Raising Geese As a Beginner - All The Essentials To Know!
When I first started raising geese, I realized they were quite different from our other birds, like ducks, chickens, or turkeys. Geese have their own unique traits and requirements, making them a fascinating addition to any backyard flock.
Over the past few years, I've learned a lot about these incredible birds, and they have become my favorites (don't tell the chickens!).
I'm excited to share my insights with you, covering everything from why you should keep geese to their care, feeding, and housing requirements.
Contents:
Why keep Geese?
Geese are fascinating creatures that provide several benefits to backyard farmers.
Here are some of the reasons we keep them and why you should consider adding geese to your flock:
Companionship and Entertainment
Geese are social, intelligent, and curious animals. They form strong bonds with their caretakers and can provide endless entertainment with their antics and personalities.
Guarding Other Fowl
A single goose raised with chickens will see them as its flock and fiercely protect them. While a larger group of geese won't imprint on chickens, their intimidating presence can deter small predators.
Lawn Maintenance
Geese are excellent foragers and will spend their days grazing on grass and weeds. Their long necks make them effective at keeping the ground around orchards, vineyards, and berry bushes weed-free without damaging the crops.
Low Maintenance & hardy
Geese are hardy and low-maintenance birds suffering from fewer diseases and parasites than chickens.
Egg Production
Geese produce large eggs that are highly nutritious and can be a unique addition to your diet. We follow a plant-based diet, so we don't eat eggs, but we do have other uses for them. Read more here: 4 Clever ways for using your excess eggs
Fertilization
Geese naturally add fertilizer and organic matter to the soil as they graze, enhancing soil quality.
Popular Goose Breeds for the Backyard
Selecting the right breed of geese is crucial for ensuring they fit your needs and environment well.
Some popular breeds include:
Embden Geese
Embden geese are known for their large size (weighing between 20 to 34 pounds) and calm demeanor, making them an excellent choice for meat production if this is your need. These geese are pure white with blue eyes and orange bills and feet, presenting a striking and clean appearance.
Toulouse Geese
They are prized for their gentle nature and excellent egg production. Originating from France, these geese are gray with large, soft feathers and a prominent dewlap (a flap of skin hanging under the beak). The breed is divided into two main types: the production type and the exhibition (or standard) type. The production type is more streamlined and better suited for egg-laying, while the exhibition type is larger and often used for showing.
African Geese
African geese are easily recognized by the unique knob at the base of their bill. They are a versatile breed and good for guarding. Their loud, distinctive calls and alert nature make them effective watchdogs for your flock and property. Despite their somewhat intimidating appearance, they can be quite affectionate with their keepers.
Chinese Geese
Chinese geese are smaller and known for their loud, honking calls, which make them excellent guard animals. They come in two color varieties: white and brown. Their active and curious nature makes them a lively addition to any flock.
Pilgrim Geese
These are known for their calm temperament and are medium-sized. One unique aspect of Pilgrim geese is their auto-sexing characteristic; males are predominantly white with a few gray feathers, while females are gray with white facial markings. They are friendly, making them an excellent choice for beginners or those looking for a dual-purpose breed.
Dewlap Toulouse Geese
Dewlap Toulouse geese are a heavier variant of the Toulouse breed. They are characterized by a large, hanging dewlap and a substantial, robust body. Their calm and docile nature makes them easy to handle, but their size requires adequate space and nutrition to thrive.
Sebastopol Geese
Sebastopol geese are renowned for their unique, curly feathers, which give them a frilly appearance. Due to their striking look, these geese are primarily kept for ornamental purposes and exhibition. They are medium-sized and hardy and can withstand cold climates better than one might expect. They have a very friendly temperament, and we just love our dear Sebastopols!
Preparing for Goslings arrival
Goslings are just the cutest!!
Incubating eggs can be tricky, so if you are a first-time geese owner, I recommend getting hatched goslings.
