Geese for Weeding

[Ohne-Fehler]

Thank you everyone for all the information! Our garden is only about 2 acres and is divided into 3 sections, corn, veggies, and fallow. We have a rotation cycle that we do over our garden so that the crops move to a new section each year and the fallow section is planted with a cover crop. We plant in 100 foot rows that are 4 feet apart with a drought resistant cover crop between. The veggies section is planned out using companion planting to minimize pest issues and disease. We could easily isolate geese to the corn and fallow section.

There is also an establish orchard which is where the farms goats and chickens are housed. Trees are fenced off to keep the goats out of them. While goats are preferential toward browsing a grazing animal would be highly benefical. We want to avoid sheep as they are higher maintenance so I was thinking that geese would be a wonderful option. I have my degree in Rangeland Ecology so I have a very good understanding of grazing systems, however geese were not an animal that was really ever discussed; other than them being a nuisance for coastal pastures on their migratory path.

Honestly the garden is a small part of the operation but takes up the majority of our time. So finding a way to make it more efficient and free up time for other things would be highly beneficial.

Is there a breed that is better to utilize?

 

[Omniskies]

Yes and no.

Chinese geese are probably the best weeders because they are small and have a long, slender neck that can get in those hard to reach places.

However, the best breed for you is going to be the one that fits everything you are wanting to do with geese. Would you like to fatten the offspring on weeds and dress them out at the end of each season? If so, Chinese are too slender for that. Embdens, Africans and Toulouse may be your better meat geese.

Do you want something easier to dress out, or a smaller bird? Roman Tufteds are a small breed with a good personality.

Don't care about cost, or want something rare to help preserve? Pomeranians are great meat geese. Cotton Patch geese were traditionally raised for weeding. They are tiny, dress out nicely, and have a decent personality. They are also extremely rare and need more breeders.

Demand something quiet and personable? American Buffs and Pilgrims can do the job - they are what I use.

I would stay away from Dewlap Toulouse, Giant Africans, and "real" Embdens (the show birds that will get to be 50lbs - not the production strain you see in hatcheries, which are fine as a meat bird). They may do a good job, but they seem a bit too large and laid back to do a great job. But again, this is about your preference, not mine.

All geese can weed. You get to decide how much money you want to spend, and if you want just weeders, or if you have other things you require out of your geese.