How to Breed Geese

Whether you want to raise geese for eggs, meat or to weed your strawberry patch, these versatile birds can make a nice addition to your farmyard. They will happily control insects and weeds, supply eggs for breakfast and provide the occasional goose for your pot. Breeding and selling goslings may also make a nice sideline income for your small farm.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderately Challenging

Things You’ll Need:

• Goose house
• Wire fence
• Nest boxes
• Geese feed

Prepare for Geese

1. Build a goose house. Until they are 3 months old, goslings will need warmth and shelter. Cover the floor with sawdust or wood shavings and cover any windows with fine wire mesh.
2. Fence the goose pasture. Building a 5-foot tall wire fence around the pasture to protect the geese from predators. Make sure shade and water are available for the geese.
3. Order the stock. Whether you choose to incubate eggs or order goslings or adult birds, decide whether you want geese for eggs or meat and order the breed that best meets your needs.

Breed the Geese

4. Choose large, vigorous females and one gander for each three to five females. Allow your birds to mate at least one month before breeding season, at the beginning of the year.
5. Make nest boxes to make gathering eggs easier. Build the box 24 inches square and 18 inches high, then fill it with 3 to 4 inches of wood shavings or sawdust.
6. Gather the eggs daily, unless you are planning to incubate them naturally. The more regularly you gather the eggs, the more eggs your geese will lay.
7. Provide feed and water to the setting bird, if you are allowing your geese to incubate their own eggs. Leave the nest undisturbed and expect to see goslings in 29 to 31 days.

Tips & Warnings

• Allowing the geese to incubate their own eggs and raise their goslings simplifies the process immensely. Many females are excellent mothers and you can avoid fussing with incubators, brood boxes and goslings.
• Don't name any bird you are planning to butcher. It may be difficult to eat your pet goose.