Good morning dear community, welcome to my blog ... today in topics of the week, initiative of @farms, I will talk a little about these beautiful birds, as are the geese ... particularly at home we have two, but as pets ... and they are Very smart as well as being guardians of their environment, they are easy to care for; It is quite rewarding and relaxing to watch them swim in the pond and get close to you to feed them.

Something you should know:

The goose is a water bird similar to the duck, but larger in size and weight. His first three fingers are joined by a membrane that allows him to swim in the water. It exists for thousands of years, was raised by the Romans and other European cultures.

Little by little and over the years, the goose has been integrated between pets and domestic farms; to emphasize that in many places it is known by the name of oca.

One of the characteristics of the goose is its high degree of loyalty, both with its breeders and with other geese.

Oddly enough, this goose is as easy to train as a dog and has a more efficient sense of smell. It quickly becomes accustomed to man and is very useful to him; It is curious his scandalous behavior before the arrival of strangers to his territory.

The fidelity of the goose does not make exceptions for his life as a couple; each chooses his own at three years and keeps it until death.

When the end comes for one of the two, the bird spends a time in solitude, until it looks for another goose with which to procreate.

With regard to reproduction, it occurs annually: the female usually lays five eggs and hatches them for a month. Both parents participate in their care of the predators and then in the rearing of the offspring.

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If we think about raising these birds we should consider the following information:

1- Get information about the breed and breeding of the geese:

There is a variety of geese suitable for different people. We can have geese as pets and guardians, as food and many other things.

It is important to get the proper goose breed that will satisfy our needs.

First we must investigate how to care for a goose. Some geese are considered aggressive, some are excellent guard animals (they can make a lot of noise), while others are good pets. Everything depends on the breed and how they are raised.

To start breeding these birds you must get at least a couple and even more, if you wish, it is fine if you acquire them as adults or chicks if you want a quiet breed. If you opt for a more aggressive breed, you'd better get chicks. The best thing for a goose is that always have a partner; you will have to buy more geese or several ducks so that the bird does not feel alone and saddened.

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It's good to have a pond; Birds are safer in the water than in the middle of the grass. Make them enter the lagoon in the morning. You can use a rake to guide them, but without hurting them. It will be a very pleasant experience. If possible, have them return to their pen, barn or barn before it gets dark. The next day, you just have to let them out and have them find the pond on their own.

Geese are going to spend a lot of time eating around the pond or grazing, they need a balanced diet that satisfies their needs for vitamins and minerals. Your food should be designed specifically for poultry (geese, ducks, etc.). If you have goose pups, feed them along with the ducks.

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2- How to feed them:

Teaching them can last a week or two. If you fed your geese while they were in the corral, they must learn that when they return to it, they will receive their food.

Every time you see the geese walking back to their pen, try to approach them and encourage them to eat. They should not be scared.

After a week that they have learned to go to their pen to receive food, change their schedule. Now you must feed them once a day, before it gets dark. It should be done only at the time you have determined.

Not every time they enter the corral. That schedule should be like a rule of life and they will learn quickly. If there are other geese or ducks that come to the corral to feed at the same time it would be the most convenient, so they can socialize with the rest of the birds.

We must make sure they have enough food. If the geese are spinning after they are finished or if they look very thin and sickly, they are probably still hungry, so try to give them larger portions until they are satisfied. If they look fat or do not eat all the food that has been given, the rations should be reduced.

3- Fresh water to drink:

Sometimes this is often overlooked, because we think that animals have a pond and that they do not need more water. However, the water can be very dirty. The best option would be to have running water, like a stream, but it is not always possible. Instead, clean water containers should be placed near your food.

These containers should be filled daily, regardless of the amount of water left. If you do not empty them, the water becomes very dirty, which produces unhealthy living conditions, bad smells and mosquito larvae. When the geese are young, they should be offered water in shallow waterers, since they can not get wet until their feathers mature. If they get wet, dry them with a towel and keep them warm, because if the weather is very cold, lower your body temperature to the point of causing the death of the bird.

4- Provide a refuge according to the number of birds we have:

Geese need shelter from storms, wind and direct sunlight. They receive sun protection when they stay under large trees. However, it is best to provide them with a small barn with 3 sides, a cage or open pen, a large awning over the barn or even a tent spread between two trees.

They should have an area that is dry and free of drafts. Straw or a clean bed should be placed on the ground during cold weather and storms. The Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals in the United Kingdom (RSPCA) recommends having at least one square meter of land area for each goose. They must enter and leave freely, as well as move comfortably.

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5- Protect geese from predators:

It may be difficult, since most of the time will be out of your reach. However, there are ways to protect geese and other poultry from predators. You can block access to the geese with an adequate shelter at night and let them loose during the day. You have to keep in mind that the place where they are will be very dirty, so you'll have to do a little cleaning. The excrement should only be scraped with a shovel and thrown away from the shelter. Provide clean hay, bedding or straw. Also, empty the dirty water outside and refill. Clean the feeders if necessary. Among the main predators are lynxes, coyotes, dogs and more. It is recommended not to shoot predators, as it could accidentally injure a goose, or an inoffensive animal.

Thanks for reading up to here; I hope this information has been very helpful.

Blessings!!