Cotton Patch or Pilgrims? What should I choose

[DB_Tex]

The only pig I'd ever had was a Vietnamese pot belly (and he wasn't interested in killing anything besides our crawlspace heat ducts so he could sleep inside them.) All I've ever seen has been here-say around the homesteading blogosphere and my mom's midwest stories about grown men being killed and eaten by falling into the pens at the pig farms.


$50 per gosling + shipping seems to be the standard price for cotton patch, but they are docile, beautiful, auto sexing and great foragers. If I was investing in a permanent flock, it would be worth the money imo.

 

[that_crazy_lady]

Quote:
Thats what I've found. If I could get ahold of a pair I wouldn't mind paying around $100 for the two. But getting 8-10 at that price plus shiping it come to something around $500. Puts them out of the budget for the next 2 years, unless I come across some local. Gives me more time to focus on fencing and such. I will be keeping an eye out for these birds tho

 

[brownfoxfarm]

If you want endangered breeds, then go with the Cotton Patch. I don't think there is anything rare about Pilgrims.

Wow. I am very surprised to hear that.

We first started considering adding Pilgrims to our farm back in '08. We wanted a gentle breed, and we wanted to be able to easily sex the goslings. We also wanted the opportunity to help preserve a heritage breed & when we found Pilgrims on the critical list from the ALBC we knew that was the breed we wanted to pursue.

After having difficulty finding hatcheries "local" to us, we placed an early order for 4 pairs to be delivered in in spring 2011 from the West coast. But supplies were so limited we only received half our order. This winter I checked around with hatcheries and found that, of the few who offered Pilgrims, most were limiting orders to 4 goslings. At this time very few hatcheries have any Pilgrim goslings still available.

Perhaps the majority of the 5 or fewer primary breeding flocks are located out West? That could account for the difficulty in finding them around here, while they may be less rare in your area?

....With regard to the original post: I'd go with Pilgrims & I am completely biased

 

[DUCKGIRL89]

Wow.  I am very surprised to hear that. 

We first started considering adding Pilgrims to our farm back in '08.  We wanted a gentle breed, and we wanted to be able to easily sex the goslings.  We also wanted the opportunity to help preserve a heritage breed & when we found Pilgrims on the critical list from the ALBC we knew that was the breed we wanted to pursue.

After having difficulty finding hatcheries "local" to us, we placed an early order for 4 pairs to be delivered in in spring 2011 from the West coast.  But supplies were so limited we only received half our order.  This winter I checked around with hatcheries and found that, of the few who offered Pilgrims, most were limiting orders to 4 goslings.  At this time very few hatcheries have any Pilgrim goslings still available. 

Perhaps the majority of the 5 or fewer primary breeding flocks are located out West?   That could account for the difficulty in finding them around here, while they may be less rare in your area?

....With regard to the original post:  I'd go with Pilgrims & I am completely biased

I hatched myself a pair of pilgrim goslings, they are sooo sweet. I love them. The gander is more lovey dovey then the goose, but both are very gentle, and sweet. I hatched them early this week , I had 3 eggs shipped to me, all 3 made it to hatch date, but one gosling died before she made it out. So I was left with a pair.

One day, I hope to order some lavender, and blue americans from holderread. But im good with these 2 for many years!

 

[RHRanch]

Yes, they come in two colors - Saddleback and Solid. Saddleback the female's are saddleback patterned brown and white, and the males are pure white, and solid the females are solid brown and the males are white with some grey on their rump. When goslings the female's down is darker, and the males have pure pink beaks.

Yep, you can tell makes and females at hatch. I have 3 male and 7 female Cotton Patch goslings that just hatched.

 

[igotgoosed]

Wow. I am very surprised to hear that.

We first started considering adding Pilgrims to our farm back in '08. We wanted a gentle breed, and we wanted to be able to easily sex the goslings. We also wanted the opportunity to help preserve a heritage breed & when we found Pilgrims on the critical list from the ALBC we knew that was the breed we wanted to pursue.

After having difficulty finding hatcheries "local" to us, we placed an early order for 4 pairs to be delivered in in spring 2011 from the West coast. But supplies were so limited we only received half our order. This winter I checked around with hatcheries and found that, of the few who offered Pilgrims, most were limiting orders to 4 goslings. At this time very few hatcheries have any Pilgrim goslings still available.

Perhaps the majority of the 5 or fewer primary breeding flocks are located out West? That could account for the difficulty in finding them around here, while they may be less rare in your area?

....With regard to the original post: I'd go with Pilgrims & I am completely biased

I agree! I have Pilgrims, and I absolutely adore them! I have 8 eggs incubating as well

They are full of personality are aren't aggressive like some other breeds I've dealt with. They are great layers and parents. It's nice to have the obvious color difference between males and females.

I think you would be very happy with Pilgrims!

 

[that_crazy_lady]

Well a lot has changed from the time I started this thread. But I'm still interested in all three rare breeds, and still not sure which breed{s} I'll be getting first. Lol. I joined a Cotton Patch breeders group on facebook. I have yet to find anyone close to me. I've been browsing hatcheries and at this point if I go with Pilgrams I think I'll order from Heritage Turkey Hatchery.