Pilgrim Geese

No cons?:O This seems like a good pet goose!

So, they don't kill, eat, or injure chickens and ducks?

I currently don't have chickens but they do fine with my ducks. As with all geese, it is possible for a smaller bird such as a duck to get hurt during mating season and you must keep an eye on how things are going with mixed birds. I have had to check my Pilgrim ganders feelings towards certain ducks during the mating season, locking the duck in question away from him for a few days till he calms down again. But it will depend on the birds, gander and space they have. Other then a little bit of fighting during breeding season I haven't seen any issues with them and other birds. All year they run with my ducks and only a few times have I had a duck get harassed and only by the gander in the middle of breeding season.

Hmm! Good! I don't know if I'd be willing to take the chance...Are they very standoffish or are they territorial? Will they attack during mating season?

Neither. He was protective of his mate, me and most of the ducks and later his babies. With the duck he didn't like, he would chase her away trying to biter her when she went into the pen his girl was sitting in. Just like with any animals they make friends and have others they just don't like as much. I just play it on the safe side as I don't want problems. It really will depend on the bird but the Pilgrims are way calmer and sweeter then any others I have had or seen. Even Golden Retrievers dogs have attacked people, its just more unlikely. Pilgrims are geese and will act like geese but like the Golden Retrievers they seem to have a sweeter and more gentle temperament then others breeds of the same species. Like with Golden Retrievers though, I can only say generality's apply. If your wanting a gentle breed of goose then Pilgrims are a great choice. If you want babies then remember that during mating season regardless of the breed problems can appear even with the Pilgrims. If you want geese but you don't care about babies then go for females. They don't seem to have the hormone issues in spring that the boys do.

That's strange. We have a female Pilgrim Goose and she is very kind, she is more of a nervous goose though.

I've been thinking about adding a couple of these geese to our flock for a while (we only have chickens now). This makes me even more interested in the Pilgrims! Thanks for the review.

I bought a few geese (5) and was told that one was nasty. It was a He. He used to attack the previous owner to them and then went the current.
I said I was not worried. He was only young and was protecting his girls. All the other 4 were female. I snapped him out of it very quickly.
Let him come at you, grab his neck and spin him around, slap him on the tail (bottom) and tell him off sending him off with his dignity shattered.
Also you can spread your arms out and go towards him telling him to behave. It shows him that although he is boss of his flock, he is not boss of you.
This has worked for many people. I saw it on TV in an animal show a fair while ago. Try it, it is a game of bluff. Telling him that you are boss.

P.S. I have had geese for about 15 years now and have never had a problem either.

I guess pilgrim geese aren't for everyone

It's so nice that they are sex-linked

The general information is wrong about Pilgrim geese being the only American breed that is auto-sexing. Cotton Patch geese also are an American breed, and also auto-sexing.

Are the hens good at keeping things away? Are they loud? I might get a few ducks, and I want a goose to protect them, but I don't have that much room, so i need a quiet goose. I want a female because i want laying ducks.

JumbeThePigDuck said:

Are the hens good at keeping things away? Are they loud? I might get a few ducks, and I want a goose to protect them, but I don't have that much room, so i need a quiet goose. I want a female because i want laying ducks.

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geese are more of an alarm system., than a guard. they can be attacked by predators too. they will not protect your ducks or chickens. but you will hear them scream loudly so you can run out and chase predators away yourself.