GEESE

Our gorgeous geese are the feathered guardians of our farm.

Geese are medium to large birds, weighing between eight to twelve kilograms. They exhibit distinctive features, including long necks, webbed feet, and a variety of feather colours. They have rounded heads with broad, often orange or black beaks, and their wings are adapted for powerful flight. Over 130 species of geese can be found around the world, with some amongst the ranks of the world’s largest waterfowl - though they tend to spend most of their time on land.

Geese are protective and territorial birds, acting as vigilant guards of their domain. In fact, their supreme sentry skills were harnessed by Ballantine’s Whisky Bonded Warehouse, who employed a geese guard known as the ‘Scotch Watch’ to protect the property from 1959 to 2012.

They are also very social animals, communicating in a language of hissing and honking sounds. They can be curious and routine-oriented, adapting their behaviour to suit their habitat.

During the breeding season they become attentive parents, sharing caregiving duties between the male ‘gander’ and female ‘goose’. Geese only lay one season per year, and during that season they’ll lay between 30 to 40 eggs. These precious eggs are incubated for 28 to 35 days, before hatching to reveal new life in the form of a baby goose, known as a ‘gosling’. Geese typically have a life span of between 20 to 30 years. They are herbivorous birds, feasting on a diet of grasses, aquatic plants and nourishing grains.

Geese are versatile in purpose, gracing gardens as ornamental birds, providing sustenance through meat and eggs in agriculture, standing guard as protectors, yielding feathers for soft bedding, and serving as subjects for sport hunters.

A group of geese on land or in water are a gaggle, while in the air they are called a skein. Flying in the wild they’re a true testament to teamwork. Their characteristic V-shaped flight formation creates an aerodynamic advantage, reducing air resistance and saving energy for the entire flock.