Does anyone keep geese??? I'm considering getting a pair. The thing is, I don't eat meat (developed an allergy) and eggs I can do, hence my chicken flock being extra happy (they don't fear my dinner table). I'm considering Toulouse Geese... I'm told geese are good protectors, but will they lay like a chicken does? Thanks!
Colorado
- Thread starter tsgreer
- Start date
Quote:
I've had geese...and honestly, I wouldn't do it again.
They are messy, loud, and can develop a bad temper.
They were fun at first, but as they get older, they get very territorial and will sometimes attack you or other animals. They also leave some pretty big poops around the yard. They do lay, just like chickens and ducks, just larger eggs. Neighbors might get upset with loud geese honking all day long. Besides the negatives, they are intelligent, good protectors, can be social, and lay about every other day.
I could never find a market for goose eggs, duck and chicken eggs I can sell all day long...
I've had geese...and honestly, I wouldn't do it again.
They are messy, loud, and can develop a bad temper.
They were fun at first, but as they get older, they get very territorial and will sometimes attack you or other animals. They also leave some pretty big poops around the yard. They do lay, just like chickens and ducks, just larger eggs. Neighbors might get upset with loud geese honking all day long. Besides the negatives, they are intelligent, good protectors, can be social, and lay about every other day.
I could never find a market for goose eggs, duck and chicken eggs I can sell all day long...
Quote:
I've had geese...and honestly, I wouldn't do it again.
They are messy, loud, and can develop a bad temper.
They were fun at first, but as they get older, they get very territorial and will sometimes attack you or other animals. They also leave some pretty big poops around the yard. They do lay, just like chickens and ducks, just larger eggs. Neighbors might get upset with loud geese honking all day long. Besides the negatives, they are intelligent, good protectors, can be social, and lay about every other day.
I could never find a market for goose eggs, duck and chicken eggs I can sell all day long...
What kind of ducks do you keep? Do you keep a pond for them? Do they NEED a pond? I'd rather not waste the water nor have to clean something like that but I think I'd like to have a variety of fowl.
I've had geese...and honestly, I wouldn't do it again.
They are messy, loud, and can develop a bad temper.
They were fun at first, but as they get older, they get very territorial and will sometimes attack you or other animals. They also leave some pretty big poops around the yard. They do lay, just like chickens and ducks, just larger eggs. Neighbors might get upset with loud geese honking all day long. Besides the negatives, they are intelligent, good protectors, can be social, and lay about every other day.
I could never find a market for goose eggs, duck and chicken eggs I can sell all day long...
What kind of ducks do you keep? Do you keep a pond for them? Do they NEED a pond? I'd rather not waste the water nor have to clean something like that but I think I'd like to have a variety of fowl.
Revolutionmama welcome to Colorado and
I've got a Chinese Gander, Cal that I got from MtnMargie, he's a friendly enough fella. But he didn't take kindly to anyone but me when we go into the barnyard, I could pet him and rub on him. Then I got a Sebbie female, Mama, (named due to the breaking up of the ducks trying to mate when she's around) with a broken wing (wish I could fix) she's adorable and I love her. But now Cal won't let me pet him, he's taken I guess
But he will get hormonal with the duck hens if I allow him to get in the pool when they're all playing in there. So needless to say he doesn't get to play in the pool much. And then I have 14 assorted ducks, 10 females and 4 males. LOVE then all!!! I think they're a kick to have around
eta Cal IS a better predator alarm than the roos are
I've got a Chinese Gander, Cal that I got from MtnMargie, he's a friendly enough fella. But he didn't take kindly to anyone but me when we go into the barnyard, I could pet him and rub on him. Then I got a Sebbie female, Mama, (named due to the breaking up of the ducks trying to mate when she's around) with a broken wing (wish I could fix) she's adorable and I love her. But now Cal won't let me pet him, he's taken I guess
eta Cal IS a better predator alarm than the roos are
Last edited:
Quote:
I've had geese...and honestly, I wouldn't do it again.
They are messy, loud, and can develop a bad temper.
They were fun at first, but as they get older, they get very territorial and will sometimes attack you or other animals. They also leave some pretty big poops around the yard. They do lay, just like chickens and ducks, just larger eggs. Neighbors might get upset with loud geese honking all day long. Besides the negatives, they are intelligent, good protectors, can be social, and lay about every other day.
I could never find a market for goose eggs, duck and chicken eggs I can sell all day long...
What kind of ducks do you keep? Do you keep a pond for them? Do they NEED a pond? I'd rather not waste the water nor have to clean something like that but I think I'd like to have a variety of fowl.
We've had white pekins, white crested, and rouens. All are good layers and a good medium to large size bird.
