The Poultry Keeper

Duckie · Joined: 24 Sep 2007 Posts: 201

ok - probably not all geese are scary!

My aunts geese decided to attack me when I was a kid (I expect I did something to make them do it but still horrible for a four year old) and its sort of predudiced my views ever since.

Given the choice I would much rather take my chances with a sheep Smile

debcat · Posted: Fri Jan 04, 2008 4:30 pm Post subject:

Nigel, you have obviously never met an embden gander Twisted Evil

the only way anyone can go in with them from feb - jun is with a broom

bronskibeat · Joined: 09 Sep 2007 Posts: 1690 Location: Clawddnewydd

agreed, we had 4 embden ganders (supposed to be 3 geese plus 1 gander, by the time it was obvious, mum was attached and had named them all Rolling Eyes

) and they were utter ******** We were forever having the police round as they ambushed slow moving cars, bikes and pedestrians on the road. I hated them with a passion and so did the neighbourhood Laughing

On the other hand, my Chinese geese were darlings, highly recommend them Wink

nigel · Posted: Fri Jan 04, 2008 5:47 pm Post subject:

it's true I've never met a territorial Embdon, I've known Chinese, Canada, Roman and my Skåne and they've all been OK

I know Embdons have a reputation for being evil

debcat · Posted: Fri Jan 04, 2008 6:13 pm Post subject:

they are brilliant as guardgeese and so easy to look after, mine live out most of the year
I love my embdens even if they are evil for half the year
feeding the sheep is a nightmare, they adore sheep food and try and raid the bucket before you get to the trough,

Sparklepeeps · Joined: 17 Jan 2007 Posts: 1955 Location: Cheshire

Can geese defend themselves against foxes?

debcat · Posted: Fri Jan 04, 2008 7:40 pm Post subject:

we don't have foxes here, although mine will see both dogs off so I wouldn't be surprised if they wouldn't see a fox off

kated · Joined: 01 Nov 2006 Posts: 1978 Location: norfolk

No! They can't - don't risk it! I lost one to a fox at 5pm on a sunny summer afternoon.

broncobarb · Joined: 01 Jan 2008 Posts: 12 Location: Kent

Hadn't thought of geese and whats an embden? How many would you need to keep an acre down, not sure they would be good with my children they find the chickens over zealous at times! Very Happy

debcat · Posted: Fri Jan 04, 2008 9:28 pm Post subject:

I think it's meant to be about a pair of geese per 1/2 acre
embdens are the really big white ones
toulouse and chinese are meant to be aload more freindly
they really are no trouble to look after,

bronskibeat · Joined: 09 Sep 2007 Posts: 1690 Location: Clawddnewydd

Toulouse are quiet too (which probably means they're useless as guards, but still!), Chinese are small and a bit on the raucous side but both types are fine with children (in my experience, bound to be the exception though Rolling Eyes

) and real characters.