Thinking getting Ducks and Geese, I have a 5 acre lake and an area walled in as a beach area

[shannara200]

Hello everyone, about two months ago I setup a chicken coop near my house and got 5 hens and a rooster, so far having them has been a lot of fun and the eggs are great since they free range from 7am to dusk.

So in a sense I have the bug and was thinking of setting up a coop near my lake (5 acres) for about 12 ducks and 12 geese, since the lake is not being used for anything, below is pictures of the lake.




next to the lake I have an area where it's setup to be a beach of some type before I bought the property and it would be perfect to setup coops for the geese and ducks, I wanted to get some ideas from all of you for the coops.

Should I get a big one for all the geese and ducks? or get a few small ones for them to choose? is the design the same as chickens? or do the ducks and geese need a different style?

I live in Georgia ( about 43 miles northeast from Atlanta, in a town call Social Circle) if anyone knows a person that does build the coops I Can use that information also.

In a nut shell I am an amateur to all this so all advise I can get is helpful

Have a safe day everyone

 

[Kevin565]

If they have access to the lake I would be afraid it would be quite difficult to herd them into the coop at night.

 

[shannara200]

I read that you have to keep them in the coop for a week so they get use to going there to sleep at night...I did that with my chickens and they always return at night.

 

[urjtobreed]

Having a lake makes it much easier to have geese once they are old enough especially if you have enough grass for them to graze. I have a small pond and started out with goslings. I kept them well protected when they were young in a fully enclosed pen and shelter. As they got older I gave them access to more pasture with portable electric poultry fence. I did loose some to fox (always during a storm), but the ones that are left are adults now and know how to stay safe. They sleep on the pond now. After I gave them access to the pond, but before I let them sleep on the pond, I offered food to entice them to the pen at night. They were always happy to oblige, unless they had already been given enough food, then they would refuse and want to stay. I'd have to get in a canoe and chase them out, sometimes with help. I am sure it would have been extremely difficult if not nearly impossible on a 5 acre pond. If they have plenty of grass to eat then you can minimize the supplemental feed that you give them so they always come when you offer grain or pellets. They will come running like kids to an ice cream truck! Geese love their vegetables, but just like anything else they love the sweets (feed/grain) even more. It might be safest to not give them access to the pond until you are ready to let them sleep there.

They will help sound the alarm, but won't protect the chickens or likely be very near them much of the time. I have a turkey hen that runs with the chickens, that is very alert and has helped protect them somewhat. A big tom would be better, but then I would have to make a bigger "chicken" door!

 

[Going Bhonkers]

Hello everyone, about two months ago I setup a chicken coop near my house and got 5 hens and a rooster, so far having them has been a lot of fun and the eggs are great since they free range from 7am to dusk.

So in a sense I have the bug and was thinking of setting up a coop near my lake (5 acres) for about 12 ducks and 12 geese, since the lake is not being used for anything, below is pictures of the lake.




next to the lake I have an area where it's setup to be a beach of some type before I bought the property and it would be perfect to setup coops for the geese and ducks, I wanted to get some ideas from all of you for the coops.

Should I get a big one for all the geese and ducks? or get a few small ones for them to choose? is the design the same as chickens? or do the ducks and geese need a different style? - Geese = different than chickens in that they dont roost (I have no idea about ducks!) If you can, you should go with a couple of coops. Geese need their space & ducks need room to run away should the geese become bullies. there are some examples of coops here: https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/586695/what-does-your-goose-coop-look-like
Also, 1MrsMagoo has her geese by a pond, you may want to PM (private message) her to get some tips. Some of her pics

I live in Georgia ( about 43 miles northeast from Atlanta, in a town call Social Circle) if anyone knows a person that does build the coops I Can use that information also. - You may want to post in the Georgia state thread to see if peeps there can suggest a local builder. (or you can go the D-I-Y route)

In a nut shell I am an amateur to all this so all advise I can get is helpful
Give this a read too! https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/618185/raising-geese-101#post_8210407
Do you know which breed you're interested in yet?

Have a safe day everyone

 

[urjtobreed]

Geese much prefer to be out in the open and not in a coop. When young you'll need to provide a shelter and a pen for protection, but after that they will want to use the pond.

Free range chickens like to have cover such as brush that they can run under when a hawk is around or onto to get away from a fox. They also like to have a nice protected place to roost at night and sometimes in bad weather. Geese are the opposite, they prefer to be out in the open in all weather, where they can see predators coming and make there escape by flying away or to a nearby body of water. Some domestic geese that don't fly well will flap to a pond if you got one. They prefer to sleep on the water or an island.

The best thing I did was build a floating island so the geese could have a place to rest and nest in safety. My Muscovy also sleep on the island at night, but it took them a long time before they learned to do that for their own safety. I did pen them a few times when the pond froze enough that I couldn't easily break up an ice free area for them. I guess in Georgia ice won't be much of a problem!

 

[PuffAndFluff]

How did you build your island? Also, how big is your pond? We have a small pond that is fed by underground springs. It is a decent size right now, but will be smaller in the summer. We have two Chinese White goslings in a brooder right now, but I want to get their area set up soon. Our pond is fenced with chain link and I want to build them a little house down there, but if they prefer sleeping on the water, how big should the pond be so that they stay safe? We have coyotes all over the place.

 

[shannara200]

Hello

thank you for all the info so far, my lake is 5 acres and it is spring feed from underground from a water table that is under my property. The lake is always full no matter the weather and the water is very good for oxygen level due to the constant feeding of fresh water.

The lake has all kind of wild life, frogs, turtles, fish, wild birds and all other types of life you would find in an active lake. As for the island in the middle it was there with the lake when I bought the property last year.

Have a safe day everyone