This was so true! Especially the eating thing. I was told they only ate grass and weeds, and they'd leave your garden alone. Well! They ate the whole plot of watermelon seedlings, and they killed my baby apple tree that cost me $75!!!
Oh no! Well this spring I’ll be fencing in all the small plants until they are bigger. I’ll put a round fencing around each small tree in the orchard, cause they ripped off all the bark. I do love the geese though I was just a lesson learned the hard way.
@@HiddenSpringFarm That's a great idea. We had to fence off ours, too. Happily, a knee high barrier is all they need. There's something special about them, hey. I thought of selling them and going with Muscovies instead -- a quieter, more incognito poultry -- but the geese come when I call and answer my call with honks. They're majestic to watch on the water, too. No wonder every Jane Austen movie has a flock of geese somewhere in it -- they have a historic, wholesome country vibe.
Thanks. I rescued a Missouri Buff Goose abandoned at a county park two years ago. She chases the robins when a robin finds a worm, or waits for me to dig up a worm when I am working in the garden. She came with a past - HATES KIDS, scared of brooms, and panics when she sees the color red on tv, but she is very loyal to me.
That's really awesome ..... I befriended a white goose at my local neighborhood pond I named him Gus and I go visit him a few days a week and hand feed him peas and bird seed. Hes now my buddy for life
Hi and thanks for the stories of your emden geese, we have a two-year-old China goose and she is by herself protecting our 10 chickens, she does a pretty good job watching for all aerial predators, her eyesight is so good it amazes me. The only odd thing she ever ate was a piece of latex about 8in long but passed completely through her digestive system and out the other end, however we were concerned that we might lose her meanwhile but she was fine a couple of days later after passing it all
Thank u. I think the geese just like nibbling on everything. They eat a lot of grass in summer too and I never give them any grit. Chickens need the grit for sure.
I've got two mated pairs of Embdens. They're noisy and messy, but I love them. One is sitting on a clutch of eggs, the other has laid eggs, but won't set. Those eggs are probably toast. Goose is so much better than Turkey for Thanksgiving and Christmas. Turkey is rather dry and tasteless. Goose, is succulent and full of flavor. I don't understand why Goose isn't more popular as dinner.
Cool I love ours too. I hope mine will pair off, but there’s only one nest. 5 eggs in it now, but they keep kicking eggs out of the nest so they must know they’re no good. Still pretty cold at night here so if they’re not sitting it’s doesn’t look good. Many more eggs to come though. Cheers, Chad.
@@tholoorgreenfarmthajudeen6069 We're in the Potomac Highlands of West Virginia. The good goose hatched five, but two died. The three are growing fast. One male and two females, I think.
Use scrap corrugated tubing as tree collars to protect your trees bark, you can find the large scrap pieces stuff in dumpsters in construction sights in new residential developments. It’s the stuff they use for weeping tile.
I'm super late to the show, and I don't own/intend to own geese. But your point about "Guard Geese" is actually completely legitimate when it comes to warding off or alerting others to danger. And there's one very famous story/legend of it. In the 4th century, Gallic troops attempted to invade and take Rome in a stealthy, coordinated night raid. It was going well until a group of Gallic troops, while climbing a hill, disturbed a flock of sacred geese that lived in the nearby Temple of Juno. The geese began honking, alerting the Roman people and Guards, saving the capitol.
I'm extremely jealous of your farm and the diversity of its poultry. The fact that you also have an orchard is just great. Far too many farms where I'm from could take a page out of your book. A farm doesn't have to be an asset that changes hands every decade.
Army used to use them patrolling wire fences! In PR they make unknown strangers take off immediately! And if not leaving they attack by biting!! I love duck’s,they are so funny!
Thank you! Please keep making videos about geese. I have a pair of African geese (which apparently have nothing at all to do with Africa but more to do with China!) and I LOVE them. They are funny and beautiful. I also have muscovy ducks = and they multiply at a fantastic rate!
Thank u for taking the time to comment. Muscovies are very hardy ducks to eh. I love our geese too, even through the breeding season. Have you seen the video of the Goose Caboose I built for the geese?
I’m here because I’m not apparently a Momma to a precious baby goose ❤️ it follows me EVERYWHERE!! Naps on me and MADE ME FALL IN LOVE WITH IT! Watching videos as I’m sitting here watching it wade around in some water in my bathtub. My husband thinks I have lost my mind! It’s okay because I’m good with it if so 😉
That's actually amazing and you will have a friend and guard for life. Some Geese can live up to 20 years if well taken care of. Very cool and you haven't lost your mind at all. Love it.
