Why should I raise Geese?
Geese are wonderful creatures with many great capabilities. Geese have been used for:
TBD
Incubation
Water Requirements
TBD
Meat
TBD
Eggs
TBD
Breeds
American Geese (Buff, Blue & Lavender)
American Geese are a calm and docile goose breed. They are listed as critically endangered by the American Livestock Breeds Conservancy. This breed has been raised for meat as well as for their valuable down feathers.
African Geese
African Geese are known for being quite a large breed of goose. African Geese are one of the few breeds not descended from Greylag Geese. They are descendants of Swan Geese. They can easily be identified by the knobs are their head. This breed has been raised for "watch dogs" and meat.
@OneMountainAcres
Chinese Geese
Chinese Geese can be quite noisy and considered by some to be a more aggressive breed. However, many have chosen Chinese Geese for their choice of a pet goose. Chinese Geese are another one of the few breeds not descended from Greylag geese. They are often raised for "watchdogs, meat, also for their excellent egg-laying skills.
Photos by @BarkingChickens and @rainplace
Cotton Patch Geese
Cotton Patch Geese are a very rare breed known for their excellent temperament as well as being sex-linked. Cotton Patch geese are listed as critically endangered by the American Livestock Breeds Conservancy. Also, Cotton Patch Geese, unlike most domesticated geese, can fly.
Photos by @EmAbTo48
Embden Geese
Embden Geese are a heavy goose breed often raised for meat. They have been used as "watchdogs". This breed is also raised for its down.
Photo by @horsekeeper
Pilgrim Geese
Pilgrim Geese are a docile breed also known for being sex-linked. They are listed as critical by the American Livestock Breeds Conservancy. Some are raised for meat birds. They can lay approximately 35-45 every year.
Picture by @Tivona
Pomeranian Geese
Pomeranian Geese are a breed with beautiful plumage. They are sometimes raised for "watch dogs". This breed is often shown at poultry shows. They lay approximately 15 - 35 eggs every year. They are listed as Critically endangered by the American Livestock Breeds Conservancy.
Photos by @1MrsMagoo
Tufted Roman
Tufted Roman Geese are a breed known for the tufts of their heads. They are also referred to as Roman Geese. They are an ornamental breed. They lay approximately 25- 35 eggs a year. They are listed as critical by the American Livestock Breeds Conservancy.
From left to right, photos by @Pyxis & @Daniel-Sorensen
Sebastopol Geese
Sebastopol Geese are a breed known for their curly feathers. They are often used in poultry shows. This breed has developed into many different color morphs. White, Lavender, Saddleback, and Gray are some known colors. This breed is listed as threatened by the American Livestock Breeds Conservancy.
Picture by @Cottage Rose
Shetland Geese
Shetland Geese are a small auto-sexed breed. They are known for their superior foraging skills. This breed is quite rare and is listed as critical by the American Livestock Breeds Conservancy.
Photo by @JoFinlay
Toulouse Geese
Toulouse Geese are a large grey goose breed. These birds are often raised as meat birds. This breed is also often shown at poultry shows. It is listed as watch by the American Livestock Breeds Conservancy.
Photo by @aoxa
FAQs
How long do geese live?
A: Geese can live over 20 years
What do you feed geese?
A: Geese can be fed forage, layer feed, flock raiser, etc.
Can geese be housed with chickens?
A: The answer varies by the individual. Some geese have been housed with chickens without a problem. However, other people have housed them together and had birds injured or killed.
Can you free-range geese?
A: Yes, you can, but although they are large, they are not predator-proof.
Will geese protect my flock?
A: No. Geese make an excellent alarming system but are not capable of protecting your birds.
Can they be housed with ducks?
A: Yes, it is possible to house geese together with ducks. However, it is important to monitor their behavior closely to prevent any aggression towards the ducks, particularly during their breeding season.
Can they be housed with call ducks?
A: I would advise against that. If the geese decided to attack, the calls would not stand a chance.
When do they lay eggs?
A: Larger breeds take longer to mature, but most geese lay the following spring.
Aren't geese aggressive?
A: Geese can become aggressive during the breeding season but, in general, have great temperaments.
How many eggs will they lay?
A: This varies widely depending on the breed. However, some geese, such as the Chinese, are known for excellent egg-laying abilities.
Where can I buy geese?
A: You can find a local breeder or in the spring at many feed stores. If you would like to order online, here are a few hatcheries:
How do you sex geese?
A: Unless the geese are an auto-sexed breed, you will have to vent sex. In African and Chinese Geese, the gander will have a larger knob on his head.
Are geese eggs edible?
A: Yes, they are
How long does it take for eggs to hatch?
A: 28 - 30 days.
Are goslings hard to brood?
A: The hardest part is the fact that they can be quite messy. They also grow quite fast
When are goslings feathered out?
By 6 weeks, they should be pretty well feathered out.
How much are goslings?
A: Gosling's prices will vary depending on quality. Goslings start around $ for pet quality at most feed stores.
Do goslings grow fast like ducklings?
A: Yes. Goslings don't mature as fast as ducklings but do grow quite fast.
How much are eggs?
A: Geese eggs for eating can be as cheap as 1 dollar. Hatching eggs will vary depending on the quality. Pet-quality eggs start at around $8 each, depending on your area.
Can geese eggs be blown out?
A: Yes, they can be blown out. They make excellent ornaments.
How do I fix angel wing?
