gees:geese

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gees:geese [2026/03/16 20:56] – [Further resources] Simon Grantgees:geese [2026/03/26 18:33] (current) – external edit 127.0.0.1
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-# Geese+This topic is part of [[gt:gardening|Gardening, smallholding & farming]]. 
 +====== Geese ======
  
  
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-## What are geese?+===== What are geese? =====
  
 Geese are large waterfowl, domesticated around 4,000 years ago. They're kept for eggs, meat and down, and also as guard animals. Most of the domestic geese in Europe are descended from the greylag goose (Anser anser), found throughout Europe, Asia and North Africa. The exceptions to this are the African and the Chinese goose, both descended from the swan goose of Mongolia and China. Geese are large waterfowl, domesticated around 4,000 years ago. They're kept for eggs, meat and down, and also as guard animals. Most of the domestic geese in Europe are descended from the greylag goose (Anser anser), found throughout Europe, Asia and North Africa. The exceptions to this are the African and the Chinese goose, both descended from the swan goose of Mongolia and China.
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-## What are the benefits of keeping geese?+===== What are the benefits of keeping geese? =====
  
-### Self-provisioning / personal+==== Self-provisioning / personal ====
  
 Geese are not difficult to keep and if you have the space to provide them with plenty of grazing they'll need very little supplemental feeding. A goose can lay 50 beautiful 150g eggs per year, give you meat for the table, plus you can use their down, and they provide lawn mowing and guard animal services. Geese are longer-lived than other poultry, living for around 25 years. Geese are not difficult to keep and if you have the space to provide them with plenty of grazing they'll need very little supplemental feeding. A goose can lay 50 beautiful 150g eggs per year, give you meat for the table, plus you can use their down, and they provide lawn mowing and guard animal services. Geese are longer-lived than other poultry, living for around 25 years.
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-### Decentralising power away from corporations+==== Decentralising power away from corporations ====
  
 Providing food ourselves in communities means that we don't have to use supermarkets, which helps prevent extraction and decentralises power away from corporations (which makes it more difficult for them to [corrupt democracy](/demo/democracy)). Providing food ourselves in communities means that we don't have to use supermarkets, which helps prevent extraction and decentralises power away from corporations (which makes it more difficult for them to [corrupt democracy](/demo/democracy)).
  
-### Building community and preparing for any potential collapse scenarios+==== Building community and preparing for any potential collapse scenarios ====
  
 In case of any kind of collapse scenario (broken supply chains, environmental destruction, financial crash, war, civil unrest etc.), we're going to have to look after ourselves in our communities, and so the more people who have the skills to grow food, or keep animals for eggs and meat, the better. In case of any kind of collapse scenario (broken supply chains, environmental destruction, financial crash, war, civil unrest etc.), we're going to have to look after ourselves in our communities, and so the more people who have the skills to grow food, or keep animals for eggs and meat, the better.
  
-### Environmental+==== Environmental ====
  
 Producing food ourselves means lower food miles, less packaging and nasty chemicals, plus use of food scraps and composting of waste. Producing food ourselves means lower food miles, less packaging and nasty chemicals, plus use of food scraps and composting of waste.
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-## What can I do?+===== What can I do? =====
  
-### Getting your geese+==== Getting your geese ====
  
 There are around 14 breeds of goose commonly kept in the UK, each classed as light, medium or heavy weight. The breeds also vary in their temperament, tendency to go broody (sit on and incubate eggs), noisiness and suitability for raising as meat birds or layers. Many domestic geese are hybrids, which means unpredictable characteristics - but a wider gene pool can mean a healthier and productive life. Read about the different breeds to choose from [here.](https://poultrykeeper.com/goose-breeds/) There are around 14 breeds of goose commonly kept in the UK, each classed as light, medium or heavy weight. The breeds also vary in their temperament, tendency to go broody (sit on and incubate eggs), noisiness and suitability for raising as meat birds or layers. Many domestic geese are hybrids, which means unpredictable characteristics - but a wider gene pool can mean a healthier and productive life. Read about the different breeds to choose from [here.](https://poultrykeeper.com/goose-breeds/)
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-### Housing+==== Housing ====
  
