Geese, like ducks, are fairly easy animals to care for. Watching them swim in a pond or come towards you to eat is rewarding and relaxing. In this article, you will find out how to care for geese, how to have fun with them and how to ensure a healthy and happy life for them.
Steps
Step 1. Evaluate how much you really want to have a goose
Like dogs, horses, and almost any other animal, different types of geese are good for different people. You may want a goose as a pet, as a guard, as food, etc. So it's vital that you get the right breed that is right for your needs. Don't be afraid to ask questions, questions lead to answers.
Step 2. Read books and articles on how to care for geese and poultry
Articles about ducks are fine as well, as geese and ducks are very similar. Read the article How to take care of a duckling. There are also children's books on how to take care of chickens, ducks, etc. (see recommended reading, but the texts are in English).
Step 3. Choose a race
Some geese are considered aggressive, others make good guard animals (they make a lot of noise!), And still others make excellent pets. It all depends on the breed and how you raise them. Ask friends who have birds, farmers, vets, and whoever you find. Ask for advice on which breed is best for you.
Step 4. Get the goose
In theory you should get a pair or even more geese. For quiet breeds, it's okay to get adult geese or chicks. If you have chosen a more aggressive breed, it is recommended that you get chicks. It is preferable for geese to have a mate. Alternatively, get several geese or ducks so your goose doesn't feel lonely and depressed. If you decide to buy goose, check the breeder first. The cage must be clean, the water fresh and the smell must not be too strong. Animals must be clean, healthy and alert enough. Put your hand in the cage: if the goose reacts, either by running away or approaching you, then it means that the animal is healthy. You can also find geese (and ducks) for free. Ask your friends if they know anyone; people often have animals that they cannot keep with them.
Step 5. Take her home
He takes the goose home in a large dog cage, from which he cannot escape. You will most likely need to wash the cage once you get home. The goose will in fact be very angry about having been caught and about the trip by car.
Step 6. Cut the wings
You will save a lot of time and energy if you do it before releasing the goose. It will take 2-3 people. Gently hold the goose's neck (don't get pecked at the face) and keep the body firmly close to you (without squeezing it too much). Males are very strong, so be prepared. A person must take a wing and spread it out, cutting the short feathers at the base of the wing. Do not cut them too much and be very careful, because the animal will try to free itself while you cut the feathers. You don't have to cut the goose and make it bleed, because it could die.
Step 7. Set the goose free
It would be perfect to have a pond. Birds are safer in the water than in the middle of a field. Send the geese to the pond in the morning. You can use a rake to direct them, but don't hurt them: it should be a fun experience. If you can, send them back to their barn / cage before dark. The next day, when you let them out, they should go to the pond alone, without your help. And similarly, they should return to the coop on their own.
Step 8. Buy good quality poultry food
The geese will spend a lot of time eating around the pond, but also the grass in the fields. However, like humans, geese need a balanced diet with vitamins and minerals. Their food must be suitable for poultry (ducks, geese, etc.) and must be bought at a pet store.
Step 9. Set meal times
It will take a week or two, but if you feed the geese when they are in the coop they will learn that when they return it will be time to eat. When you see the geese walking towards the chicken coop, call them and feed them. Don't scare them; look at them from a good distance. After a week, the schedules change. Now you can feed them once a day when it's not dark outside. If they return to the chicken coop at different times, avoid feeding them and respect the established time. Respect the timetable as a rule of life and the geese will learn quickly. If there are other geese and ducks in the coop, it will be easier. Make sure you have enough food for all animals. If they stay in the coop after eating, or if they are very thin, it means that they are still hungry: in this case you can increase the portions until the geese are happy. If, on the other hand, they are fat and don't run out of food, reduce the portions.
Step 10. Always provide fresh water
This step is often ignored, considering that geese have their own pond. However, the water in the pond can be dirty and should not be their only source for drinking. If there is running water, such as a stream, it would be perfect, but it is not always possible. Instead, place bowls of clean water next to their food. The bowls must be changed every day, even if there is still water. If you do not change them, the water will become dirty and the living conditions of the geese will worsen, causing bad smells and the presence of mosquitoes. When geese are young, choose shallow bowls, as they cannot get wet until they develop their adult feathers. If they get wet, dry them and warm them with a towel. If geese stay wet they can get sick and even die.
Step 11. Provide adequate shelter
Geese and ducks need shelter during thunderstorms, when the wind is blowing or there is too much sun. Generally they shelter from the sun under trees, however it is recommended to provide them with a three-walled shelter, an open chicken coop, a room in a shed or even an awning stretched between two trees. They must have a clean area with no current or wind. Straw must be grounded when it is cold or there is a storm. One square meter per goose is the recommended space. Geese also need to be able to get in and out of the coop whenever they want and to roam freely inside.
Step 12. Protect the geese from predators
This is perhaps the most difficult step, because some things cannot be controlled. However, you can protect your geese from possible predators. If you can, lock the geese in a suitable shelter (step 11) at night and only let them out during the day. Remember that their coop needs to be cleaned frequently. Remove the droppings with a shovel and throw them away from the coop. Provide clean straw, throw away the old water and change it with fresh water. Food containers also need to be clean. Predators can be: dogs, foxes, wolves, coyotes, etc. Do not shoot predators, as you could also injure a goose, a neighbor's animal or an innocent animal.
Advice
- Sometimes, geese can be afraid or happy to have you around.
- You don't have to cut off their wings if they are chicks or if they were raised by you. You only have to cut them once, when you buy them. After that, if you follow this article, the geese will understand that this is their home and that the food is in the chicken coop.
Warnings
- Don't chase the geese or they won't trust you. In addition, this may frighten them and they may not return to the chicken coop to eat, and consequently starve.
- Remember that geese, ducks, chickens and other birds are prey. Some of them may die. Try to make their life as beautiful as possible. Apart from following this article, there is very little that can be done to protect them.
Recommended Reading (English)
- "Storey's Illustrated Guide to Poultry Breeds by Carol Ekarius". This English book contains color photos, a short history and detailed descriptions of more than 120 types of birds, including geese and ducks.
- "The Book of Geese: A Complete Guide to Raising the Home Flock" by Dave Holderread. Also called the “goose bible”, used by both beginners and experts.
- "Starting with Geese" by Katie Thear. A new book on geese, on how to look after them, both for individuals and breeders.
