Adopted geese love a pint down the local

SVEN Kirby, 34, who adopted two pet geese during lockdown has started taking them to his local pub wearing nappies. Sven is regularly seen out and about walking the birds, named Norbert and Beep Beep, around the streets of Leeds.

He lets them have free run of the house when he’s home but keeps them in a pen in the garden when he’s out. 

Sven, who lives alone, said, ‘I know a goose is a strange pet but it’s something different that I have wanted for a while. ‘I could have got a dog but as I work full time I didn’t think that was very fair, geese require much less attention.’ ‘I love the two of them, they’re brilliant characters and great fun to keep as pets.’

Sven first had the idea of keeping geese a few years ago when he was in York visiting his then-girlfriend and saw some waddling along the riverbank. He claims, ‘My ex wasn’t too keen on the idea so when we broke up I decided it was my chance to finally do it.’

When the lockdown was enforced, he found his nearest breeder and after parting with £80 he returned home with the two male geese from the same clutch.

They are giant exhibition dewlap Toulouse geese which are often bred for foie gras, meaning they’re used to being handled and therefore generally quite docile. They can live for up to 40 years.

Sven said the pair haven’t had any behavioural problems and have generally been easy to keep, as they don’t require much exercise and have a diet 80 per cent made up of grass. However, they can’t be potty trained so he does have to put them in specially made goose nappies shipped in from America when they’re inside the house. Sven encourages others to take up goose keeping saying, ‘They’re very happy and friendly animals, which makes them great to keep as pets.’

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Written by

Charlie Loran

Manchester born mummy with a two year old diva (2020), living on the Costa del Sol for just short of a decade.
Former chef and restaurateur, holistic health fanatic and lover of long words.

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