Wow, what gorgeous music for their entrance in the video. It suits them. Uh………..what’s that white stuff on the ground? Feathers? All we got is rain, rain 🌧 and more rain ☔️ They still love ❤️ their Father Goose!
Oh nice, I was looking for Pilgrims before cause they’re supposed to be quieter and easy to know males from females. Great choice. I ended up with Embdens cause they were free, I just traded duck eggs 😆 But I do love their blue eyes. Thanks.
@@HiddenSpringFarm I wonder how geese would adapt to a paddock system. I need the geese to hit a new pasture and to not eat the grasses to the ground on their first pass. I want the plant to have enough left to do photosynthesis to regrow itself in 30 days or so for the second pass. Sheep have a reputation for nibbling to the ground but they adjust well to a paddock system of rotational grazing. Geese being the best pastured poultry is a tremendous plus. If you are familiar with the Jena system developed in Germany to rapidly grow soil, that is what I want to do with geese and maybe goats to do rotational pastured grazing. You said nothing about harvesting goose eggs. Probably not like chickens and ducks in that respect.
My Pilgrim Female is Amazing.....was living with our Chickens & bonded with Frank (our Rooster, but he died), now she is alone, but still is near the Chickens. She is my companion....tried putting her in with my 5 other Geese, but did not turn out well. I'd love to breed her as Pilgrim Geese are Rare
Aww bless you for taking such good care of the geese! I’m sure they love you just as much😊I’m quite sure your flock will keep on increasing as months go by 🌟😎
Very cool video! I woke up overnight with a goose, his owner died and I felt sorry for him, only he is very aggressive and I don't know how to behave with him, he is 11 years old! Any advice? thank you
That’s a tough one. He doesn’t know u. He wasn’t bonded with you as a gosling. You can try the kill with kindness method but if he’s nipping at you, you’ll have to show him who’s boss.
Thank you so much, Jack, for sharing your geese with us. I just purchased the very last two geese from Tractor Supply. The salesman told me that the pair are female and male Chinee geese; we'll see as they grow. Happy Resurrection Eve, 2023, and Blessings to you and yours.
Here is something which I learned. Geese doesn't eat bugs or worms. They did killed a spider, but didn't ate it. There was a worm at the chicken coop, and I showed it to 1 of my geese and she tasted it, and was like nah fam I am good. She didn't even killed the worm. Also they don't like cucumber.
I have 3 geese and 1 malard duck, we have a pond for them and that pond is there everything, swimming and flipping around in the water, and they are incredible guards, I try to sneak into there area and they still hear me, and they are loud, our female just layed 3 eggs so I'm going to see if I can hatch them
They are like dinosaurs because they are dinosaurs!😂🎉 Love these videos. I'm really hoping to raise ducks one day. The dream would be to have a guardian goose with them.
Wow great Video, you are amazing, our Goose Guru. We are newby’s at this game. We have just retired from Australia to Portugal and have just purchased 8 Chickens and two Geese. We take note of your comments. We were worried about the Chickens picking on the Geese, it appears my fears were unfounded. That is one amazing Duck House, I was proud of my repurposed Rabbit Area for the Chickens and Geese, however I am Jealous and in Awe of what you have built. We are subscribing immediately. Best Regards Maria and Adrian 🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏😃😃😃😃
Aww thanks so much. We haven’t lost a duck yet to predators in over 2 years since the guard geese. No one wants to mess with a goose especially in breeding season. I’m training newly hatched goslings with our chickens to be their guardians when free ranging. It’s gonna be fun. Best of luck and enjoy retirement 😊
I just got a pair of this breed this spring, they were 3 days old when I got them, on of them snores when it sleeps. I have chickens and ducks also. I have a very large chicken house that is 80 years old on the place I sit out there with my birds quite a bit.
We have geese and love them. In africa. GEESE ARE BEAUTIFUL. AND DID YOU EVER REALIZE THAT YOU LOOK LIKE A WELL FED GOOSE, TOO??? OUR WHOLE FAMILY HAVE GEESE FEATURES, 4 KIDS, IT IS AMAZING, BUT THERE IS A SPIRITUAL ATTRACTION. WE BECOME SAME. WE ARE WATERMAND POOL LOVERS, AND SO ARE THE GEESE WE SHARE THE POOLS WITH. INCREDIBLY FUNNY.
watching this video makes me miss mine that I had to let go because they are too loud in our property. geese are best as they get mostly the grass and vegetation, almost no need to feed them. now i just got all muscovy ducks, very quiet birds but do eat about 50% feed and the balance grass/vegetation.
