Cotton Patch or Pilgrims? What should I choose - Page 2

The only pig I'd ever had was a Vietnamese pot belly (and he wasn't interested in killing anything besides our crawlspace heat ducts so he could sleep inside them.) All I've ever seen has been here-say around the homesteading blogosphere and my mom's midwest stories about grown men being killed and eaten by falling into the pens at the pig farms.


$50 per gosling + shipping seems to be the standard price for cotton patch, but they are docile, beautiful, auto sexing and great foragers. If I was investing in a permanent flock, it would be worth the money imo.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Oregon Blues 

If you want endangered breeds, then go with the Cotton Patch.  I don't think there is anything rare about Pilgrims.

Wow.  I am very surprised to hear that. 

We first started considering adding Pilgrims to our farm back in '08.  We wanted a gentle breed, and we wanted to be able to easily sex the goslings.  We also wanted the opportunity to help preserve a heritage breed & when we found Pilgrims on the critical list from the ALBC we knew that was the breed we wanted to pursue.

After having difficulty finding hatcheries "local" to us, we placed an early order for 4 pairs to be delivered in in spring 2011 from the West coast.  But supplies were so limited we only received half our order.  This winter I checked around with hatcheries and found that, of the few who offered Pilgrims, most were limiting orders to 4 goslings.  At this time very few hatcheries have any Pilgrim goslings still available. 

Perhaps the majority of the 5 or fewer primary breeding flocks are located out West?   That could account for the difficulty in finding them around here, while they may be less rare in your area?

....With regard to the original post:  I'd go with Pilgrims & I am completely biased

Quote:

Originally Posted by extraordinaryfowl 

Yes, they come in two colors - Saddleback and Solid. Saddleback the female's are saddleback patterned brown and white, and the males are pure white, and solid the females are solid brown and the males are white with some grey on their rump. When goslings the female's down is darker, and the males have pure pink beaks.

Yep, you can tell makes and females at hatch.  I have 3 male and 7 female Cotton Patch goslings that just hatched.

Quote:

Originally Posted by brownfoxfarm 

Wow.  I am very surprised to hear that. 

 

We first started considering adding Pilgrims to our farm back in '08.  We wanted a gentle breed, and we wanted to be able to easily sex the goslings.  We also wanted the opportunity to help preserve a heritage breed & when we found Pilgrims on the critical list from the ALBC we knew that was the breed we wanted to pursue.

 

After having difficulty finding hatcheries "local" to us, we placed an early order for 4 pairs to be delivered in in spring 2011 from the West coast.  But supplies were so limited we only received half our order.  This winter I checked around with hatcheries and found that, of the few who offered Pilgrims, most were limiting orders to 4 goslings.  At this time very few hatcheries have any Pilgrim goslings still available. 

 

Perhaps the majority of the 5 or fewer primary breeding flocks are located out West?   That could account for the difficulty in finding them around here, while they may be less rare in your area?

 

....With regard to the original post:  I'd go with Pilgrims & I am completely biased

I agree! I have Pilgrims, and I absolutely adore them! I have 8 eggs incubating as well  They are full of personality are aren't aggressive like some other breeds I've dealt with. They are great layers and parents. It's nice to have the obvious color difference between males and females. 

I think you would be very happy with Pilgrims!