rescue wild geese

DongaraDucks · **Joined:** Tue Sep 27, 2011 1:48 am **Posts:** 5

Hi I have been looking at some rescue wild geese and what they are like at trying to domesticating them do you take to people and kids and will they settle ok in a coop?

Sebducks · **Joined:** Wed Mar 11, 2009 3:41 pm **Posts:** 812

Hi there,

Depends on alot of factors. How many geese, how big is your coop, do you expect them to live with other poultry or by themselves, depending on the breed you will have to either clip their wings or keep them in a fully enclosed coop of a good size. Geese also like to bath, they don't need a dam but do need to "clean up" so to speak so a childs shell would suffice but will need to be cleaned out, they also like secure housing at night but don't perch of course. Geese and chooks don't live well together as the geese chase the chooks from the roost and from the food and water, mine hound them relentlessly if they venture into the goose pen. I have non flying Sebastopol geese. Geese also like alot of grass which I believe is important to their wellbeing, they eat scratch mix or course layer mash as well though.

Patience will be the key, you will have to show them that you are not going to harm them it may take you several months to get them calm enough to come anywhere near you.

DongaraDucks · **Joined:** Tue Sep 27, 2011 1:48 am **Posts:** 5

Thank you for the information it is very helpful and reassuring will they be ok around chickens?

dannyB · **Posted:** Wed Sep 28, 2011 6:19 pm

DongaraDucks wrote:

Hi I have been looking at some rescue wild geese and what they are like at trying to domesticating them do you take to people and kids and will they settle ok in a coop?

What species???

Sebducks · **Joined:** Wed Mar 11, 2009 3:41 pm **Posts:** 812

If I am correct DongaraDucks means domestic geese in the wild, not wild geese meant to live there.

they may get used to the chooks, they may bully them like my geese do especially around breeding season. I would suggest making their own pen before you embark on trying to catch them.

DongaraDucks · **Joined:** Tue Sep 27, 2011 1:48 am **Posts:** 5

Yes sorry them are domestic gone wild according to the lady they may have even been born in the wild that are grey and white with orange beaks. I have my husband on the pen duties so should be finished next weekend. Would I be best to let the chooks go up and meet the geese while they are in their pen so hey can get used to each other?

Sebducks · **Joined:** Wed Mar 11, 2009 3:41 pm **Posts:** 812

You are going to need to keep the geese contained for at least a month or maybe more, maybe forever. If your chooks normally free range let them continue to do so. Keep an eye on the chooks though that they don't get in with the geese somehow, my geese can and do pull out feathers and bully the hens if they happen to get too close, but having said that they have babies so that is a huge factor in their behaviour. Sounds like they are common farm yard geese which make lovely pets. Is your husband roofing the pen for them? They can fly reasonably well.

* edited to say, remember to worm the geese once you get them also.

DongaraDucks · **Joined:** Tue Sep 27, 2011 1:48 am **Posts:** 5

I will get him to make sure he puts a roof on the pen as I had not asked him to do that and I will give them some worm treatment when they come thank you for the help I am sure I will need more after they arrive

duckie · **Posted:** Fri Oct 07, 2011 10:21 am

Hi, if you cut their wings make sure you only cut one. If you cut both they will still fly because they are balanced.
They will take some time to trust you but worth the effort. Follow the advice from the other members and good luck.
Geese are a great bird to have.

Val

DongaraDucks · **Joined:** Tue Sep 27, 2011 1:48 am **Posts:** 5

I will do that thank you Val

AUSTRALIAN POULTRY FORUM™

rescue wild geese

Who is on the Forum