Backyard poultry-keeping has grown in popularity, with chickens being the most common choice for many enthusiasts. However, an increasing number of individuals are discovering the joys of raising geese in their backyards.
Geese are delightful, sociable creatures that offer unique benefits to poultry enthusiasts. This article will delve into the basic care of backyard geese while highlighting the similarities and differences with backyard chickens.
Housing and Space
Both geese and chickens require housing to protect them from predators and extreme weather conditions. Coops and enclosures should be secure, well-ventilated, and spacious enough to allow the birds to move freely. Geese in general generally need more space compared to chickens due to their larger size and active nature.
They enjoy grazing and roaming, so providing access to a fenced yard or pasture is essential. Additionally, geese prefer to nest in more open areas compared to chickens, which prefer nesting boxes in a secluded corner of the coop.
Feeding and Nutrition
Similarities
Geese and chickens share some dietary requirements, such as access to clean water and a balanced diet containing grains, vegetables, and protein sources like insects or commercial feeds.
Differences
Geese are primarily grazers and prefer a diet rich in grass. While chickens will peck at grass, they tend to be more omnivorous, enjoying a mix of grains, vegetables, and protein. Geese also have longer necks and can reach vegetation higher off the ground, making them excellent foragers in meadows and ponds.
Social Behavior
Similarities
Both geese and chickens are social animals that thrive in the company of their flock members. They establish a hierarchy within the group, and maintaining a harmonious environment is vital for their well-being.
Differences
Geese are remarkably loyal and form strong bonds with their human caretakers. They can also be protective of their territory and fellow geese, making them effective watchdogs. In contrast, chickens are generally less attached to humans and are more focused on establishing a stable pecking order within their flock.
Egg Production and Incubation
Similarities
Both geese and chickens lay eggs, and these can be collected for consumption or hatching.
Differences
Goose eggs are larger than chicken eggs, with a thicker shell. While chickens are known for their frequent egg-laying throughout the year, geese tend to lay eggs seasonally, with peak production during the spring. Geese are also known for their attentive mothering behavior, diligently incubating their eggs and caring for their goslings after hatching.
Raising backyard geese can be a rewarding experience that offers unique benefits compared to keeping chickens. Understanding the similarities and differences between these two types of poultry is essential for providing optimal care.
Geese bring charm, loyalty, and natural pest control to the backyard, making them a valuable addition to any poultry enthusiast’s flock. By creating a safe and nurturing environment, poultry keepers can enjoy the delights of both chickens and geese, enriching their lives and creating lasting connections with their feathered friends.
Acquiring geese
There are several interesting breeds of geese, and once you have found one that you like, you will need to start looking for a reputable breeder. Keep in mind (in the UK at least) you may need to plan months in advance because most breeders only have a small number of geese available in the autumn and many will take bookings for these in advance so may not have stock readily available.
Larger poultry shows often have sales pens and you may find a few geese for sale, but one of the best places I have found where you can almost guarantee to find excellent quality stock is at a dedicated waterfowl show. The British Waterfowl Association organises a small number of excellent shows each year.
You may have to travel some distance to reach a good show, but it is always educational speaking with knowledgeable enthusiasts about your chosen breed.
The British Waterfowl Association also maintains a Breeders Directory for members which is useful to track down different breeders.
Poultry fencing for geese
If you have a secure area (a proven electric fence, for example), you can leave geese and other waterfowl out at night. Unlike chickens and other poultry, waterfowl are active at night and can see reasonably well in the dark.
Keep in mind that geese may make noise at night if they spot something unusual, and when it’s quiet at night, this noise can travel some distance, potentially disturbing sleeping neighbours.
I have always housed my geese at night because I wouldn’t sleep with worry if I heard them making noise because a fox walked past their pen!
Apart from housing, secure poultry fencing is the only big investment you will need to make when keeping geese. I have tried several solutions and found that for large areas, it is better to use electric wires on the outside of the fence to deter climbers (such as mink, stoats or rats) and larger, more common predators such as foxes and badgers who may try to dig under a fence, especially on soft, sandy soils.
The ideal solution would be a tall (say 1.8m) fence with an outward slope on the top and 30cm buried at the bottom. This is type of professional fencing I’ve seen at private waterfowl collections.
The mesh size is too small for smaller predators to squeeze through, and thick enough to prevent badgers or foxes from tearing it. An electric wire would run at low-level to prevent digging and close to the fence at the top to stop climbers from running over the top of the fence.
The reality is this solution is costly to have installed, especially over a large area, and I tried to find a compromise. I have used Tundra Otter fencing, 1.6m tall with about 20cm laid flat on the ground around the outside to prevent digging. It has electric wires on the outside to prevent climbing or digging. On internal fences, I have reduced the height to 1.3m, but this is, really, only to keep the birds in their penned areas.