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Geese
Can Geese and Chickens Live Together? (How To)
Can geese and chickens live together?
Any farmer will tell you that geese and chickens can live together – but there are a few things to keep in mind if you want to try this at home.
This blog post will discuss the pros and cons of maintaining these animals together and tips on making it work if you decide to give it a go.
Stay tuned for more information!
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Can Geese and Chickens Live Together?
Yes, geese and chickens can live together successfully.
Both chickens and geese can be housed together but it’s important to make sure that you’re catering to both birds.
Chickens typically enjoy running around in open areas and enjoying their coop.
Geese can be found foraging for food and relaxing in the water, so they aren’t exactly the same but they can still live together.
Read our related article, Can You Raise Chickens and Turkeys Together? See if you can raise these birds together!
Differences Between Chickens and Geese
For one, geese are generally larger birds, with some breeds reaching up to 15 pounds.
Chickens, on the other hand, typically weigh less than 6 pounds.
Additionally, geese have longer lifespans than chickens, with some geese living for 20 years or more.
Chickens normally only live for 5 to 10 years.
Another distinction is that geese are migratory, traveling long distances in search of food and shelter (unless you clip their wings).
On the other hand, chickens are not mobile and tend to stay in the same area year-round.
Finally, while chickens and geese lay eggs, chicken eggs are typically used for human consumption, while goose eggs are often used for incubation.
Read More: How Do You Hatch a Chicken Egg Without an Incubator? Thinking of hatching at home? Read this!
Benefits of Keeping Them Together
Increased Warmth
Having these birds together means that they can huddle together in colder months to keep warm.
It’s especially great at night if it’s cold because they can sleep together and keep each other warm through the night, too.
Protection From Predators
Geese can be quite loud with their honking and this can alert almost anyone of a predator, including the owner and chickens.
Chickens can also be loud and they have keen ears so they’re usually some of the first to hear the noises of a predator.
It Can Save Space
Keeping these two birds housed together can obviously save space and that might even be the initial reason you thought of it.
This can be a great idea if you’re limited on space, but just make sure you still have enough space for the birds.
They do well housed together because although they’re both birds, they do things differently.
For example, chickens usually sleep in a coop, but geese sleep in nest boxes on the ground.
Here’s a video showing that not only can chickens and geese live together, but they can live with other bird types, too:
Read More: Do Geese Nest in Trees? Learn more about where geese will sleep here!
The Challenges of Keeping Them Together
Bullying
The two birds might not end up getting along and you might have bullying or fighting.
Some chickens can tend to be a nuisance to other birds, which can affect the geese.
On the other hand, geese are known to be quite aggressive so this could be an issue for the chickens.
Read our related article, ‘Why Are Geese So Aggressive?’ for more on this.
Geese Can Be Noisy
Geese honk quite loud and being housed with other birds can increase their honking.
This is important to consider if you live in a quiet neighborhood or just want to keep a quiet home.
Not Enough Space
One thing you might have an issue with is you might realize you don’t have enough space for them to live together.
Geese are larger birds and need a bit more room, plus chickens love to run around so they’ll need ample space, as well.
Tips for Keeping Them Together Successfully
Here are 6 tips for keeping chickens and geese together successfully:
- Both chickens and geese like to scratch and forage, so it’s essential to provide them with plenty of space to roam. A good rule of thumb is to give each bird at least 10 square feet of space.
- Chickens are typically more active than geese, so it’s essential to have separate areas for them to rest and sleep in. Otherwise, the geese may get pushed around and not get enough rest.
- Both chickens and geese eat grass, but chickens also like to peck at insects. To keep everyone well-fed, it’s essential to provide various food options and ensure that the chicken coop is far away from the goose pen.
- Geese can be aggressive, so watching their interactions with the chickens is essential. If necessary, separate them into different pens or put them in other yard areas.
- Finally, it’s important to remember that chickens and geese can carry diseases that can harm other species. So, it’s essential to keep their living areas clean and disinfected and to monitor them closely for any signs of illness.
By following these tips, you can ensure that your chickens and geese live happily together!
Conclusion
Geese and chickens can definitely live together but there are a few things to take into consideration and know before you do this.
This information should help you deice whether keeping the two together is a good idea or not.
By following the above tips, you can ensure that your chickens and geese live happily together!
