ints:geese

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ints:geese [2025/12/04 14:33] – [People] daveints:geese [2025/12/17 04:30] (current) – external edit 127.0.0.1
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 Geese are gregarious birds, naturally living in large flocks. They're intelligent and form strong bonds with their flockmates. For this reason geese sometimes have a reputation for being aggressive. Ganders (male geese), in particular, can be very protective of their flockmates, especially when females are incubating eggs or when young goslings are around. Geese are herbivorous and their natural diet consists mainly of grasses. Geese are gregarious birds, naturally living in large flocks. They're intelligent and form strong bonds with their flockmates. For this reason geese sometimes have a reputation for being aggressive. Ganders (male geese), in particular, can be very protective of their flockmates, especially when females are incubating eggs or when young goslings are around. Geese are herbivorous and their natural diet consists mainly of grasses.
  
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 Geese won't scratch up your garden like chickens, or turn it into a muddy mess like ducks. Their droppings don't smell and will wash away in the rain. Geese are hardy, suffer from few health problems and are well suited to the British climate. They're particularly suitable for keeping in orchards. They'll keep the undergrowth down and clear windfalls, turning all those weeds into protein. Young trees do need protection against them, however. Geese won't scratch up your garden like chickens, or turn it into a muddy mess like ducks. Their droppings don't smell and will wash away in the rain. Geese are hardy, suffer from few health problems and are well suited to the British climate. They're particularly suitable for keeping in orchards. They'll keep the undergrowth down and clear windfalls, turning all those weeds into protein. Young trees do need protection against them, however.
  
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 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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 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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 Introducing new geese to a flock can be difficult so, if possible, buy all your geese at once. It's usually possible to keep more than one gander in a flock. If you keep more than 3 geese (or 5 of a light breed), and you want to breed them, you'll likely need more than one gander to maintain fertility rates. Introducing new geese to a flock can be difficult so, if possible, buy all your geese at once. It's usually possible to keep more than one gander in a flock. If you keep more than 3 geese (or 5 of a light breed), and you want to breed them, you'll likely need more than one gander to maintain fertility rates.
  
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 Geese don't need a pond. They spend much less time on water than ducks, but they'll appreciate a small pool such as a baby bath or child's sand pit. Geese don't need a pond. They spend much less time on water than ducks, but they'll appreciate a small pool such as a baby bath or child's sand pit.
  
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 Geese enjoy vegetable scraps. However, bear in mind it's illegal to feed poultry vegetable scraps which have been processed through a kitchen. Geese enjoy vegetable scraps. However, bear in mind it's illegal to feed poultry vegetable scraps which have been processed through a kitchen.
  
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 As with all livestock, check your flock every day and find a good vet who can be contacted in an emergency. As with all livestock, check your flock every day and find a good vet who can be contacted in an emergency.
  
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 If you plan to produce meat for sale and you slaughter the birds yourself, or send them to a slaughterhouse but take on the butchery yourself, you'll need to follow hygiene regulations and have your premises inspected by Environmental Health on a regular basis. Contact the Food Standards Agency for further information. If you plan to produce meat for sale and you slaughter the birds yourself, or send them to a slaughterhouse but take on the butchery yourself, you'll need to follow hygiene regulations and have your premises inspected by Environmental Health on a regular basis. Contact the Food Standards Agency for further information.
  
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 - [Raising Geese](http://lowimpactorg.onyx-sites.io/wp-content/uploads/raising-geese.pdf): 28-page pdf - [Raising Geese](http://lowimpactorg.onyx-sites.io/wp-content/uploads/raising-geese.pdf): 28-page pdf
-## Specialists+ 
 +## People 
 +[[p:Lesley Anderson]] of [Permaculture Scotland](https://scotland.permaculture.org.uk/) 
  
  • ints/geese.txt
  • Last modified: 2025/12/17 04:30
  • by 127.0.0.1