Planning for Geese!

[Pumperkinz]

I'm planning on getting a couple of geese going into the 2025 year sometime.

I've been reading/studying about them before I get into them and just wanting honest feedback.

I currently have 15 chickens mixed breeds etc in a large coop that's got a run attached. Does anyone have suggestions for housing geese with chickens or would you suggest separating the chickens/geese for nighttime since the geese will be on the ground and not roosting?

How many geese is a good number for a small farm just for the joy/possibly breeding/selling geese? (I was debating on 2/2 F/M)

Is it better to hatch out eggs or would you suggest getting day old goslings from a hatchery, and is there any suggested current hatcheries that are reliable and good to their flocks?

I'm looking at Sebastopol or Pilgrim Geese as the varieties and was wondering if either are better adjusted to being in a mixed flock?

Would it be suggested to get a small water source built or at bare minimum pool for them to play/dunk dive and just have fun in?

I live in upstate NY where winters can get -10 easily during some of the blizzards/nor'easters we get is there anything special about the breeds or just the normal check their feet/monitor them and make sure they aren't getting frost bit etc?

Thank you I know its a lot of questions but would rather me ask and be prepared then scramble!

 

[Goosebaby]

I'm planning on getting a couple of geese going into the 2025 year sometime.

I've been reading/studying about them before I get into them and just wanting honest feedback.

I currently have 15 chickens mixed breeds etc in a large coop that's got a run attached. Does anyone have suggestions for housing geese with chickens or would you suggest separating the chickens/geese for nighttime since the geese will be on the ground and not roosting?

How many geese is a good number for a small farm just for the joy/possibly breeding/selling geese? (I was debating on 2/2 F/M)

Is it better to hatch out eggs or would you suggest getting day old goslings from a hatchery, and is there any suggested current hatcheries that are reliable and good to their flocks?

I'm looking at Sebastopol or Pilgrim Geese as the varieties and was wondering if either are better adjusted to being in a mixed flock?

Would it be suggested to get a small water source built or at bare minimum pool for them to play/dunk dive and just have fun in?

I live in upstate NY where winters can get -10 easily during some of the blizzards/nor'easters we get is there anything special about the breeds or just the normal check their feet/monitor them and make sure they aren't getting frost bit etc?

Thank you I know its a lot of questions but would rather me ask and be prepared then scramble!

Some people have luck with mixing chickens and geese, others don’t and it can turn deadly for the chickens, or a specific chicken for whatever reason. Birds are individualistic so it largely depends on their personalities if they’ll get along or not, it’s also important to consider that ganders get more hormonal and defensive of their partners in winter/spring breeding season. Generally it’s a good idea to offer adequate space for escape if some drama does start up.
I keep my geese and ducks in separate enclosures at night for this reason, during the day they’re loose in the yard without issues but at night everyone likes their own separate space. It might not be a great idea for the chickens to be roosting above where they can defecate on the geese for health reasons also.

I don’t have Sebastopols so I’m not really sure how cold tolerant they are but trailing feathers can get mucky very easily so they’ll require some extra care to keep them clean and dry. Generally healthy geese are cold hardy, but protecting them from wind is a good idea.
I don’t have pilgrims either but I’ve heard that they’re a spicier breed, though I’m not sure, hopefully some pilgrim owners come along and give their opinion. Spicy birds can be fun but expect more squabbles.

If you’re considering geese for the joy of geese…..we’ll consider this a warning. Chicken math applies to geese, according to the math I only have about two geese “I HAVE 11.”

I use baby pools for my geese, I’ve seen others use everything from actual pools to stock tanks, whatever works will work that you’re able to drain and clean periodically.

I’m not really experienced with incubators but maybe @Jenbirdee @FoodFreedomNow @oldhenlikesdogs @BirdsBeesTrees have some advice if you go that route. My geese have come from Metzer and McMurray and I’ve so far had no complaints and I’ve had some hatch their own goslings which is a lot of fun.

 

[Jenbirdee]

i got my pilgrims locally.
i keep them entirely separate from my ducks and chickens.
the geese have grass still alive for years in their yard.
the ducks and chickens destroyed anything green growing .
geese like to eat grass - if i didn’t separate them - they wouldn’t have any.
also they do not like the ducks and chickens and have tried to squish them.
as for incubating eggs there is
an excellent guide pinned at top of goose forum. but be prepared you can’t choose gender that way.
i don’t think my pilgrims are too spicy - maybe a little. they are precious characters and i love them like crazy!

 

[Pgw]

I too am getting 2 female Buff Geese from Metzer's . Keeping fingers crossed no issues. I am also raising Silkies come end of June. Would have preferred to raise my chicks first but dates didn't work out for availability. I researched as well and have been advised not to brood together but that my choice of breeds was good. Being Buff geese are very sweet and docile as well as Silkies. I have 10 x 20 ft run. The chickens and geese will have their own coop within the run. I also plan to devise any easy partition to separate them at night as well. I wanted the geese to act as a rooster would. My "plan" is to start putting those goslings with my chicks on short supervised playdates. I want them to know each other before they all go into run and pasture together. My geese and chicks are all females. That is important. If you get a male and female goose they will be more territorial and ignore chicks. A male goose would even try to mate with a chicken which may kill it. If I want my geese to multiply then I would completely separate them even during day. Now I plan to let them free range within electric fenced pasture with overhead netting. I have every predator there is!