Share Goose Shelter pics (& cute goose houses)...

[littlechick1005]

I need some ideas for a simple goose shelter for my two ladies. They are kept in my barn and have a 10x6 run they go in during the day...they used to be free range, but the fox had other plans. I plan to add an extention to their pen this coming Spring making it 20x6 so theyll have added length for exersize. In the day I worry about them being out in the elements when they are turned out...not that it gets too bad here in the summer but we get some severe thunderstorms, down-pours and high winds et. Im not sure what size shelter I will need to make or what style? They are shy geese, anything too narrow and I dont think theyll go in so something with an open concept would be nice.

Im also curious about the flooring of the pen...currently there is no floor to the pen, naturally...but I noticed they are digging holes all throughout the soil and grass looking for worms and bugs...thats great for them but its not my land so I feel I should put some type of flooring down...Im leaning towards using equine rubber stall mats...Anyone done this before or have a different suggestion?

Also are there any plants I could put in pots and add to their pen that they could pick at to add a little fun to their pen in the summer months? Obstacles, climbers, toys or water toys? They do have a water tub they like to bathe and swim in

Then their indoor stall is very blah, just a plain old square with a water dish, feed dish and pile of hay in the corner...any ideas on how to make their stall more interactive, explorative, cozy or fun?

 

[Miss Lydia]

I need some ideas for a simple goose shelter for my two ladies. They are kept in my barn and have a 10x6 run they go in during the day...they used to be free range, but the fox had other plans. I plan to add an extention to their pen this coming Spring making it 20x6 so theyll have added length for exersize. In the day I worry about them being out in the elements when they are turned out...not that it gets too bad here in the summer but we get some severe thunderstorms, down-pours and high winds et. Im not sure what size shelter I will need to make or what style? They are shy geese, anything too narrow and I dont think theyll go in so something with an open concept would be nice.

Im also curious about the flooring of the pen...currently there is no floor to the pen, naturally...but I noticed they are digging holes all throughout the soil and grass looking for worms and bugs...thats great for them but its not my land so I feel I should put some type of flooring down...Im leaning towards using equine rubber stall mats...Anyone done this before or have a different suggestion?

Also are there any plants I could put in pots and add to their pen that they could pick at to add a little fun to their pen in the summer months? Obstacles, climbers, toys or water toys? They do have a water tub they like to bathe and swim in

Then their indoor stall is very blah, just a plain old square with a water dish, feed dish and pile of hay in the corner...any ideas on how to make their stall more interactive, explorative, cozy or fun?

Thanks to GB I was able to find this link very fast, enjoy... https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/586695/what-does-your-goose-coop-look-like

 

[Going Bhonkers]

Miss Lydia,

LittleChick, here are some toy links!

• https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/725790/my-geese-love-their-hay
• https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/356359/goose-house
• https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/579566/my-geese-found-a-new-toy
• https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/544268/toys-for-geese

Hope these help in your quest

 

[wildpeas]

Is there any way you can make their outside area even bigger? I find that my two geese use every inch of their yard and it's somewhere around 50x50. Something else I have found this winter is that my geese go nuts for straw. I make a pile for them and they spend a lot of time eating it, rooting around in it, sleeping in it. They get really excited when I bring out more to freshen the pile. Since we feed our geese outside, we made a simple roof structure to keep it dry. It is a wood frame covered with metal roofing and is held up on t-posts. We put a rubber mat under it to make spilled food clean up easier.



This one is in the duck yard but the goose one is identical.

 

[Iain Utah]

What is the size of their area in the barn? How much time do they spend in the 10x6 run? Do you let them go out for limited free ranging?

 

[littlechick1005]

They have a 12x12 indoor stall and spend the day in the 10x6 pen. Unfortunately they dont get any free range time, they love the neighbors pond but the neighbor doesnt love them. We had the geese before he had his pond but he wanted a pond so that along with the fox family we have out back in the woods our girls lost their freedom. I orginally started out with one goose, took her in as a rescue after he gander died then another friend offered us her lonely goose and we took her in, we werent expecting to have to cage them or we wouldnt have taken them but things changed and now we have to make do with what we have. They are well cared for even though there is lack of space. They are kept clean, recieve a varied diet, they are pretty girls, even lay eggs for 3 months of the summer! In a few years I will be moved and Ill have a new barn in which I will be sure to build them a pen with plenty of space ...im fortunate to at least be able to add another set of panels though. 20x6 is better than 10x6 for sure!