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It’s a long story, but this entire bird thing started with 2 chickens.

Short version: I just wanted to buy 2 chicks and have my own eggs. I left the house to buy 2 chicks, but before the day was done I had 8 baby chicks. About a month later, a friend had to move, so he gave his 30 chickens, they were 6 months old.

Then one day I decided I wanted a duck, perhaps 2 so they would have each other. I came home with 8 ducks. LOL Before we could get the duck shed built, we lost 4 to predators. I finished the shed and I bought 6 more.

Last spring, two mama ducks gave me 25 more ducks. A third mama gave me another 13,....that was when I quickly learned that chickens will kill baby ducks. Those vicious jerks killed all but 3 of that batch of 13. We raised the remaining 3 in a dog crate in our house (no, my wife didn’t love the experience.. LOL), until we finished building a second and much larger duck shed.

Then I thought it might be fun to have a “couple” geese around. My wife “made me” build a goose shed BEFORE buying the geese. I found some for sale about 3 hours from my house. I left to get 2, I came home with 5. LOL

I liked the idea of the geese, so I ordered an additional breed and a variety of ducks over the net. That gave us another dozen birds. LOL

By next weekend, we should have about 25 more geese babies around here.

As to your questions: Well, I have all of these because I just wanted 2 chickens and my own eggs... I tend to get carried away. My wife has always told me that I see life through the eyes of a child... she might be right. ;>) You know those warnings at the start of some movies...the one that reads, “Parental Guidance Recommended/Advised”... that was put in there for me. ;>)

I had planned to raise them for fun and food, but I probably won’t butcher any unless the economy requires it. I might sell some as their population grows. Fortunately, the breeds that I have chosen require very little care and can do quite well foraging for themselves, but I do spoil them with treats during the day and feed at night.

BTW... the geese mate for life and they can live for as much as 30 years.

ALL of my critters are healthy and happy. They know us and trust us. I have taught them to fly to me when I blow a police whistle. They get along with my GSD and he helps us get them in at night. 30 of those guys in the sky all at the same time, and hurrying to get to you is quite a sight.... I love it.

If we do get around to eating any of them, it’s the young birds that are supposed to be the best. LOL... I have never eaten duck or goose.