Have checked with the national ones (before embarking on this project) and the Geflügelzuchtverein, and hopefully the local Tierschutz won't have very different rules. You don't actually need special fencing by law, but we want foxproof fencing anyway as we're not going to be able to put them to bed by dusk every night. You need 300 square metres of good grazing per pair (we have 1900 square metres and plan to have two pairs and breed a small batch each summer) and water of at least 60cm depth. You are not allowed to keep a single goose (which is good, because that is a tragedy). Basically, it's common sense if you have kept geese before (which I have).

To be honest, it's too late for that... we already bought the house. These are going to be effectively the most expensive geese ever, I know (and they have practically no monetary value).

Ironically, we have an aviary - about 6 metres long by 3 metres wide by 2 metres high, concrete foundations - which we're going to demolish to make more grazing and because the former owner didn't have planning permission for it.

One thing I have't got my head round is what is 'local'. Both these firms come from villages less than 10km away. In a small Swiss village, it seems like that is like bringing in people from the Far East to do the work. But we did ask the village firms first, they just seem to be more 'we decorate your garden' firms than 'we do major earthworks and create a field' firms.


Will do, thanks