If you are looking to add some entertainment to your homestead, raise some geese. They are one of the most endearing types of poultry and there will never be a dull moment on your property. Besides them being fun-loving animals, there are several reasons why homesteaders should consider adding geese to their farming ventures.
From their low maintenance requirements to the lean, high-quality meat they produce, geese offer a rewarding, and sustainable addition to your homestead. If you want to know more about raising geese, keep reading.
Geese Protect Your Property
Geese are extremely territorial, and when they’ve found their forever home, they become vigilant guardians. When geese are around, no human or animal will be able to trespass on your property without you knowing about it. They are very loud and when a threat is present, they’ll wake up the entire neighborhood with their honking.
Geese Are Entertaining
Geese are very entertaining creatures and will captivate you with their playful antics. They have plenty of personality and they’re very friendly. They give their owners “gooseneck” hugs where they wrap their wings around your neck or upper shoulders. Also, they follow you around and pay great interest in what you are doing. The bond geese have with their owners is similar to the relationship dogs have with their owners.
Goose Meet is Healthier Than Chicken Meat
If you’re planning on selling goose meat, don’t forget to treat yourself. It’s exceptionally flavorful and tastes best when roasted. Additionally, nutritionists claim it is healthier than chicken meat. Some of its main nutrients include:
- Protein: Goose meat is an excellent source of protein, every 100 grams of skinless goose meat contains an impressive 22.8 grams of protein.
- Amino Acids: Goose meat is rich in amino acids such as alanine, histidine, and arginine. These compounds help the body make the proteins required to function properly.
- Calcium: Calcium is essential for the development of healthy bones and teeth. It also helps prevent blood clotting, controls blood pressure, and helps the immune system function effectively.
- Iron: Iron plays an important role in the production of haemoglobin which is required to help transport oxygen from the lungs to the rest of the body.
- Magnesium: Magnesium is required to maintain a healthy immune system and make protein.
Geese Are Easy to Raise
Due to their hardy nature and simple dietary requirements, geese are very easy to raise. They are less susceptible to diseases compared to chickens. They are also social animals which makes them less prone to stress when raised in a flock. Geese quickly adapt to their environment, and they have efficient foraging habits.
Geese Live Long
If you’re looking for longevity in your livestock, geese are your best bet. Domestic geese typically live for 10 to 20 years. If they are well looked after, the likelihood of living for 20 years increases. Their long lifespan is due to several factors, such as their grazing and foraging behaviors which contribute to a healthier lifestyle, resulting in a strong immune system. As mentioned, they are social animals and thrive in groups which has a positive influence on their overall wellbeing.
Geese Act as a Pest Control
One way to keep unwanted weeds and insects under control is to have geese in your garden. Since geese feed on plants and grass, they help maintain a balanced ecosystem. Feeding on grass prevents overgrowth making it difficult for pests to make their homes on your property.
What to Feed Geese
Geese are easy to feed because they eat a lot of water plants such as sedges, flags, and reeds. They also eat plenty of grass which means they don’t need too many extra trimmings.
However, they are fussy eaters and will only eat grass that’s about 3 inches long. Therefore, you’ll need to make sure your lawn is kept short. Feed them small amounts of uncooked plain porridge oats, floating duck pellets, or mixed corn.
Don’t feed geese the following foods:
- Salt: Salt is dangerous for geese; therefore, don’t feed them cooked or processed foods containing salt, it will poison them.
- Bread: While birds love bread, it is considered junk food for them because it contains very little vitamin E and too much protein. Too much bread can cause deformities.
- Sugar: While you may be tempted to treat your geese with candy every so often, don’t do it. Sugar disrupts their natural foraging behavior and can cause metabolic imbalances in geese.
Fun Facts About Geese
There are so many fun and interesting facts about geese but space won’t permit me to write about them all. Nevertheless, here are five fun facts about geese:
- Easter Eggs: You’ll never be short of Easter eggs with geese because they lay them once a year during the spring. Also, their eggs are huge, around three times the size of the average chicken egg. And they are absolutely delicious!
- Poop Galore: One of the frustrating aspects of raising geese is that they poop approximately every 12 minutes! That’s a lot of cleaning.
- Don’t Get Too Close: Although domestic geese can’t fly, they have very strong wings, and one flap can break your nose, be mindful of this when interacting with them.
- Greetings: Geese are very friendly, and they will greet each other and their humans when they’ve been separated for a short period. Their greeting consists of stretching out their neck and honking or flapping their wings.
- Battle of the Sexes: Male and female geese are very different. The gander (male), are a lot more aggressive because they take their protective duties very seriously.
Don’t miss out on the unique experience and benefits of raising geese. Not only will they add an abundance of joy and laughter to your homestead, but they will also help to maintain a balanced ecosystem which is extremely important for promoting biodiversity, and ensuring a variety of insects, plants, and other organisms can coexist.
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