Wanting geese, what breed?

[Pampered chicken girl]

I'm hoping to get geese in the spring, nothing is set in stone yet but just starting our research now. I'm not sure what geese we should get.
Some requirements:
Docile and social
Preferably a good watch dog
Preferably not too big
We don't want any white geese

Note, they will be living with our ducks but will have a good size fenced in area. We only plan to get 2 geese.
TIA

 

[Goosebaby]

I'm hoping to get geese in the spring, nothing is set in stone yet but just starting our research now. I'm not sure what geese we should get.
Some requirements:
Docile and social
Preferably a good watch dog
Preferably not too big
We don't want any white geese

Note, they will be living with our ducks but will have a good size fenced in area. We only plan to get 2 geese.
TIA

You might like Buffs, they’re generally calm and quieter. Chinese type geese are usually more vocal about an intruder but they can often have spicier personalities.

 

[fowltemptress]

I've got American Buffs, Production Toulouse, and Embdens. They're all friendly and social - I think that has most to do with how people raise and treat them - they're all noisy when something new, exciting, or dangerous catches their eye, and they all get mean during their first breeding season. If you can wait out that first season, respect their boundaries and not try to dominate them, subsequent seasons will not be as bad. A lot of people give up on geese that first breeding season, which I think is a mistake because it does get better from there.

My favorite of my breeds are my Buffs. They're the smallest of my three breeds, and slightly calmer and quieter. The sun does fade their buff coloring significantly, so most of the time they aren't that gorgeous buff color you see in pictures. I always think it's pretty, but the fading happens pretty quickly after a molt if color is important to you. The grey color on my Toulouse is not nearly so prone to fading, and the grey stays striking year round. But for charming personalities and friendliness, I have a hard time believing you can beat a Buff.

 

[Pampered chicken girl]

You might like Buffs, they’re generally calm and quieter. Chinese type geese are usually more vocal about an intruder but they can often have spicier personalities.

I've got American Buffs, Production Toulouse, and Embdens. They're all friendly and social - I think that has most to do with how people raise and treat them - they're all noisy when something new, exciting, or dangerous catches their eye, and they all get mean during their first breeding season. If you can wait out that first season, respect their boundaries and not try to dominate them, subsequent seasons will not be as bad. A lot of people give up on geese that first breeding season, which I think is a mistake because it does get better from there.

My favorite of my breeds are my Buffs. They're the smallest of my three breeds, and slightly calmer and quieter. The sun does fade their buff coloring significantly, so most of the time they aren't that gorgeous buff color you see in pictures. I always think it's pretty, but the fading happens pretty quickly after a molt if color is important to you. The grey color on my Toulouse is not nearly so prone to fading, and the grey stays striking year round. But for charming personalities and friendliness, I have a hard time believing you can beat a Buff.

Thank you! My area is pretty shady for them with lots of tree cover so maybe that'd help the fading? We've also been looking into pilgrims and pomeranian, any opinions on them?

 

[AGeese]

I'm hoping to get geese in the spring, nothing is set in stone yet but just starting our research now. I'm not sure what geese we should get.
Some requirements:
Docile and social
Preferably a good watch dog
Preferably not too big
We don't want any white geese

Note, they will be living with our ducks but will have a good size fenced in area. We only plan to get 2 geese.
TIA

As you probably have noticed doing research there's a lot less geese to choose from as opposed to chickens. Docile is kind of an interesting expectation as said there will be times they won't be and mating season is one where you'll encounter some aggression.

Things have just started to mellow out this month with mine, but instead of my gander bolting over to attack my dog, they all slowly walk up ready to give him a bite if I'm not looking, so I have to steer him clear of them regardless, because he's got his nose to the ground and hasn't figured out yet getting close to them is a bad thing.

 

[Goosebaby]

Thank you! My area is pretty shady for them with lots of tree cover so maybe that'd help the fading? We've also been looking into pilgrims and pomeranian, any opinions on them?

It it helps they don’t fade to white, they go from sort of a light taupe to a creamy blond.

 

[fowltemptress]

It it helps they don’t fade to white, they go from sort of a light taupe to a creamy blond.

My mother thinks they just wind up looking dirty.

Pilgrims are comparable to Buffs in size and personality by most accounts, but if you're looking to avoid white birds you'll have to avoid the males. If you wanted to breed in the future, that would be an issue, but obviously that's not a problem if you weren't wanting goslings.

Pomeranians are striking looking. I've heard mixed reviews about their personalities, but again, I really think that has a lot to do with the owner and not necessarily the geese.

 

[Pampered chicken girl]

As you probably have noticed doing research there's a lot less geese to choose from as opposed to chickens.

Yes, I've seen

Docile is kind of an interesting expectation as said there will be times they won't be and mating season is one where you'll encounter some aggression.

Things have just started to mellow out this month with mine, but instead of my gander bolting over to attack my dog, they all slowly walk up ready to give him a bite if I'm not looking, so I have to steer him clear of them regardless, because he's got his nose to the ground and hasn't figured out yet getting close to them is a bad thing.

yeah, I expect that. I won't be getting a gander but I understand there will be aggression during mating season. I just added that to my list because I know some breeds can be more aggressive

It it helps they don’t fade to white, they go from sort of a light taupe to a creamy blond.

That's good

 

[Pampered chicken girl]

My mother thinks they just wind up looking dirty.

Pilgrims are comparable to Buffs in size and personality by most accounts, but if you're looking to avoid white birds you'll have to avoid the males. If you wanted to breed in the future, that would be an issue, but obviously that's not a problem if you weren't wanting goslings.

I don't want any males so it won't be a problem

Pomeranians are striking looking. I've heard mixed reviews about their personalities, but again, I really think that has a lot to do with the owner and not necessarily the geese.

Do you know any hatcheries that have them? I can't seem to find any

 

[AGeese]

Yes, I've seen

yeah, I expect that. I won't be getting a gander but I understand there will be aggression during mating season. I just added that to my list because I know some breeds can be more aggressive

That's good

Dominant females can be aggressive like ganders. Hopefully you get some mild tempered ones.