In Europe, Africa, and Western Asia, domestic geese were domesticated from the grey goose, while in East Asia, they are a breed of swan goose.
This is why humans raise geese instead of dogs
Interestingly, domestic geese are plumper than wild geese because, during domestication, humans selected larger geese. Domestic geese can weigh up to 10 kg, whereas wild swan geese only weigh about 3.5 kg and grey geese around 4.1 kg. Despite their plumpness, domestic geese can basically fly. At this point, it’s clear that domestic geese can fly, but they do so mainly to chase away intruders or other animals bothering them, while wild geese still fly freely due to their lighter weight.
The earliest records of domesticated geese indicate that they were raised for meat and sacrifices, but during Roman times, geese were also kept for their eggs and bred for specific traits like calm demeanor or beautiful, luxurious plumage.
The painting Les oies du Capitole (The Capitoline Geese) by French artist Henri-Paul Motte in 1889.
It wasn’t until 390 BC that geese were kept as guardian animals in Roman life. Legend has it that in the temple of the goddess Juno, there was a flock of geese considered sacred, and no one dared to eat them. In 390 BC, Rome was besieged by the Gauls, and one late night, Gaul soldiers stealthily climbed the Capitoline Hill, where the temple of the goddess Juno stood, to launch a surprise attack on Rome. The dogs kept by the Romans did not alert anyone as they were easily bribed with fresh meat. However, the geese quickly sensed the unusual disturbance and began to honk loudly. Thanks to the honking of the geese, the Romans were awakened and successfully defended their city. Since this event, geese have been seen as heroes, sacred animals, and an annual festival was even held where people dressed in purple and yellow costumes to mock the dogs for their “greed” that made them forget their guarding duties.
Geese are “guardians” and the “men of the family”
Now let’s discuss the aggressive behavior and strong “guardian” traits of geese. Geese can be aggressive—this behavior is related to their size as they are large and clumsy birds. Geese are not good at escaping when threatened, leading them to display aggression and territorial behavior to avoid danger. They can withstand harsh weather well, preferring to stay outside even in the snow. Their good self-defense abilities, combined with a preference for being outside rather than indoors, mean that geese are often raised by farmers alongside chickens and ducks, protecting them.
Geese have excellent daytime vision (almost blind at night) and extremely sensitive hearing, allowing them to detect movements long before humans do. While most birds do not react to things that may be beneficial to humans, geese, on the other hand, act like a neighborhood loudspeaker. They emit loud and aggressive sounds—two ideal traits for guarding and protection. Geese are also territorial: they know where their home is and protect it. Few domesticated birds retain their territorial nature, and even fewer have aggressive attitudes when faced with intruders.
The protective behavior of geese towards their partners and young remains unchanged from their wild ancestors.
Geese become even more aggressive during mating season or when they are with their “wives” and young. Male geese will immediately stretch their necks to the fullest, turn their heads to look at you with one eye, and prepare to attack, regardless of who the threat is. Their protective behavior towards their partners and young remains unchanged from their wild ancestors. Geese mate for life and are very loyal to their owners, remembering both humans and other animals they live with. This loyalty is somewhat similar to dogs, but geese surpass them in the following aspect:
Geese cannot be “bribed” with food
As in the story of Rome, the household dogs were bribed with fresh meat and thus “became silent as a puppy.” In contrast, geese are not influenced by food, no matter how delicious it may be. This is why many farmers around the world prefer to raise geese for guarding and protecting other animals rather than dogs.
For instance, in Xinjiang, geese are used to guard police stations and buildings. In 1986, the U.S. military purchased 750 geese from German farmers to protect their military bases. In Dumbarton, Scotland, the famous whiskey company Ballantine’s used geese to guard their premises from 1959 until they were replaced by security cameras in 2012. These geese were called “Scotch Watch.”
Geese are herbivores and also … lawnmowers
Unlike chickens and ducks, which enjoy insects, worms, and protein-rich foods, geese prefer to eat plants, being very greedy but solely herbivorous. Perhaps that’s why it is challenging to entice a domestic goose.
Farmers are relieved from weeding, and goose droppings enrich the soil for plant growth.
Many farms raise geese to protect crops from weeds. By combining goose farming with suitable plants, they will eat all the surrounding weeds without touching the crops. Commonly grown plants include strawberries, raspberries, herbs, and tobacco… Farmers are relieved from weeding, and goose droppings help enrich the soil for plant growth.
Geese also serve as natural alarm bells and are home invaders
In addition to their guarding ability, the honking of geese can also act as an alarm clock. Geese have good memories; they can remember people, distinguishing who is who through appearance, gestures, and voices. They also recognize which chickens or dogs are near them and remember the situations and environments around them. Thus, any unusual disturbances, no matter how small, or the appearance of strangers will be met with their honking and aggressive attitude. Over time, goose farmers can learn to distinguish between alarm calls for intruders or strange events and calls for mates. Thanks to their honking, you can know when a fox appears near your home or simply when someone comes to deliver mail.
However, geese also enjoy wandering, so it’s not uncommon to see geese neglecting their guarding duties. Wandering combined with the territorial instincts inherited from their wild ancestors means that geese will try to expand their territory if not restricted by fences, and eventually… one goose, oh wait, a flock of geese will come into your house, honking at you to say “get out of my house.”
Geese are also common in family movies set on farms. Many farms raise them not only for guarding and protecting other livestock and poultry but also for their entertaining personalities. They are lively, noisy, aggressive, but also very affectionate towards their owners.
