can use them for all of the above. Best is a mated pair. I think that they survive most kinds of weather with a windbreak or maybe a three sided shed - but I don't know about your climate.​