- Oct 15, 2008
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I'm planning to get a few geese later this year. I already keep chickens and ducks; I also have two bird-safe dogs (one Anatolian shepherd, one Doberman, believe it or not). I want a few geese to help guard the ducks on pasture, and possibly to weed between my containers and raised beds, and as layers, and to just generally be friendly critters. I don't plan to eat any. I do have heavy predator pressure, which makes me nervous about the pasturing I plan to open up for the ducks this summer, and though the Anatolian is safe with birds, she is not interested in staying with them (let me tell you about the time she pushed my barn door off its tracks! ).
I have narrowed my search down to three breeds: Cotton Patch, American Buff, Pilgrim. I have sources for all three, including a local source for Cotton Patch just 30 minutes' drive away.
Cotton Patch -- Pro: friendly, active foragers, good layers, auto-sexing. Con: very small, flying, white males (I'm not thrilled by all-white birds, though my main ducks are Anconas so obviously I don't mind pied), expensive, hard to find (though I do have a local source).
American Buff -- Pro: friendly, mid-size, attractive, active foragers, fairly good layers, easy to find. Con: Not as good layers as CP, not auto-sexing.
Pilgrim -- Pro: friendly, mid-size, fairly good layers, auto-sexing, easy enough to find. Con: Not as good layers as CP, white males.
What say y'all?
I have narrowed my search down to three breeds: Cotton Patch, American Buff, Pilgrim. I have sources for all three, including a local source for Cotton Patch just 30 minutes' drive away.
Cotton Patch -- Pro: friendly, active foragers, good layers, auto-sexing. Con: very small, flying, white males (I'm not thrilled by all-white birds, though my main ducks are Anconas so obviously I don't mind pied), expensive, hard to find (though I do have a local source).
American Buff -- Pro: friendly, mid-size, attractive, active foragers, fairly good layers, easy to find. Con: Not as good layers as CP, not auto-sexing.
Pilgrim -- Pro: friendly, mid-size, fairly good layers, auto-sexing, easy enough to find. Con: Not as good layers as CP, white males.
What say y'all?