 Geese need shelter at night, in a well-ventilated housing, secure from predators. A pair of geese should have at least 1.5m² of floor space; for a small flock, a small garden shed is often ideal. Geese don't instinctively go into their house at night as chickens do, but they can be easily herded into it. If you provide them with 2ft square nest boxes filled with bedding they're more likely to lay their eggs in the house. However, some still seem to prefer to make their own nests outside. Geese will sometimes bury their eggs so, even in their house, you may need to hunt for them under the bedding. Geese need shelter at night, in a well-ventilated housing, secure from predators. A pair of geese should have at least 1.5m² of floor space; for a small flock, a small garden shed is often ideal. Geese don't instinctively go into their house at night as chickens do, but they can be easily herded into it. If you provide them with 2ft square nest boxes filled with bedding they're more likely to lay their eggs in the house. However, some still seem to prefer to make their own nests outside. Geese will sometimes bury their eggs so, even in their house, you may need to hunt for them under the bedding.
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-### Feeding+==== Feeding ====
  
 If you have a big enough area of good-quality grass, geese will need no supplementary feeding during the spring and summer. A quarter of an acre is usually enough for 2 geese. When extra feed is needed, geese are usually given wheat, often in a bucket of water. They prefer grass that is relatively short and for that reason are sometimes grazed on a rotation with larger animals such as cows. If you have a big enough area of good-quality grass, geese will need no supplementary feeding during the spring and summer. A quarter of an acre is usually enough for 2 geese. When extra feed is needed, geese are usually given wheat, often in a bucket of water. They prefer grass that is relatively short and for that reason are sometimes grazed on a rotation with larger animals such as cows.
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-### Health+==== Health ====
  
 Geese, like ducks, tend to be quite healthy and suffer from fewer problems than chickens. Gizzard worms are the most common problem in geese and the most common cause of death in goslings. It's therefore a good idea to worm all goslings at 12 weeks old, even if you're otherwise trying to minimise treatment using pasture rotation and fecal egg counts. Geese, like ducks, tend to be quite healthy and suffer from fewer problems than chickens. Gizzard worms are the most common problem in geese and the most common cause of death in goslings. It's therefore a good idea to worm all goslings at 12 weeks old, even if you're otherwise trying to minimise treatment using pasture rotation and fecal egg counts.
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-### Meat production & slaughter+==== Meat production & slaughter ====
  
 It's legal to slaughter geese at home for consumption by yourself and your immediate family provided it's done humanely. Geese, however, are more difficult to dispatch than smaller poultry and there are more restrictions on the methods that can be used, particularly for birds over 5kg. See the [Humane Slaughter Association](https://www.hsa.org.uk/) for more information. It's legal to slaughter geese at home for consumption by yourself and your immediate family provided it's done humanely. Geese, however, are more difficult to dispatch than smaller poultry and there are more restrictions on the methods that can be used, particularly for birds over 5kg. See the [Humane Slaughter Association](https://www.hsa.org.uk/) for more information.
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-### Paperwork and regulations+==== Paperwork and regulations ====
  
 You have to register with DEFRA and standard regulations apply if you keep more than 50 birds (including other types of poultry). There are no regulations for keeping fewer than 50 birds other than the general rules and regulations covering animal welfare. You have to register with DEFRA and standard regulations apply if you keep more than 50 birds (including other types of poultry). There are no regulations for keeping fewer than 50 birds other than the general rules and regulations covering animal welfare.
  
-## Further resources+===== Forum ===== 
 + 
 +This topic belongs to the section [[gt:gardening|Gardening, smallholding & farming]]. You can ask questions or add information on the corresponding [Forum section](https://forum.growingthecommons.org/t/gardening). 
 + 
 +===== Further resources =====
  
 - [The Domestic Waterfowl Club](http://domestic-waterfowl.co.uk): lots of info and sections for each breed - [The Domestic Waterfowl Club](http://domestic-waterfowl.co.uk): lots of info and sections for each breed
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 - [[wp>Goose]] - [[wp>Goose]]
  
-## Related topics+===== Related topics =====
  
 - [Butchery & meat](butc:butchery) - [Butchery & meat](butc:butchery)
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 - [Turkeys](trky:turkeys) - [Turkeys](trky:turkeys)
  
-## Specialist curators of this topic+===== Specialist curators of this topic =====
  
  
  • gees/geese.1773694582.txt.gz
  • Last modified: 2026/03/16 20:56
  • by Simon Grant