How to Raise Geese

If it's time to increase your poultry flock, consider adding geese. Geese are rich sources of protein, especially if you like dark meat. Unlike most birds, geese are easy to raise. They take care of themselves after they are two weeks old.

Difficulty: Moderately Challenging

Instructions

1. Estimate the acreage. One acre of pasture will support 20 to 40 birds. A 3-foot woven wire fence adequately confines the birds.

2. Start your goose flock with a gander (male) and a goose. You can have more than one female, but geese tend to be monogamous.

3. Set up nests for your birds. Although geese typically do not need shelter except in the worst winter weather, they use nest boxes when you provide them. Wooden crates, half barrels, or small doghouses work. Geese also build their own nests on the ground.

4. Allow 29 to 31 days for the geese eggs to hatch. A goose can successfully sit on 10 to 12 eggs. Or, fertilized eggs may be purchased and hatched by a broody chicken.

5. Provide ample food for your birds. You can feed them commercial poultry food. After the geese are 14 days old, they can survive on grass. They prefer clovers, bluegrass, orchard grass or brome grass.

6. Water your birds. Either provide them with fresh natural water, such as a pond or stream, or supply them fresh water in a trough.

Tips & Warnings

• Make sure your watering pan is flat enough and deep enough so the geese can get their beaks and heads into the water.
• Clean the waterer regularly.