They don't need a pond, but if you have a water trough, they will get in there and take baths and poop it up, but it's not hard to tip it, spray it out, and re-fill. If you decide to get ducks, get a pair, and socialize them well otherwise they will just keep to themselves.. They can be fun pets and I get a lot of demand for duck eggs since some people are allergic to chicken eggs...I'm not sure of the science behind that, but I've had 2 people request only ducks eggs from me. Bakers love duck eggs since the large yolk will sub for 2 chicken eggs in most recipes.
I've had geese...and honestly, I wouldn't do it again.
They are messy, loud, and can develop a bad temper.
They were fun at first, but as they get older, they get very territorial and will sometimes attack you or other animals. They also leave some pretty big poops around the yard. They do lay, just like chickens and ducks, just larger eggs. Neighbors might get upset with loud geese honking all day long. Besides the negatives, they are intelligent, good protectors, can be social, and lay about every other day.
I could never find a market for goose eggs, duck and chicken eggs I can sell all day long...
What kind of ducks do you keep? Do you keep a pond for them? Do they NEED a pond? I'd rather not waste the water nor have to clean something like that but I think I'd like to have a variety of fowl.
We've had white pekins, white crested, and rouens. All are good layers and a good medium to large size bird.
They don't need a pond, but if you have a water trough, they will get in there and take baths and poop it up, but it's not hard to tip it, spray it out, and re-fill. If you decide to get ducks, get a pair, and socialize them well otherwise they will just keep to themselves.. They can be fun pets and I get a lot of demand for duck eggs since some people are allergic to chicken eggs...I'm not sure of the science behind that, but I've had 2 people request only ducks eggs from me. Bakers love duck eggs since the large yolk will sub for 2 chicken eggs in most recipes.
Quote:
We have a couple blue mottled bantam cochin cockerel chicks available locally, hatched in Oct, $5 each from very good stock (out of my birds Boots, Emma, Beans see my Cochin page); a black mott split to mille pullet chick $6 & blue silkie/cochin cross $3
We have a couple blue mottled bantam cochin cockerel chicks available locally, hatched in Oct, $5 each from very good stock (out of my birds Boots, Emma, Beans see my Cochin page); a black mott split to mille pullet chick $6 & blue silkie/cochin cross $3
Quote:
What kind of ducks do you keep? Do you keep a pond for them? Do they NEED a pond? I'd rather not waste the water nor have to clean something like that but I think I'd like to have a variety of fowl.
We've had white pekins, white crested, and rouens. All are good layers and a good medium to large size bird.
They don't need a pond, but if you have a water trough, they will get in there and take baths and poop it up, but it's not hard to tip it, spray it out, and re-fill. If you decide to get ducks, get a pair, and socialize them well otherwise they will just keep to themselves.. They can be fun pets and I get a lot of demand for duck eggs since some people are allergic to chicken eggs...I'm not sure of the science behind that, but I've had 2 people request only ducks eggs from me. Bakers love duck eggs since the large yolk will sub for 2 chicken eggs in most recipes.
I didn't know that about baking...interesting for sure. I can understand allergens with chicken eggs--pharma companies use chicken eggs for vaccinations. And though the protein of one bird egg to the next might be similar, there still are many differences. People often develop egg allergies early on in life because of vaccinations. I'm not saying i'm for or against vaccines, just stating that is what I've read. My nephew has egg allergies. I do not know if he's allergic to duck eggs, though! So it would be something to test, I would think. Even if someone touches an egg and then touches him he breaks out in hives-- so sad.
Ok I'm going to geek out on you guys here for a moment, but, when I was about 10 years old, growing up on the farm, my dad got me 20 ducklings. They were mallards. I fell in love. Between 10 years old and 18 years old when I finally stopped caring for the eggs my birds laid myself, I raised in excess of 5000 ducks. Most let the farm, which is good because could you imagine 5000 ducks pooping? But the point is, I was enamored by them. I also raised pheasants, quail, turkeys, chukars, and several other game birds. I would keep records so that when I released the birds (the non ducks games) I would have diversity of genes and limit interbreeding. Anyway, my families farm to this day is a refuge to these birds-- few people ever hunt the land because my dad (who is a BIG hunter) can't bring himself to shoot birds he knows his boy put there. LOL What a softy. And though the game birds aren't as apparent, to this day we have a "flock" of mallards that come to nest and raise their families at our little pond and stream. How do I know? I had a genetically goofy duckling hatch one year-- her parents were mallards and lived in a big run I had for them... well she hatched out pale yellow. We thought she would be albino but no red eyes and no sun sensitivity. As she grew, her feathers filled out and she got the classic mallard camo, but instead of the typical black, brown and tan, she was black and white. Her beak was a reddish orange and best of all, she was big and healthy and thrived. She survived her first year and returned to have her own family and the cycle continued. So every year my parents will send me pics of pale yellow ducklings waddling around the farm with their odd-looking mallard moms and dads. LOL I guess I have my own legacy! Knowing how genetics works, I don't expect to see this happening much longer but I have to admit, some 12 years later, I'm surprised to see ducklings like that still popping up. And not all of them are like that-- just a few here and there-- but SOMEONE always comes home with that gene and has new ones. '
So there you have it-- my Duck story... lol I miss them...dont see many ducks in Colorado, at least not on my hilltop.