When preparing for the arrival of goslings that you have ordered or are getting from a breeder/friend/ neighbor, there are a few key things to consider:
Brooder Setup
A brooder for geese is similar to one for chicks but needs to accommodate their rapid growth. Ensure that some areas can expand as they grow. And they grow very fast!!
Temperature
Goslings need to be brooded at 90°F for the first week. Lower the temperature by 5-10 degrees each week until it reaches 70°F. If using a heat plate, adjust the height as they grow.
Water Access
Goslings need to dip their entire bills into water to keep their nostrils clean. A small tray with an inch of water is sufficient; avoid full swimming areas to keep the brooder clean. More on their food requirements below!
Transition to Outdoor Pens
Goslings typically no longer need heat after 5-6 weeks. If the weather is warm, they can spend time on pasture sooner, returning to the brooder at night.
READ MORE: How to integrate new chicks with your existing flock (this blog focusses on chicks, but the concept for goslings will be more or less the same)
What Do Geese Eat?
Geese primarily eat grass and are excellent grazers. So that's already a big save!
Here's a closer look at their dietary needs:
Grass
Geese need access to grass daily. They prefer short grass about three inches tall and will graze on various grass and clover species, except for alfalfa.
Supplemental Feed
If you don't have enough pasture, supplement their diet with wheat, poultry layer pellets, and fresh greens like lettuce and cabbage. Occasionally, cooked vegetables can be fed.
Goslings
You can feed goslings fresh grass and weeds daily, along with waterfowl or chick starter feed. After six weeks, they can switch to poultry feed as a supplement, along with access to good pasture.
Niacin
Since goslings grow so incredibly fast, niacin plays an active role in developing their legs. Ensure they have waterfowl or game bird feed with niacin, or add brewer's yeast to their feed at a ratio of 3 pounds to 25 pounds of feed.
Grit
Geese need grit to help grind their food. Offer sand or mixed grit with oyster shells to provide the calcium carbonate needed for strong eggshells.
READ MORE:
Housing for Geese
Geese are hardy birds, but they still require proper shelter and a secure, predator-proof area at night.
Here's what you need to know about housing geese:
Shelter
Provide a well-ventilated, sturdy structure with dry straw on the floor. Each goose needs approximately 5-8 square feet of floor space.
Sleeping and nesting
Geese do not roost on a bar like chickens, guineas and turkeys. They also don't require nesting boxes. They will sleep on the ground and make nests in corners or private areas.
Fencing
Geese are too heavy to fly, so their fencing needs are similar to those of chickens. Use hardware mesh for the bottom twelve inches of the fence and bury additional mesh at least six inches underground to prevent digging predators. In high-predator areas, consider electrified wires around the fence.
Do Geese Need a Pond?
Unlike ducks, geese do not require a pond. They do need lots of clean, fresh water for drinking and washing their heads. Water containers should be deep enough for them to submerge their entire head.
We have a kiddie pool for our geese that works well for this purpose.
A pond can be beneficial for breeding. Geese have an easier time mating in water, but won't spend as much time on it as ducks do.
Geese Temperament and Character
Geese are spirited, intelligent, and curious animals. They love to explore and often get into mischief. Maybe that's why I love them so much!
They can be quite talkative, and by that I mean noisy! Some people find it charming, while others might find it just too much.
Geese are flock animals and need the company of other geese or their human caretakers.
One notable trait of goslings is their tendency to imprint on their caretakers. The first person to feed and care for them often becomes their "parent," and they will follow this person around faithfully. However, adult geese and goslings hatched by other geese are less likely to form such bonds with humans.
Misconceptions About Geese
A common misconception is that geese are mean animals, but they are not. This behavior is usually a misunderstanding of their natural instincts and how people respond to them.
A goose running at you with its neck and wings out is trying to bluff you. Stand tall, spread your arms, and walk towards the goose while yelling. Never back down; this will make the goose view you as lower in the pecking order.
Geese, especially ganders, might bite those they perceive as lower in the pecking order, such as kids. Some experts advise that to correct this behavior, catch the offending goose by the neck and either hold it to the ground or carry it securely under your arm, mimicking how an alpha gander pins subordinates.
