Raising Pilgrim Geese at BF Farm Kunekune Pigs

Some animals come to the farm quietly. Others announce themselves to the whole place. Pilgrim geese were definitely in the second group, and for a while, they became one of the most enjoyable and memorable parts of BF Farm Kunekune Pigs.

FarmLife Note: BF Farm Kunekune Pigs focuses today on Kunekune pigs, but our FarmLife articles also share practical lessons from homesteading, livestock care, land management, and farm self-reliance that continue to shape how we run the farm.

Back in 2022, we decided to try our hand at raising Pilgrim geese. We had raised goats, cattle, pigs, and other animals, but geese were something different. Pilgrim geese interested us because they are known as a calmer, more docile heritage goose compared with some other breeds. They also have an American farm history, with strong connections to the Midwest, which made them feel like a good fit for our Missouri farm.

So we bought ourselves a pair of Pilgrim geese and gave them a try.

Why Pilgrim Geese Caught Our Interest

Geese have a reputation.

Some people think of them as noisy, bossy, and a little intimidating. And honestly, that reputation is not completely wrong. Geese can be loud. They can be protective. They can make their presence known very quickly.

But Pilgrim geese are often described as one of the more docile and personable goose breeds. That was part of the appeal for us. We liked the idea of having a heritage breed that could live alongside the rest of the farm animals and add a different kind of life to the place.

They were not like chickens, and they were not like ducks. They had their own personality, their own rhythm, and their own way of fitting into the farm.

Our First Pair of Pilgrim Geese

Once we brought home our pair, we quickly learned that geese are entertaining animals to have around.

They were noisy, of course. That part came with the package. But they were also social, alert, and interesting to watch. They moved around the farm with confidence and seemed to understand very quickly where they belonged.

They integrated fairly well with the rest of the animals, although “integrated” does not mean they were always gentle about it. Pilgrim geese may be considered docile for geese, but they are still geese. Ours could be a little pushy and sometimes intimidated the other animals around the farm.

Even so, we enjoyed having them. They added character to the place. There is something special about seeing geese moving across a farmyard, calling out, keeping track of everything, and acting like they are part livestock, part security system, and part comedy show.

When They Raised Their Own Goslings

One of the best parts of raising them was when our female brooded a clutch of goslings.

Geese do not lay eggs the way chickens do. Chickens may lay regularly for much of the year, but geese are more seasonal. With Pilgrim geese, the laying and brooding cycle is much more limited, so when they do hatch goslings, it feels like an event.

Our goose brooded six beautiful goslings.

That was a wonderful experience. Watching her care for them, seeing the goslings follow along, and having that little family group on the farm was something we really enjoyed. Pilgrim geese are known for being good natural parents, and getting to see that firsthand made the experience even better.

For a while, they were simply a fun and meaningful part of BF Farm Kunekune Pigs.

The Hard Lesson We Learned

About a year later, we decided to try something else new on the farm.

At the time, we still had cattle, and I wanted to see if Border Collies could help us move them. Border Collies are well known as intelligent working dogs, especially for herding livestock. So we bought two Border Collie puppies, raised them, and started trying to train them.

Unfortunately, things did not go the way we hoped.

The dogs became very aggressive toward the Pilgrim geese. Over time, they harassed them badly enough that they killed them all.

It was devastating.

Losing animals is never easy, but this one hit especially hard because the geese had become such a joyful part of the farm. We had watched them settle in, raise goslings, and become part of daily life. To lose them that way was heartbreaking.

Not Every Animal Fits Every Farm

The lesson from that experience was painful but important.

When you introduce a new animal to a farm, you are not just adding that animal by itself. You are changing the whole balance of the farm. You have to think about how that animal will interact with everything already there.

A dog may be smart. A goose may be hardy. Cattle may need help moving. But that does not automatically mean all of those animals will work safely together.

In our case, the Border Collies were not the right fit for us. Border Collies can be excellent working dogs in the right hands, but they need serious training, structure, and a clear job. Without that, their instincts can turn into behavior that creates problems instead of solving them.

We eventually decided they would never be useful for what we needed. The amount of training required, combined with the damage already done, made it clear that they were not going to work for our farm.

What We Would Tell Other Farmers

If someone is thinking about adding geese, working dogs, or any new species to a farm, our advice is simple: slow down and think it through.

Ask yourself:

• What animals are already on the farm?
• Will the new animal be safe around them?
• Does the new animal need special training?
• Do you have the time and experience to provide that training?
• Could instinctive behavior become a problem?
• What is the backup plan if the animals do not get along?

Those questions matter.

Farm life is full of trial and error, but some mistakes are expensive, painful, and hard to undo. We learned that with our Pilgrim geese.

Remembering the Pilgrim Geese

Even though the story ended badly, I still look back on the Pilgrim geese with a lot of fondness.

They were noisy. They were bossy. They could intimidate the other animals a little. But they were also beautiful, entertaining, and full of personality. Watching them raise six goslings was one of those farm memories that stays with you.

They brought a lot of life to BF Farm Kunekune Pigs while we had them.

That is part of farming too. Some animals stay for years. Some are part of one season of the farm’s story. Some teach you lessons you wish you had not learned the hard way.

The Pilgrim geese were one of those lessons.

Final Thoughts

Raising Pilgrim geese at BF Farm Kunekune Pigs was both joyful and heartbreaking.

We enjoyed them tremendously. They fit into the farm in their own noisy, confident way, and for a time they were a wonderful part of daily life. But losing them taught us a serious lesson about adding new animals, especially working dogs, to a mixed farm.

Every animal brings instincts with it. Every breed has a purpose. And every farm has to decide what combinations are safe, practical, and manageable.

For us, the Pilgrim geese will always be remembered as beautiful, entertaining animals that brought joy to the farm — and as a reminder to be very careful before introducing something new into an already established farm family.