Muskovies are very hardy birds too. Especially during nesting season the geese always liven up the party! They're so beautifully white too, stands out amongst all the green.
Do you have to be around the geese a certain amount of time, for them to be willing to follow you or be nice? Is it like a time thing or how do you work it?
Well I hatched them so from a young age I handled them and fed them, but didn’t set any extra time with them. One of them I think is bonded with me and it even lets me pet it or pick it up. I got these geese to protect our ducks when free ranging in our orchard and so far no issue with any aerial predation or smaller predators…the geese will be loud and go after any stranger and most predators don’t want to deal with that. I’ll be building them their own house this spring so that’ll be fun.
Geese and ducks are such interesting animals, yet super messy. One minute they are walking, the next minute they and their goslings are all huddled around the lake by us just resting, and crossing in single file, like at a crosswalk
Great to hear! In my experience the geese have never eaten their own eggs. They were eating the ducks eggs thats why I built them their own house, but they are super protective of their own eggs.
Love my geese, just ordered some more. They do act like toddlers with the chewing though, don't know what it is? Chew on it. Brightly colored? Shred it. I did pilgrim geese which are supposed to be "calmer" or at least less noisy. They honk when I come out, and go absolutely nuts when a predator shows up. Coupled with a Shepard dog I went from fighting a losing battle with predators to realizing I was overproducing with my manual hatching. Most small predators like stray cats or raccoons and opossums they'll straight fight, owls and hawks just don't try. Coyotes and dogs though they warn which oftentimes is enough to deter. This time I ordered Chinese geese and I'm excited if slightly concerned about that. But I wanted a good foraging goose that also could also be a prolific and self-sufficient parent.
great story, love it. They can be amazing deterrents. Our get pretty nasty during nesting season but it's my fault cause i left them at 4 with 2 boys and 2 girls...both ganders fight over the one female and the other female is left alone. Really I should remove 1 gander, but I don't know what to do with him. Our ducks haven't had any predator attacks whatsoever and I believe it cause of those geese...nobody messes with a goose lol.
Might I recommend the Chinese Swan Goose or the African Swan Goose variety? I have not had any issues with chewing on anything other than grass, nor ripping apart my hay bales. They were raised from babies with the chickens and ducks so they have bonded wonderfully (never far from the flock). I have a lot of birds of prey in my area, and the much taller and more girthy swan geese stop them from trying to swoop up my baby chickens and ducks. Although not technically related to Swans at all they are far more protective than the smaller European goose varieties and make great guardians, and their angry/territorial honks (easily discernable from their normal honks) always send my livestock guardian dog running to the rescue. Plus the Chinese Swan Goose has the same lovely bright all white plumage and intense blues eyes. The African is more brown/grey but a lovely bird, my female has wonderful mothering instincts and often helps raise my baby chickens and ducks. I will never be geeseless on the farm ever again! Do be advised however Swan Geese live for a long time, so it's a serious commitment of 10-20+ years.
Keeping geese great cause they lay eggs and they great pets and they smart and they'll tell if people or otheranimals around don't belong there and your goose just said to you hello moma
Being a parrot owner I can't help myself but laugh when you say Geese will eat anything... Trust me they wont... That gaming chair you see in my profile picture, well lets just say it looks very different now.
Your geese are beautiful! I’d love some Emden. I have Brown Chinese Geese (8, soon to be 16). They are for protecting all my other birds but they have become my pals and just gorgeous friends. There isn’t really a type of goose I don’t want! I’m afraid goose math might be just like chicken math for me!!
Another great video. You are a pleasure to watch because it is evident that you LOVE what you are doing. I have chickens and ducks and would like to get ONE goose next year. I learned a lot here...they eat everything and not great to house with ducks. I can fix that! Thanks sooooo much. Also, what state do you live it? I'm in northern Michigan with long very cold winters. Anything else I need to know?
Thanks so much for saying that. We’re up in Ontario Canada so very similar climate. Ducks and geese do very well in winter they even get right in the water bins with freezing water 😆 miracle their feet don’t get fros it’s but then again nature is awesome. Have you watched the goose caboose build video? That’s where they live now. New video this Thursday is about the geese so stay tuned…they actually have a 2nd breeding season! Another thing I’ve learned is possible. Cheers, Chad.
When it comes to geese I don't hear people mention this little detail, and I'm wondering what you did? As I'm starting with geese here soon. How many geese did you start with? Did you start with 4 or did you start with two and keep two ladies from hatches?? Thanks! Can Anyone else answer this too?
