Geese raised for meat and down face distinctive welfare challenges related to their strong social bonds, water access needs, and resistance to intensive confinement.
Goose welfare in production systems is frequently overlooked compared to chicken welfare despite geese having more complex social and cognitive lives than most farmed poultry. Their long-term pair bonding means that separation from established companions causes welfare harm disproportionate to the pair-bond disruption seen in less socially complex species. Live plucking — removing feathers from conscious, restrained geese to harvest premium down — causes acute pain, fear, and physical injury; this practice remains widespread in markets without welfare-informed certification requirements. Geese in outdoor systems with grazing, bathing water, and companions display natural foraging, social, and exploratory behaviour indicating positive welfare states. The RDS certification provides consumer-facing assurance against the worst practices but requires purchasing verification.