Farm two geese

[Faroe]

My neighbor has offered me two free geese he raised from eggs. I've never had them. Thought they would be aggressive. Put my fingers through the chicken wire, and they just amiably nibbled them. Cuties. They are a mix. He doesn't know the sexes. Mostly grown. My take is both female, but that is really just a guess - both seem sweet.

I have dug out Harvey Ussery's, Small Scale Poultry Flock for care info (not finding much specific to geese in there - will have to source out another book), but was hoping for some input from anyone here who has raised them.

Crazy idea??
Book recommendations?

 

[summerthyme]

I've always thought they were the most efficient homestead meat animal, in terms of time and feed inputs. However, they do have drawbacks. They poop everywhere. If you don't have a way to confine them away from your areas (lawn, porches), they will be unusable.

As far as aggression, they definitely will be aggressive when they have babies. But aside from that time, we never had any trouble with them. They do know the difference between family and strangers... excellent "watchdogs".

I got rid of ours after they discovered the garden... unfenced, they'd ignored it for 6 years. Once they discovered the lettuce and strawberries, it was all they wanted. I hate having to fence a garden (PITA to use the tiller, etc). We didn't like roasted goose that much!

Summerthyme

 

[Faroe]

Thanks! Garden is electronet fenced. Have been working on fencing and gates around the immediate house perimeter so the puppy could get outside at will, but not access the poultry unattended. (Otherwise, he has to be leashed, or supervised.) The owner agreed I could take them on a trial basis, and he was warned that they might end up on the table at a later date.

I think I'll take them!

 

[Freeholder]

I would take them if I was you. We've had geese a couple of times, and I like them. You will have to watch out for (mostly) the gander during their breeding season (assuming you have a gander), but otherwise we never had any trouble with them.

It's hard to tell the sexes apart in geese -- in ducks, the drakes have that little feather at the base of the tail that curls up, and they have different voices. But there aren't many obvious differences in geese. You may be able to tell by close-up examination of the vent area, with pictures of what to look for. Otherwise, the gander usually stands a little taller than the goose, and may be a little bit heavier. If you have a flock of several, after a while you can usually pick out the ganders, but it's not easy!

Kathleen