African Pygmy Geese

[maransfan16]

Some of my first waterfowl were pekins. Nice ducks!

same here got some right now too

 

[ocdman]

maransfan16, since they are not true geese I'm guessing they are sexually mature at a year or maybe less---I do know the males color out at about 6 months.
destinduck, As far as the aggression goes, I think its an admirable trait, I suspect these aggressive males will be great breeders.

 

[destinduck]

I agree with you on the part of aggressive males being some of the best breeders ocdman . I have found this true on all my birds. The difference is I just dont like when the aggressiveness is directed towards me or other people.Thats why I no longer keep any shelducks. If the Pygmies are like that towards people I have no business even thinking about ever keeping them. The only pair I ever saw in the flesh was at Busch Gardens. Thats pretty much where I really fell in love with them a long while back. I wanted to spend some time watching them closer up and learn about them but that didnt work out so well with the family. Didnt get to chat with their keepers or nothing. It was just a quick minute tease. I also wondered about their sexual maturity as well maransfan16. From what I have gathered it eems like sexually mature or not its always close to three years before any eggs are laid on these. Has anyone heard of any eggs getting laid sooner (fertile or not) from the other folks that have kept them?

 

[maransfan16]

thanks for the info guys

 

[ocdman]

The aggression is not bad at all, I think its rather enjoyable. The male flys at your face, but if you don't turn away he stops the attack. I've tried to get a video or picture, but if I have a camera they won't do it. There's something fun about seeing this little goose with its mouth wide open flying at me-----I wouldn't let that stop you from getting them----keep in mind, these are not pets, these are wild birds. Now the aggression of the male Ocellated Turkey is a whole different thing

 

[netapus]

Hello
I refer to your comments re maturity etc. and can confirm that in the UK males are fertile when they are approaching a year old but i have not had a female lay in her first year but most of them will lay in their second season. If you would like to see further pictures etc you might like to look at my web site www.norfolkwildfowl.co.uk

I also note your comments re aggression, the males certainly need to be in good condition but if they get to fired up they will actually start to rape their own female and that is not conducive to a successful breeding season.

 

[ocdman]

Hi netapus, wonderful web site, beautiful pictures of all the birds. The aggression seems to be mostly in the brooder raised males, in my adult birds and wild caught I haven't seen "much" aggression, but perhaps a little in one bird. These males are just a year old now, so I'm getting ready to pair them with unrelated females and get them into a breeding situation, hopefully the aggression will be directed at me and not at the female. We currently have 10 pairs------ I would love to get some of the other types of pygmies.

 

[destinduck]

Sounds like I can handle that much. Off topic but my meanest birds I ever owned were a pair of paradise (shelducks). They would hollar if anything moving got within 150ft of them. My wife called that pair our "watchducks" One reason she liked em was because if someone, something or car even came down our road or near the house(day or night) you definitely knew about it! For me to go inside their pen was always bad . Someone besides me.....way worse. To get the babies out during breeding time sucked. I just had to net the male and cage him to even think about going in. Others and the offspring were not much better.
Wonderful website and place you have netapus and welcome to BYC. Im starting to relate to the wrong side of 50. LOL! Hope you get your greens to produce for you one day. On a side note I loved learning about brants geese a little further from you. Your article and pics on those were great. Thanks so much.

 

[Pambrose]

By any chance would you have information that would allow me to purchase hatching eggs or chicks for these geese. I have a poultry and waterfowl farm and would love to add this breed.
Thank you,
Philip Ambrose

 

[Yadia]

I am interested in the Pygmy geese eggs to incubate, do you sell the eggs?