goose housing???

[D'Angelo N Va.]

Hello, I am thinking about getting some geese next year. This fall I am fencing in my 3 acres which includes a lg. pond. I was wondering about housing for geese. right now I have a gander (the hen died) and I don't have any housing for him. when it snows he just goes under the trees and hangs out...is this necessary for housing for them if I don't plan on stopping them up at night anyways...they will be free ranged.

 

[NapoleanGoose]

I house and put away all my geese at night. We have terrible predators here. One of my geese was killed by a racoon a couple weeks ago when I put them to bed an hour later then usual. ):

I use an old modified hog farrowing house for mine. They don't need anything tall, just something to go into to get away from the weather and be safe from predators. Ventilation is nice, and if you dont want to put them away every night an automatic door may be a good investment.

 

[floridaquilter]

I lost four geese this year to a predator. So now I lock them up at night in a basic lean to house. It is very much like a dog house without a floor. I use hay for bedding. sometimes I keep them out all night since they are now full grown. all they need is three walls, roof and door. same as a dog. I have chicken wire between the roof and sides for ventilation for our hot summer nights. I have a fenced in area for them but leave the gate open so they can roam the yard..my yard has chain link to discourage roaming dogs..but I still lost four geese to unknown predator....perhaps bobcat or fox.

You can also use a igloo as a goose house. they can be purchased as your local farm supply. I saw one posted here and thought it was an adorable goose nesting house!

 

[D'Angelo N Va.]

Thanks so much everyone...

 

[smoothmule]

I keep reading about housing for geese and swans and they are usually on the pond bank and similar to a dog house. How does that protect them from predators? Are they closed in? That won't work here so much, my 3 Sebs are free ranging and I highly doubt I could convince the swan to come in and be closed up every night. My dogs are the protectors here and kill racoons, opossums, skunks and more so I've not lost any poultry to predators in the 15 years we've been here and there are tons of coyotes, bobcat, foxes and others like them. I'm knocking on wood now

 

[chickensducks&agoose]

I ensure that all 3 of my geese are locked up tight every night. I do this because I love my geese, and want there to be three of them every morning.

 

[CMV]

I keep my goose and ducks in a low slung (8x8x5 foot) house that I slapped together out of scrap lumber. The house has one side that opens for access. There are large vents under the roof overhang covered in welded wire for ventilation. There is linoleum on the floor and the house is painted inside and out for ease of clean up. It isn't a pretty house, but it's tough and strong and perfectly functional. The only decoration inside is a milk crate for a nesting box.

 

[floridaquilter]

a local woodworker makes the cutest mini log cabins for dogs. I thought about buying one for the geese but they really prefer it outdoors. I walked out in the middle of the night with a flashlight and they attacked me...you should have seen me dancing to prevent being bit. and one had his wings out to beat me up..I stopped worrying about them at night. I believe they can take on about anything and win! I have chain link fence around my yard but we still have an occasional problem with predators.

 

[D'Angelo N Va.]

Thanks so much. I have noticed that when the hunting dogs come around, when I had 2 geese and some ducks, they would immediatley head to the pond and swim out to the middle for security...but I was worried about the winter then the pond is frozen....

 

[TennesseeTruly]

Being in VA, your gander is in danger of many predators. I'm in NE TN and we have a ton of them here. We have a goose house and two fencing systems. There is an inner fencing system and an outer one. Most of the summer the geese didn't go inside their house, they remained in the inner fencing area. But this area is strong, with 2 feet of it buried underground and it has a top on it of welded wire as well.


In the mornings they are let out to the larger outer fenced area. Then we can let them even out of that for more grazing if need be. We also have a Great Pyrenees to protect our flock.

I would suggest that you not only house your gander, but see if you can find a partner for him. Winter time is long and lonely. Last year I drove 7 1/2 hours to get my lone gander 3 "friends" so that he wouldn't be lonely. If you weren't so far away I'd offer you one. I now have 13 myself!

Good luck!

Laurie