My husband wants to get some geese to fatten for christmas but I am not sure if our paddock is suitable.
It is 2 acres on a very steep hill with average quality grass. we have a shed and water trough and the feild is part stock fenced and part post and rail with thick gorse bushes. it is bordered on one side by a bridlepath regulalry used by dog walkers and we have had our alpacas attacked by dogs in the past (before the stock netting went up)
My main concern is wether they would be killed by dogs or foxes. also how big are they when you get them. how much care do they need???
Thanks
joanne
Can we keep geese????
Re: Can we keep geese????
I have never known a dog to get hold of a goose, they are quite formidable birds, although i would keep the little ones in a pen for a wile untill they are big enough to fend for ther selves.
Just make sure your fencing dosent alow easy access for dogs and fox's.
I wish i had enough space for a few as they make excelent gard "dogs" they are very teritorial and will see off any intruders.
Eve
Just make sure your fencing dosent alow easy access for dogs and fox's.
I wish i had enough space for a few as they make excelent gard "dogs" they are very teritorial and will see off any intruders.
Eve
-
theabsinthefairy
- A selfsufficientish Regular
- Posts: 707
- Joined: Tue Jul 10, 2007 1:57 pm
- Location: Auvergne, France
Re: Can we keep geese????
I keep geese expressly for Christmas fattening (expect I am quite keen on one of them this year and he may end up being the gander for next years females).
They are very territorial, and do make excellent guards for your plot.
Ours are housed in one side of the chicken house, when little we kept them fenced in around the coop, and once their full feathers cmae through, they were allowed to wander where they chose over our couple of acres. They have all kept to the veg garden and house surrounds, without any fencing whatsoever. (not like the ducks who we had to chase down and retrieve several times from neighbouring farms).
They 'see off' postmen, visitors, cars, delivery vehicles, stray cows, our dog, cats, foxes and hunting dogs. We only have the three this year but they are a formidable force - a toulouse, a guniea, and a white gander.
As all three are males (due to selecting when too young to sex properly) we have had to leave them with the ducks and chickens - they like a harem and won't like to be just males together - they will fight too much.
They are excellent grass cutters, and will clear the left overs and weeds from your veggie plot brilliantly, but will eat EVERYTHING if left to their own devices!
Monika
They are very territorial, and do make excellent guards for your plot.
Ours are housed in one side of the chicken house, when little we kept them fenced in around the coop, and once their full feathers cmae through, they were allowed to wander where they chose over our couple of acres. They have all kept to the veg garden and house surrounds, without any fencing whatsoever. (not like the ducks who we had to chase down and retrieve several times from neighbouring farms).
They 'see off' postmen, visitors, cars, delivery vehicles, stray cows, our dog, cats, foxes and hunting dogs. We only have the three this year but they are a formidable force - a toulouse, a guniea, and a white gander.
As all three are males (due to selecting when too young to sex properly) we have had to leave them with the ducks and chickens - they like a harem and won't like to be just males together - they will fight too much.
They are excellent grass cutters, and will clear the left overs and weeds from your veggie plot brilliantly, but will eat EVERYTHING if left to their own devices!
Monika