Raising Geese With Chickens
Geese can coexist with other types of poultry, such as chickens and ducks. We have a mixed flock and they all get along just fine. They usually stick to their kind, but you need to monitor for any aggression, especially as geese grow larger.
The most important thing it to let them all free range and to provide ample space for all the birds to roam and graze to reduce conflicts.
I have an entire blog about how to raise a mixed flock that you will find very helpful!
Geese Eggs
Here are some facts about geese eggs:
When to expect eggs: Geese are seasonal layers, typically laying eggs from spring to early summer.
Laying Frequency: A female usually lays one or two eggs daily in the mating season. Typically, a goose will lay between 12 - 15 eggs in one clutch. She may, however, wait to begin incubating her clutch of eggs until every egg has been laid so all of the goslings can hatch at the same time and be the same size.
Egg Size: Goose eggs are large, averaging around 144 grams each, equivalent to the size of three large chicken eggs.
common geese health issues
Like all animals, geese are susceptible to certain health issues. Understanding these common problems and knowing how to treat them can help ensure your geese remain healthy and happy.
Here are some of the most common health issues geese can struggle with and how to address them:
Parasites
Geese can be affected by external parasites such as mites and lice and internal parasites like worms.
Treatment:
Use diatomaceous earth or a commercial poultry dusting powder to treat and prevent mites and lice. Apply the powder directly to the geese’s feathers and bedding.
Regularly clean and disinfect their living quarters to reduce the risk of infestation. Remove old bedding and replace it with fresh, clean straw.
Regularly deworm your geese with a suitable poultry dewormer.
Rotate pastures to minimize the build-up of parasites in the environment.
Bumblefoot
Bumblefoot is a bacterial infection that causes swelling and abscesses on the footpad. It can result from injuries, poor bedding, or dirty conditions.
Treatment:
I have an in-depth blog post on how to treat bumblefoot.
Aspergillosis
Aspergillosis is a fungal infection that affects the respiratory system of geese. It is caused by inhaling spores from moldy feed or bedding. They can also suffer from other respiratory infections, which can be caused by bacteria, viruses, or environmental factors such as damp and dirty conditions.
Treatment:
Ensure the geese’s living area is clean and dry. Remove any moldy feed or bedding immediately.
In severe cases, antifungal medications or antibiotics prescribed by a veterinarian may be necessary.
Angel Wing
Angel wing is a condition where the flight feathers twist away from the body, rendering the goose unable to fly. It is often caused by an imbalanced diet, particularly an excess of protein.
Treatment:
Reduce the protein content in the geese’s diet. Switch to a diet higher in greens and lower in commercial feed.
In young geese, bandaging the wing in the correct position for several days can help correct the deformity.
Niacin Deficiency
Niacin (Vitamin B3) deficiency can cause leg weakness and deformities, particularly in goslings.
Treatment:
Add niacin supplements or brewer’s yeast to the geese’s diet. Ensure the feed is formulated for waterfowl, which contains adequate niacin levels.
Include niacin-rich foods such as peas and leafy greens in their diet.
Egg Binding
Egg binding occurs when a goose is unable to lay an egg, which can be life-threatening if not treated promptly.
Treatment:
Soak the goose in a warm bath to help relax the muscles and assist in laying the egg.
Apply a small amount of vegetable oil around the vent to ease the passage of the egg.
If the goose does not lay the egg within a few hours, seek immediate veterinary assistance.
Raising geese has been such a rewarding experience for me!
They’re intelligent, hardy, and low-maintenance birds that offer many benefits. From providing companionship to helping maintain your lawn and garden, geese can be a valuable addition to your backyard.
Whether you’re a seasoned farmer or a beginner, geese can bring joy and positivity to your life and land!
Do you require more info on other birds? Have a look at these blogs:
How to raise happy, healthy ducks
A beginners guide to raising guinea fowl
If you want to dive in deep and learn more about all things farm-related, I think you will love our HomeGrown community! See below for more info!
Love, Annette xx
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