All About Geese
Wednesday, July 16th, 2008An animal research assignment from 2007.
Geese Family: Anatidae (includes ducks and swans)
Subfamily: Anserinae
Main Varieties: Embden, Toulouse and Chinese.
Lifespan: Longer lived than other poultry, 20 – 22 years is the average and there are many stories of them living up to 80 years.
Eats: Geese are mostly grass grazers but will happily eat insects and small creatures like snails, mice, snails, etc, as well as vegetable waste (no citrus), small amounts of bread, and soft or soggy fruit. They prefer grass 10cm or shorter, rather than long or tough grass, and are selective feeders, picking out preferred forages. They need grit to digest their food.
Needs: Geese are hardy and don’t mind the cold (though they need shade in hot weather) and are not susceptible to most poultry diseases. They like occasional swimming which helps prevent sore feet, though a water trough is sufficient as they don’t need as much water as ducks do.
Features: Geese are territorial and will hiss at intruders and attack foxes or small dogs if threatened. They can also be very noisy, so they’re not recommended for small blocks or acreages. Geese also like routine and familiar keepers. Said to be good companions with horses, as they don’t share intestinal flora (i.e. worms).
Uses: Eggs, meat, feathers and down, liquid fertiliser, grass grazing, weed and pest control, and as a guard animal. They are very good for orchards as they eat grass, weeds and small pests and turn them into high volumes of liquid fertiliser for the trees. “Geese have been used to weed a variety of crops (for example, cotton and strawberries) and to keep fence rows, irrigation ditches and other inaccessible areas, clean. They are also considered to be effective in controlling the pond weeds, para grass, water-lily and water hyacinth. Raising geese in orchards may be a profitable method of controlling grass growth.”
Egg-laying Capabilities: Will usually lay 30 - 50 eggs a year (or less) and are seasonal. In the southern hemisphere usually start to lay in July or August, for about four months. Eggs are bigger, have higher fat content and richer yolks than chicken eggs.
Breeding: Geese will choose a partner and stay with them for years unless broken up or death occurs. Most breeds of geese can hatch their eggs successfully though they don’t often go broody. Incubation of the eggs takes 29 - 31 days.
Housing Requirements: While geese are large birds, they should be kept in a shed at night for protection from dogs, foxes and feral cats. A shed should be 1m2 per bird, and the yard at least 2m2 per bird. Sheds need frequent cleaning as geese foul their sleeping quarters. Sheds should have nesting boxes, though geese often just lay on the floor anyway. Fencing one metre high (or two strand electric fencing at 10cm and 30cm) is sufficient to keep them in an outdoor yard or pasture.
Stocking Rate: An acre of pasture will support 20 - 40 birds (depending on the size of the geese and pasture quality).