Geese and ducks are very hardy birds and will forage for most of the food they need. Geese even make great lookouts and will sound the alarm whenever a stranger or threat is spotted. When starting a flock you can buy day-old birds or young 7 month-old ducks or 2 year old geese. A good starting number with ducks is 1 male and six females. Geese tend to be monogamous so a pair will do. Its best to buy them at least a month before breeding season which begins in early spring.
Choosing The Right Breed
Like chickens there are breeds of geese and ducks that either better for meat or eggs. Khaki Campbell ducks rival even chickens in egg laying but they are rather small. Pekin ducks are the most popular breed for their meat thanks to fast weight gain. Emden geese are great for meat and lay around 40 eggs per year making them one of the best egg layers among geese.
Feeding
As previously stated geese and ducks regularly forage for food. At least 1 acre is needed for 20 mature birds. If you have you trees that you want to grow it would be wise to fence them off as geese will eat their bark. You can supplement their foraging with pellet food in covered self feeders. Ground oyster shells are a good source of calcium for laying waterfowl. Speaking of water, water troughs must be deep enough that a duck can submerge its bill and a goose its head.
Housing
A simple shed with 5 to 6 square feet of floor space per bird will do. Proper ventilation and sanitation are a must, and bedding should treated the same as you would for chickens. Though they would enjoy having a place to swim it is not a necessity.