Adding this, thank you for the video this has been very helpful! I have two Endem in my order because of all their great qualities, including their noise. Lol I've learned so much from this video. I'll have to add it to a playlist for livestock so I can watch it again. I've got to know, how are the Endem males with your drake ducks? I will have a trio of ducklings coming in with the geese and my hopes is that they will be raised together and the geese will protect the ducks, but I do plan to have each animal have its own littke home. (I've only had guineas, ducks, and chickens in the flock) adding a new type of duck to my flock this spring with the Geese! (& Turkeys too lol)
What a delightful video. So much good information. There is a difference in the squawk or honk of the gander & geese, correct? BTW, they are absolutely gorgeous. I didn't realize you were keeping or raising for meat. But, lol you are a farmer, and it makes sense.
Thank u so much. Although I did say they grow so fast and they're good for meat we have no intention on eating ( I've never even tasted goose in my life lol)...for now they'll just be pet guard geese for when our ducks are free ranging in the orchard. I do have to build them their own goose house this spring so that'll be fun. They do make different sounds too depending on their mood.
Great video. I loved all the slow mo flapping shots. I know Embden Geese can fly, but don’t migrate. Can your geese fly? They are beautiful and I love their honks. Is it hard for you to eat them or do you not get attached at all?
Hey thanks bud, I’ve seen our geese get a few inches off the ground that’s about it. I’m the type to get too attached to my breeding birds but the grow out birds I’d eat. More moist than turkey. I got these geese to be guards for our ducks, no plans on eating anytime soon. They’re hissing a lot now since it’s breeding season too, check out my latest video, they’re so crazy. Love these geese though. Cheers, Chad.
@@HiddenSpringFarm Thanks for the great through response. So, you mean, you only utilize grown out kids. Of course, the value of their protection and the bond put them beyond the guillotine’s reach. I’ve got wild crows that I’ve become pals with, but crows don’t taste very good...so, they’re safe. I’m watching and subscribed!
Beautiful geese! I have a question - I want to keep own geese now (hobby reasons, no slaughtering, but as pets). We want to build an aviary for keeping one (or two) goslings, to get them tame. How big does an aviary have to be? 10 metres x 10 metres = 100 square metres is sufficient? We also have a big meadow where chicken, goats, sheep, ducks and non-tame geese are kept, but I wouldn't have my peace and quiet to engage with the new geese to get them tame. Is it ok to keep the young gosling(s) first in the aviary, and when tame, keeping them on the paddock with all the other animals? Just one new gosling is bad? (because geese are very social)? Does it have to be at least 2 geese? What else to think of, besides water & food? Thanks a lot for your reply!
I would keep more than one so they can grow up together and hopefully not fight when they get older. 100 sq metres would be fine while they're young and it'll be easier for you to corral them and pet them. If you spend a lot of time with them they will become bonded with you. Ours used to follow me around the farm everywhere I went and I could pet them and everything, but as they got older and had their first breeding season the two ganders become very protective of the nest. Good luck with the taming eh.
sounds like a good plan. Tons of wildlife here including yotes. If I can ever build a pond I'll electric fence it all to protect the flock or have a livestock guardian dog on staff.
The wife and I unwillingly adopted 9 geese. The only complaint I have is the amount of poop they make. We also have 3.5 dogs that love eating and rolling around in the goose poo.
That’s actually amazing. Geese can live a great long life. Definitely having 1 goose is the way to go if you want to be friends eh. We have 4 and during breeding season the are pretty protective towards anything. The geese are very cool though I love having them on the farm. Cheers, Chad.
Well I have some advice for you if you haven't already figured it out 2 years later about the goose that had the stone geese will eat gravel to help them digest food just like how crocodiles will eat large stones to help them digest the prey that they eat geese do a similar thing they will also eat gopher dirt and it helps them digest it because the stones will be in their digestive tract and help them grind of food that they can't pass easily like a large amount of grass for having grass stuck in their throats before and I've had to pull it out of course this is back in my teenage years and my twenties I don't raise geese anymore it was fun while it lasted and they were really cute when they were little but when they got grown up they got ornery LOL such is life but anyway small tiny pebbles and stuff are going to eat to hurt them if they eat it or swallow it it helps them and AIDS them in digestion my geese used to do it all the time and I always wondered why they did that they want minerals and they want things to help them digest their food if they have things like like I mentioned about the grass or something they also love eating rootsand they will also eat gopher dirt for reasons God knows why but I think it's because of a mineral thing that they're looking for like in the wild in certain Amazonian and tropical forests like parrots and whores and other animals like that and they'll eat like clay for like vitamins minerals and iron 10 things pure instinct put these animals know how to do this it's amazing
