Geese do not need a coop per se, the space required by a goose is much less than that of a chicken or duck.
A geese coop is not necessary for their care, however, if you plan on keeping them inside during the dark months of the year or if you want a place for them to sleep during extreme weather is when a coop does become useful. Geese are not as good at getting out of snow as chickens are, so a goose house may be required depending on your climate.
Choose an appropriate breed for your climate, and consider how much space you will have and what type of predator protection they will need before selecting your breed.
Table of Contents
What Is The Purpose Of A Coop?
A coop is a place for your hens to lay their eggs and a shelter from the extremes of your climate.
A coop can be as simple as a dog kennel, however, you should put in some effort and look into the following areas of consideration:
2. Ventilation
3. Security
4. Nesting Boxes
5. Daylights
6. Nesting Materials
7. Fencing
8. Feeders and Waterers
9. A Place For Their Bedding
10. Safety For The Pants Of Your Coop
Predator protection is extremely important if you do not want your geese getting killed or getting their eggs stolen by other animals. You can add netting around the bottom of the coop if you have trouble with foxes or dogs. You can also add a lid to prevent larger predators like raccoons.
Ventilation is important to get rid of foul odors from the coop. According to the Purdue University Cooperative Extension Manual, “the ventilated coop must also be well insulated to prevent frost and heat loss, as well as wind drafts.”
Security is also very important if you want to keep your geese safe. You will want your goose house to be able to withstand most forces of nature in your area and other unwanted animals should they decide they need your hens’ eggs. There are many methods of security you can choose from, such as a barred door or an electric fence.
Nesting boxes are absolutely necessary if you want them to lay their eggs where you want them. These should be placed in a dark secure area that is far away from where the chicken feed is. Most goose breeds need four nesting boxes at about 15 x 12 inches for laying purposes; however, Canada Geese will only require one nest box for each goose in the flock.
Related: Do Geese Need A Pond?
How Do You Make A Geese Coop?
If you have decided you want to build a coop rather than purchase one pre-made then there are a few things you need to know beforehand. There are a lot of people who build their own goose coops and there are also lots of plans out there that are available to you as well as pre-made ones as soon as you decide they are the best choice for your flock.
If you do decide to build your own, be sure to take into consideration the breed of goose that you have or plan on getting before starting the building process so that you can guarantee them enough room for laying eggs or plenty of room to move around to stretch their wings.
As you are deciding on what materials you are going to use, be sure to check that they will not harbor harmful insects and diseases. Bacteria can easily spread through dust, so make sure you clean the coop after each goose has been inside so that spores do not build up and remain there. If some mold starts to grow on the roof or walls of your coop make sure you clean it immediately.
You can check out this video for ideas:
How Much Space Do You Need Per Goose?
As stated before, geese don’t need that much space, but they should have enough to do what they need to do. It is recommended that you give at least 1 square foot of space per goose, but this can be as high as 4 square feet depending on the size of your birds. If you want your flock to grow, then make sure you have plenty of room for them to spread out and exercise.
Be sure that your living area is clean and free from harmful bacteria and disease. Make sure there isn’t any mold growing on the walls because it can be a breeding ground for various bacteria and it will also cause irritation. It can also start causing conditions like diarrhea or respiratory infections in your flock if left unchecked, so make sure you have cleaned every inch of the space where the geese will be living.
There should be a fresh water source in the living area, and you need to make sure that it is maintained and cleaned frequently.
