Thinking of getting a goose

[ben is a terror]

Hi goose people I'm thinking of adding a goose to our flock of about 16 chickens. I'm not sure about what breed? I live in a development. My neighbors are fine with the chickens. I don't have a rooster. We want the goose to imprint on us to be a loving family member. Is this possible? We would love to keep her inside but that does not seem right to me. I can't see my family changing diapers. Would a duck be better? We would like just 1 so we can devote our time to her. I've read that they are very smart and loyal as good as a dog. Any ideas would be helpful
Thanks

 

[Mikanik]

There's a little conversation about this going on in another thread. I think if there is someone home FULL TIME and the gosling has imprinted/bonded on all in the family...then it only *might* be ok to just get one. Now...I'm only in my first week of being a goose daddy so my words may mean very little. I personally believe in always having pairs. I'd suggest getting two females. I only have on gosling BUT she does have 2 duckling sisters and loves them very much, but not quite as much as she loves me. She loves playing around with her sisters but given the choice she'd much rather fall asleep on my shoulder...or maybe it's just my beard she likes.

I digress, in the off chance you don't have her as an "inside" pet and part of the family with someone with her at ALL TIMES (which is vital at least from my research), then get two to live together and love you and each other. It'd probably be easier on you and the little one.

Just my 2 cents. Besides, as the saying goes, goslings are like chips....

 

[newgoosegirl]

My 2 year old goose is outside during the day and comes in at night-time. She seems to have fun doing her goose-stuff, she plays in the water and eats any green thing that comes up, and then at bedtime she comes in and sleeps with me. Since we got chickens and ducks she also chases them if they get too near her nest.
When she's inside all the time like when we're on a trip she tends to pull her diaper off and chew on more stuff (diaper always stays like I put it on at home), so I don't think I would try to keep her inside all the time. This might just be because she doesn't have toys or anything at times like that, though. I am concerned about her getting bored or lonely though, I'm hoping that when the baby is big enough to go out with her they'll get along.

I change baby diapers some, and Sticky wears a diaper inside. The goose diapers, even when she's gotten into catfood or something, are not half as smelly, and they're a lot easier. As long as you're not afraid of some digested grain and grass, you shouldn't have any problems.
Also, I've used diapers from thegoosesmother.com, with the over the head and straps instead of a panel in front (indoorducks.com also has this kind, but with a plastic liner), and they're great. Easy to change, easy to put on, just easy. The gosling diapers are also nice, though it's not much of a problem then for a few weeks at least. But, I got a cheap diaper for my cockerel that you actually have to put their legs and wings into, and it's hard to change and really hard to put on, even on the baby goose who's used to diapers and tends to help me with it. So I suggest paying the $20-$30 for that kind of diaper.