WitchHazel Posted August 10, 2009 Share Posted August 10, 2009 On our allotment we have some chickens and, in a next-door-but-separated-by-netting pen we have 2 geese. We'd like to be able to keep the two together. I know that one has to be careful with waterfowl eating chicken feed, in case the chicken feed has coccidstats added which are lethal to waterfowl like ducks. However, we are feeding the Smallholder range, and I've been in contact with Allen & Page to confirm it won't harm the geese if they eat the feed. The chickens have their own coop, which is raised about 2 and a half feet off the ground. The geese have their own shelter. I;m assuming that we'd need to let them range together under supervision to start with, then separate them at night, and gradually increase the free range time. I wondered if anyone else has done this and has any tips? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CluckyBucks Posted August 11, 2009 Share Posted August 11, 2009 Hello. Unfortunately, i have no experience with this, but your plan seems as thought it might work. Remember though, a peck from a goose is much worse then one from a chicken and also that the chickens may be frightened of the large white creatures If it doesnt work out, its simply not meant to be. xx xx Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
xScrunchee Posted August 11, 2009 Share Posted August 11, 2009 Would you say that a peck from a goose is worse then? I find that ducks and geese are more pinchy and s"Ooops, word censored!"ey but do not pierce the skin-unlike chickens with their sharp beaks. I would rather a bruise than a cut I think but maybe I haven't been pecked by enough geese to make a true judgement Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WitchHazel Posted August 11, 2009 Author Share Posted August 11, 2009 Goose beaks aren't as pointy and sharp as hens. Hens peck at their food, geese tend to...almost shovel it. Not shivellig to the extent that a duck shovels, but it's not that precise "see a piece of corn and grab it" peck. I guess the risk is that the geese are bigger and stronger. Well, we'll try it supervised, and I'll let you know how we get on. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chooksy Posted August 11, 2009 Share Posted August 11, 2009 A friend of mine has 5 geese free ranging with 10 ducks and 60 hens - all in a large field with sheds. The hens get kept in order by the geese, the hens soon learn their place! Not sure about the food scenario will ask him Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chickenanne Posted August 11, 2009 Share Posted August 11, 2009 I don't know, but I wonder if the reason it works out lies in teh "large field"? Geese are bigger and arguably more feisty than chickens, maybe in a smaller space the chickens would have fewer places to go to escape. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jools+6 Posted August 11, 2009 Share Posted August 11, 2009 we had geese hens and ducks lolling about together years ago . just watch them at first , and make sure there is plenty of space ... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CluckyBucks Posted August 11, 2009 Share Posted August 11, 2009 What i meant was if a goose was to peck a chicken, im sure a chicken would be able to defend itself but i once got nibbled by a goose and it kind of hurt Bestest of luck xx xx Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
