Anyone with geeses in AK?
- Thread starter BlackRam
- Start date
I have a "Thundering" herd of trespassers attacking geese. Just feed them in the winter, mine have never had any shelter, and live outdoors even at 34* Below zero. They all have Down-coats.
sthrcave
New member
HAHAHA I saw the title of the thread and was going to recommend that BlackRam talk to you AGL. Good stuff...
Geese really are "Bad'Arses", they are big and mean. They are awesome guard animals, awesome.
But those things can take 1/2 pound of food in the front door, and dump eight pounds of Goose'poop out the back door.
sthrcave
New member
When I was growing up in Tennessee, my neighbor had a huge pond in his front yard. I spent every free second during spring, summer and fall fishing out there. He had about 25 Canadian geese that took up residency there. I got my arse kicked by one that was nesting one day. They are vicious when protecting a nest. As far as "watch" animals go they might even be better than dogs.
My Geese sleep right outside the cabin door. If anything or anyone comes near the cabin they go total "Postal".
I have and like the Toulouse and also the African. I tried some Imperial last year, they are OK, but not as hearty as the Toulouse or Africans. I don't know where you are located, but check Goose and Duck Maintenance feed cost. Feed cost has nearly doubled in 14 months.
Try to stay with geese that are mostly the same color. Strange as it sounds they are very prejudice. The Toulouse would be a good choice, they are big bodied, and short legged, and ferocious. Geese don't do well around children. (The geese do well, it is the childern that don't do well).
DoubleSHOVEL85
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I've got 30+ geese and 45+ ducks. Usually by the end of the winter the herd dwindles down by 10 - 15 less geese and 20 less ducks between the eagles and stray dogs. Wouldn't mind getting rid of them to make room for some more goats if anybody is interested. They just reproduce faster then I can thin them sometimes and b/c we don't mow any lawn they just lay randown eggs in the weeds and hide out in there. So someitmes I won't see a few of the birds for a couple weeks then next thing I know I've got 3 or 4broods on my hands. Rediculous but the wife loves having them.
DoubleSHOVEL85
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All of my birds are located in Anchor Point up the north fork a ways, if anyone is interested.
Both geese and ducks are very hardy in Southcentral winters. I've had them both year round. The cold doesn't bother them at all. But predators did. We had problems with foxes, owls, and loose dogs. I had white Chinese geese, and we also raised lots of rouen ducks (domesticated mallards). They're outstanding watchdogs, but the meat isn't really worth the bother to me. I've had similar luck with Suffolk sheep. The cold isn't an issue.
