How to Live with a Goose
Geese make intelligent, loyal and entertaining pets with long lifespans of up to 20 years. They act as natural lawnmowers and vigilant watchdogs, but require a significant commitment, ample outdoor space to graze, secure predator-proof housing, and tolerance for loud vocalizations during breeding season.
As goslings, geese will bond with the first suitable moving stimulus, no matter if this is a goose, person or even an object. They remain dedicated to that person or object as their surrogate “parent” throughout their lives. Because geese are highly social animals, if they are raised around other livestock and fowl, they usually get along well with them. They are interesting, expressive and friendlier than one would think. However, children may make too much noice and have too fast movements for geese.
What to Know About Your Goose
Goose is actually the term for female geese; male geese are called ganders. A group of geese on land or in the water are a gaggle, while in the air they are called a skein. Although they are one of the largest waterfowls, they spend most of their time on land.
Geese eat high quality organic waterfowl pellets, nuts, grass, plants, and berries; their high-volume droppings do not have an odor and can be rinsed away easily in the rain or with a hose. They forage for grubs, slugs, and persistent weeds like poison ivy without tearing up established garden beds as aggressively as chickens might. Browsing can be supplemented with layer pellets from a hanging feeder inside their house.
Geese are very loyal. They mate for life and are protective of their partners and offspring. Geese express a mourning behavior when they lose their mating partner or their eggs. They enjoy preening their feathers, foraging for food in the grass, and collecting twigs, bark, and leaves to use to make “home improvements” in their nests. They have strong affections for others in their group.
Is Your Goose a Boy or Girl?
Males are larger with thicker necks, and they stand tall with their heads up. Their voices are a deeper barking sound, and they are generally more aggressive, especially during the spring breeding season, when they may threaten humans and other animals. Females are smaller with slimmer necks and have a higher pitched voice. They have the same colored plumage.
How to Keep Your Goose Happy
Geese need a large, fenced yard with plenty of grazing grass. While a full pond is not strictly mandatory, a deep tub, kiddie pool, or heavy basin for bathing and clearing their nostrils is essential. Heavier breeds require a deeper pool to be able to mate successfully. Unlike chickens, geese generally dislike standard elevated roosts and prefer a dry, well-ventilated ground-level shelter with fresh straw for wind and weather protection.
