Geese are farmed in significant numbers across Europe and Asia, yet their welfare needs remain poorly researched and largely unregulated compared to other poultry.
Farmed geese face welfare challenges that are in some ways more severe than other poultry. Foie gras production involves what many welfare scientists consider unavoidable suffering during force-feeding. Live plucking is widely condemned. And even in standard production, the denial of water for bathing - a fundamental need for waterfowl - is a significant welfare problem. Improved welfare for farmed geese requires both regulatory reform and consumer pressure.