Best goose...

[Rondack]

Are they better then just Toulouse?

 

[Gray Farms]

Sebastopol. Great pets, Very calm "except in breeding season", Good meat "but on the smaller side", Very poor layers though.

 

[happybooker1]

Sadly I can't add any more choices.... Where can you get Cotton Patch geese?

They’re not very common. You have to find a breeder & (usually) get on a waiting list.

The pair I got quickly imprinted on me and follow me EVERYWHERE in the yard. They are supposed to be very calm and not wanderers, even tho they can fly really well.

 

[Rondack]

Sebastopol. Great pets, Very calm "except in breeding season", Good meat "but on the smaller side", Very poor layers though.

Sevastopol geese are very expensive though... (~$123 per pair!) How do they tolerate cold weather?

 

[Iain Utah]

Are they better then just Toulouse?

Production toulouse are different in appearance and personality than dewlap toulouse. Production toulouse are very good layers, sitters and parents. They are territorial and protective of home and family. They are also self-sufficient, hardier and less prone to health issues.

Dewlap toulouse are poor layers and even worse sitters. They have fertility issues, and are prone to orthopedic and heart problems. However, they are overall more docile and calm, less territorial, less reactive towards strangers, and want to stick close to home. They much prefer relying on people for grain and kiddy pool water, than to forage for it on their own. Because of their fatty low profile appearance, even non-goose people find them very cute.

 

[Rondack]

What about Pilgrims? How do they compare to Toulouse?

 

[Gray Farms]

Sevastopol geese are very expensive though... (~$123 per pair!) How do they tolerate cold weather?

As long as they have somewhere to get out of the wind they are fine. Mine sleep outside even on the coldest nights when the wind isn't blowing. On windy nights in the winter they do go inside.

 

[Rondack]

Now that's a cold hardy goose!

 

[Rondack]

Now there are three votes for Emden geese. How do they compare to Toulouse/Sevastopol geese? Whenever I drive by a farm that has geese usually that's the breed I see... Why?

 

[chickendreams24]

I have been considering adding geese but want to get a very very docile breed if I do.

When I was about 5 I was outside playing at my babysitter's and their flock of about 30 emdens attacked me all at once. I was terrified!

I would want my geese to be good watch dogs but also be very tame and friendly. If possible even friendly to stangers. Foraging is good and I don't want them to wander off.

Any suggestions?

I saw a couple baby geese my friend got hatchery choice and I fell in love!