Geese are wonderful creatures with many great capabilities. Geese have been used for:
- Foster Mothers
- Their very large eggs
- Guard Dogs"
- Their meat
- Poultry Shows
- Weeders
- For Enjoyment
- Pets
- Brooder
- TBD
- Food & Water
- TBD
TBD
Incubation
Water Requirements
TBD
Meat
TBD
Eggs
TBD
Breeds
American Geese (Buff, Blue & Lavender)
American Geese are a calm and docile goose breed. They are listed as critically endangered by the American Livestock Breeds Conservancy. This breed has been raised for meat as well as for their valuable down feathers.
| Buff | Blue | Lavender |
|---|---|---|
|
|
|
| Photo by @chick inn | Photo by @vicki2x2 | Photo by @vicki2x2 |
African Geese
African Geese are known for being quite a large breed of goose. African Geese are one of the few breeds not descended from Greylag Geese. They are descendants of Swan Geese. They can easily be identified by the knobs are their head. This breed has been raised for "watch dogs" and meat.
| Brown African | White African |
|---|---|
|
Chinese Geese
Chinese Geese can be quite noisy and considered by some to be a more aggressive breed. However, many have chosen Chinese Geese for their choice of a pet goose. Chinese Geese are another one of the few breeds not descended from Greylag geese. They are often raised for "watchdogs, meat, also for their excellent egg-laying skills.
| Brown Chinese | White Chinese |
|---|---|
|
|
Cotton Patch Geese
Cotton Patch Geese are a very rare breed known for their excellent temperament as well as being sex-linked. Cotton Patch geese are listed as critically endangered by the American Livestock Breeds Conservancy. Also, Cotton Patch Geese, unlike most domesticated geese, can fly.
|
|
Embden Geese
Embden Geese are a heavy goose breed often raised for meat. They have been used as "watchdogs". This breed is also raised for its down.
|
Pilgrim Geese
Pilgrim Geese are a docile breed also known for being sex-linked. They are listed as critical by the American Livestock Breeds Conservancy. Some are raised for meat birds. They can lay approximately 35-45 every year.
|
|
Pomeranian Geese
Pomeranian Geese are a breed with beautiful plumage. They are sometimes raised for "watch dogs". This breed is often shown at poultry shows. They lay approximately 15 - 35 eggs every year. They are listed as Critically endangered by the American Livestock Breeds Conservancy.
|
|
Tufted Roman
Tufted Roman Geese are a breed known for the tufts of their heads. They are also referred to as Roman Geese. They are an ornamental breed. They lay approximately 25- 35 eggs a year. They are listed as critical by the American Livestock Breeds Conservancy.
|
|
Sebastopol Geese
Sebastopol Geese are a breed known for their curly feathers. They are often used in poultry shows. This breed has developed into many different color morphs. White, Lavender, Saddleback, and Gray are some known colors. This breed is listed as threatened by the American Livestock Breeds Conservancy.
|
|
Shetland Geese
Shetland Geese are a small auto-sexed breed. They are known for their superior foraging skills. This breed is quite rare and is listed as critical by the American Livestock Breeds Conservancy.
|
Toulouse Geese
Toulouse Geese are a large grey goose breed. These birds are often raised as meat birds. This breed is also often shown at poultry shows. It is listed as watch by the American Livestock Breeds Conservancy.
|
|
FAQs
How long do geese live?
A: Geese can live over 20 years
What do you feed geese?
A: Geese can be fed forage, layer feed, flock raiser, etc.
Can geese be housed with chickens?
A: The answer varies by the individual. Some geese have been housed with chickens without a problem. However, other people have housed them together and had birds injured or killed.
Can you free-range geese?
A: Yes, you can, but although they are large, they are not predator-proof.
Will geese protect my flock?
A: No. Geese make an excellent alarming system but are not capable of protecting your birds.
Can they be housed with ducks?
A: Yes, it is possible to house geese together with ducks. However, it is important to monitor their behavior closely to prevent any aggression towards the ducks, particularly during their breeding season.
Can they be housed with call ducks?
A: I would advise against that. If the geese decided to attack, the calls would not stand a chance.
When do they lay eggs?
A: Larger breeds take longer to mature, but most geese lay the following spring.
Aren't geese aggressive?
A: Geese can become aggressive during the breeding season but, in general, have great temperaments.
How many eggs will they lay?
A: This varies widely depending on the breed. However, some geese, such as the Chinese, are known for excellent egg-laying abilities.
Where can I buy geese?
A: You can find a local breeder or in the spring at many feed stores. If you would like to order online, here are a few hatcheries:
How do you sex geese?
A: Unless the geese are an auto-sexed breed, you will have to vent sex. In African and Chinese Geese, the gander will have a larger knob on his head.
Are geese eggs edible?
A: Yes, they are
How long does it take for eggs to hatch?
A: 28 - 30 days.
Are goslings hard to brood?
A: The hardest part is the fact that they can be quite messy. They also grow quite fast
When are goslings feathered out?
By 6 weeks, they should be pretty well feathered out.
How much are goslings?
A: Gosling's prices will vary depending on quality. Goslings start around $ for pet quality at most feed stores.
Do goslings grow fast like ducklings?
A: Yes. Goslings don't mature as fast as ducklings but do grow quite fast.
How much are eggs?
A: Geese eggs for eating can be as cheap as 1 dollar. Hatching eggs will vary depending on the quality. Pet-quality eggs start at around $8 each, depending on your area.
Can geese eggs be blown out?
A: Yes, they can be blown out. They make excellent ornaments.
How do I fix angel wing?
