BREEDING PENS
Before you even think about breeding geese , purebred or otherwise its important to create a good environment for them to live in.
On this site we will concentrate on the requirements for breeding geese on a small scale.This is a breakdown of their housing and outside enclosures
On this site we will concentrate on the requirements for breeding geese on a small scale.This is a breakdown of their housing and outside enclosures
- Housing
- Fencing
- Ponds
Housing
Geese are hardy animals and need minimal housing,the main requirements being good ventilation,protection from predators,rain and drafts
Though for handiness sake you should get (or make!) a goose house that has room enough for a nest box and is easy too clean out and that maybe has a makeshift window in it.
There are numerous pre-made buildings that can be used as goose houses...
1 garden shed 6x4 is enough for a set of two breeding pairs of the same breed.
2 a good potato box that is at least 4ft in height
3 importation boxes,these can be found sometimes around industrial estates and are used as packaging for machinery
4 specially made duck or goose houses are found on donedeal.ie but are usually expensive
5 large dog kennels are usually good for a pair
6any out buildings you may have around your house
But,if these options are not possible,with a bit of ingenuity a satisfactory dwelling for your geese can be constructed by hand using plywood,or shiplap timber.
allow 4-6 feet per bird i know other sources will tell you an even lower area requirement but i firmly believe the more space you can give them when they are locked in at night,the more they will thrive,lay and become broody.It also makes it easier on you because you will have to clean it out less often!
Also more space allows room for a nest area,to make your females more inclined to lay or become broody,it also gives you the option of separating this nest area into area where the goose can sit on her eggs in peace.
It is also good to have nest outside ready for your geese as some prefer to lay outside.Try to locate it under a tree or among bushes.
Though for handiness sake you should get (or make!) a goose house that has room enough for a nest box and is easy too clean out and that maybe has a makeshift window in it.
There are numerous pre-made buildings that can be used as goose houses...
1 garden shed 6x4 is enough for a set of two breeding pairs of the same breed.
2 a good potato box that is at least 4ft in height
3 importation boxes,these can be found sometimes around industrial estates and are used as packaging for machinery
4 specially made duck or goose houses are found on donedeal.ie but are usually expensive
5 large dog kennels are usually good for a pair
6any out buildings you may have around your house
But,if these options are not possible,with a bit of ingenuity a satisfactory dwelling for your geese can be constructed by hand using plywood,or shiplap timber.
allow 4-6 feet per bird i know other sources will tell you an even lower area requirement but i firmly believe the more space you can give them when they are locked in at night,the more they will thrive,lay and become broody.It also makes it easier on you because you will have to clean it out less often!
Also more space allows room for a nest area,to make your females more inclined to lay or become broody,it also gives you the option of separating this nest area into area where the goose can sit on her eggs in peace.
It is also good to have nest outside ready for your geese as some prefer to lay outside.Try to locate it under a tree or among bushes.
Fencing
For my geese I have i have two pairs of the same breed of geese in a penned off area about 20ft in width and 40ft in length.Because geese do not scrape the ground with their feet (like chickens) or probe in the grass like ducks,they are ironicly the least likely to turn the breeding pen into a mudbath. (But certain individuals may cut up the ground like a plough with their beaks, looking for a suitable grit. It's best to provide this buy buying mixed grit and put it in a bowl for them, or even coarse sand if its readily available is satisfactory.)
But the more space you can give them the more chance the grass has to grow back so the geese can graze again.
A few types of fencing would be satisfactory for your geese.
1 chicken wire-- is fairly good as long as you get it in 4ft heights
2 chainlink fencing is good but expensive,make sure to pull the wire tight or it will get very slack
3 rabbit wire--better than chicken wire
Sheep wire does keep geese in and is fairly cheap but it doesn't give you the option of running goslings with their parents or adding other birds such as hens and ducks.
if foxes are present in your area,they will strike during the day so electric fencing is necessary around the perimeter.around mine i have one strand of electrified wire on the bottom and one on the top.
put stakes at 5-6 feet intervals,the stakes need only be 2" X 2",you can either drive these down with a sledgehammer or hire a fencing company for larger jobs
But the more space you can give them the more chance the grass has to grow back so the geese can graze again.
A few types of fencing would be satisfactory for your geese.
1 chicken wire-- is fairly good as long as you get it in 4ft heights
2 chainlink fencing is good but expensive,make sure to pull the wire tight or it will get very slack
3 rabbit wire--better than chicken wire
Sheep wire does keep geese in and is fairly cheap but it doesn't give you the option of running goslings with their parents or adding other birds such as hens and ducks.
if foxes are present in your area,they will strike during the day so electric fencing is necessary around the perimeter.around mine i have one strand of electrified wire on the bottom and one on the top.
put stakes at 5-6 feet intervals,the stakes need only be 2" X 2",you can either drive these down with a sledgehammer or hire a fencing company for larger jobs
Pond?
Geese dont need water but believe me if you have the option of giving a pond to them or some bathing water they will thank you for it.
There are many advantages of having a pond for geese
1 Water allows them to wash and keep clean
2 Will mate more readily and more often resulting in a higher hatchability of eggs
3 Geese are generally more contented when they have access to a pond
There are several ways you could provide swimming water for your geese
1 you could use small children's sand pits and fill them with water
2 old baths are ok but remember only use it with adult geese as goslings might drown
3 a natural body of water such as a river or pond are perfect as no cleaning is required
There are many advantages of having a pond for geese
1 Water allows them to wash and keep clean
2 Will mate more readily and more often resulting in a higher hatchability of eggs
3 Geese are generally more contented when they have access to a pond
There are several ways you could provide swimming water for your geese
1 you could use small children's sand pits and fill them with water
2 old baths are ok but remember only use it with adult geese as goslings might drown
3 a natural body of water such as a river or pond are perfect as no cleaning is required