Anyone raise geese for down?

[Wolf-Kim]

This just goes to show you, that you need to be aware of where you are finding your information. I do not know anything about goose down harvesting, but I did know immediately upon reading a couple of the sources cited, that they only had their "commercial" interests in mind. Please remember to look at WHERE you are getting your information and what their "hidden agenda" is, almost everyone has one.

Using Omni's example, it was very obvious why they would want to spread propoganda about "hand-harvested", it is because they are a large commercial manufacturer of goose down products. They get their material from commercial raised and slaughtered geese. Their "hidden agenda" was to turn you against the smaller producers of "hand harvested" goose down, so you would buy their product instead. Human emotion is an incredible power tool when it comes to commercialism and manipulation/marketing. Basically "buy our product because their product is cruel" when in reality all you have is a salesman writing a rant about something he is ignorant on. I bet you the man/woman who wrote that article does not own geese or is knowledgeable about them.

It is better to do thorough research from "multiple" sources and standpoints and then make your own opinion on a topic. Don't stand for something when you've only heard one side. If I wanted to, I could write a long, emotional rant about why "spaying and nuetering is cruel and selfish", but we all know the other "side" of spaying and nuetering. I guess I'm just saying "Please do your research and be aware of your source's 'hidden agenda'."

From what I've read on the topic myself, I think hand harvesting goose down is perfectly fine and if you wanted to raise geese solely for that purpose, it would be no different than shearing sheep, if done correctly. Just my opinion.

-Kim

 

[Beekissed]

Well, I plan to maximize the usage of my 1+ acre next year and I have an orchard on nearly half of that. I want to get a hair sheep and would like to throw in a pair of geese. I heard they are quite compatible on pasture, they will keep the yard mowed down, I can breed the sheep and sell the lambs, harvest a little down from the geese for the "baby" quilts, and other things, I want to make from it and have a more useful setup.

I would also like to harvest the hair from the sheep, and the dog, to fill dog beds with, along with cedar chips, of course. Or use it for good mulching even. I would just like to use this land for more than just a place to grow a garden, harvest apples and mow the lawn all summer! I'm hoping that my neighbor that owns the mostly-empty pasture that lies next to me, will let me run the sheep and geese in there occasionally, just to give my pasture/lawn some rest.

Ninja, I'm glad there are other folks who want to learn about this subject also. I know our ancestors used to harvest down for its many uses and I would like to turn the clock back a little and become more self-sufficient. I bought each of us a down comforter last year and it was one of the best investments I've ever made. Instant heat, lighter than a cloud, springs back, after washing, into a fluffy, warm dream!

 

[Wolf-Kim]

I say read up one how to "do it right" and then go for it. You'll know whether it is humane or not, when you do it. If it hurts, the goose is sure going to let you know. I think you'll be fine.

-Kim

 

[Beekissed]

Kim, the pictures I saw of the Mennonites, the geese was lying calmly on its back while its down was being pulled. No struggle, no squawking or distress noted in the pics they showed.

I'm not one for intentionally hurting animals, as I'm sure none of us are, so I wouldn't persist if I thought they were in pain. I am a hospice nurse...avoiding pain is my specialty, so to speak!

I agree with your take on the info provided. I always grow suspicious of articles that don't present the pros and the cons, and the emotionalism present in the article spells "agenda" to me also! I agree also with your opinion that the person probably had no personal experience with poultry and was speaking from an emotional standpoint, rather than an informed one.

 

[Wolf-Kim]

I found the article's author ignorant and making harsh assumptions. Pulling any kind of feathers, will never compared to "pulling your fingernails off."

That article got me going for some reason, I'm in rant mode. LOL. It was like a reverse PETA post, more emotional and tear jerking stuff than just cold hard fact. One sided sources are usually red flags. In my public speaking course we were told that a good public speaker at least acknowledges the other side..

I dislike informational sources that say "think this way", instead of presenting the pros and cons of both sides and letting you decide how you want to think/feel about it. LOL

-Kim

 

[Omniskies]

Things like that annoy me a lot, too. I spend a lot of time trying to find out information about things I haven't done. When that information is biased it makes things extreemly difficult and can do a lot of harm.

Because of that article, and ones like it, people are avoiding a great opportunity to supply themselves with down and to help pay the feed bill. It also makes people who do that seem like heartless, soul-sucking monsters who care more about the dollar than the wellbeing of their pets.

 

[Wolf-Kim]

....heartless soul-sucking monsters....

For some reason I reall enjoyed that part, Omni.

-Kim

 

[Beekissed]

Me, also! I think I ARE one....a heartless, soul-sucking monster, that is! As I plan to "pull the fingernails out of a goose" in the future!

 

[Wolf-Kim]

Don't forget you have to "hold them down" in order to "pull their hair and fingernails off".. Heaven forbid..

Please, don't be offended by my post. I am not poking fun at people who think this practice is cruel, I am only poking fun at the article in question.. You are more than welcome to your own opinion!

-Kim

 

[Omniskies]

Oh noes! The poor goose! MURDEREDEDER!

My current flock of adults would be absolutely livid if I tried to harvest down from them, but all of my replacement breeders for next year have been hand raised. I think I'll start holding them on their backs and getting them used to having their stomach pet so I can harvest in the spring.

Edit:

Please, don't be offended by my post. I am not poking fun at people who think this practice is cruel, I am only poking fun at the article in question.. You are more than welcome to your own opinion!

You are more than welcome to your own educated opinion!

Too much harm is done when people lash out over things without knowing enough about what they are attacking.​