Does anyone raise chukars? Do they lay reliably? I doubt it, I think they're more for meat. If I am going to keep any birds I need them to lay reliably to justify keeping them but I do love keeping interesting breeds.
Also, anyone planning on hatching wyandottes? Silver or Blue? I think I've decided that will be the next addition to my flock.
What kind of ducks do you keep? Do you keep a pond for them? Do they NEED a pond? I'd rather not waste the water nor have to clean something like that but I think I'd like to have a variety of fowl.
We've had white pekins, white crested, and rouens. All are good layers and a good medium to large size bird.
They don't need a pond, but if you have a water trough, they will get in there and take baths and poop it up, but it's not hard to tip it, spray it out, and re-fill. If you decide to get ducks, get a pair, and socialize them well otherwise they will just keep to themselves.. They can be fun pets and I get a lot of demand for duck eggs since some people are allergic to chicken eggs...I'm not sure of the science behind that, but I've had 2 people request only ducks eggs from me. Bakers love duck eggs since the large yolk will sub for 2 chicken eggs in most recipes.
I didn't know that about baking...interesting for sure. I can understand allergens with chicken eggs--pharma companies use chicken eggs for vaccinations. And though the protein of one bird egg to the next might be similar, there still are many differences. People often develop egg allergies early on in life because of vaccinations. I'm not saying i'm for or against vaccines, just stating that is what I've read. My nephew has egg allergies. I do not know if he's allergic to duck eggs, though! So it would be something to test, I would think. Even if someone touches an egg and then touches him he breaks out in hives-- so sad.
Ok I'm going to geek out on you guys here for a moment, but, when I was about 10 years old, growing up on the farm, my dad got me 20 ducklings. They were mallards. I fell in love. Between 10 years old and 18 years old when I finally stopped caring for the eggs my birds laid myself, I raised in excess of 5000 ducks. Most let the farm, which is good because could you imagine 5000 ducks pooping? But the point is, I was enamored by them. I also raised pheasants, quail, turkeys, chukars, and several other game birds. I would keep records so that when I released the birds (the non ducks games) I would have diversity of genes and limit interbreeding. Anyway, my families farm to this day is a refuge to these birds-- few people ever hunt the land because my dad (who is a BIG hunter) can't bring himself to shoot birds he knows his boy put there. LOL What a softy. And though the game birds aren't as apparent, to this day we have a "flock" of mallards that come to nest and raise their families at our little pond and stream. How do I know? I had a genetically goofy duckling hatch one year-- her parents were mallards and lived in a big run I had for them... well she hatched out pale yellow. We thought she would be albino but no red eyes and no sun sensitivity. As she grew, her feathers filled out and she got the classic mallard camo, but instead of the typical black, brown and tan, she was black and white. Her beak was a reddish orange and best of all, she was big and healthy and thrived. She survived her first year and returned to have her own family and the cycle continued. So every year my parents will send me pics of pale yellow ducklings waddling around the farm with their odd-looking mallard moms and dads. LOL I guess I have my own legacy! Knowing how genetics works, I don't expect to see this happening much longer but I have to admit, some 12 years later, I'm surprised to see ducklings like that still popping up. And not all of them are like that-- just a few here and there-- but SOMEONE always comes home with that gene and has new ones. '
So there you have it-- my Duck story... lol I miss them...dont see many ducks in Colorado, at least not on my hilltop.
Does anyone raise chukars? Do they lay reliably? I doubt it, I think they're more for meat. If I am going to keep any birds I need them to lay reliably to justify keeping them but I do love keeping interesting breeds.
Also, anyone planning on hatching wyandottes? Silver or Blue? I think I've decided that will be the next addition to my flock.
Quote:
We have a couple blue mottled bantam cochin cockerel chicks available locally, hatched in Oct, $5 each from very good stock (out of my birds Boots, Emma, Beans see my Cochin page); a black mott split to mille pullet chick $6 & blue silkie/cochin cross $3
https://www.backyardchickens.com/forum/uploads/17059_dsc06326.jpg
https://www.backyardchickens.com/forum/uploads/17059_dsc06325.jpg
What a crazy group of peeps! LOL
We have a couple blue mottled bantam cochin cockerel chicks available locally, hatched in Oct, $5 each from very good stock (out of my birds Boots, Emma, Beans see my Cochin page); a black mott split to mille pullet chick $6 & blue silkie/cochin cross $3
https://www.backyardchickens.com/forum/uploads/17059_dsc06326.jpg
https://www.backyardchickens.com/forum/uploads/17059_dsc06325.jpg
What a crazy group of peeps! LOL
Shy is your blue silkie/cochin cross a girly
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