Geese per gander?

[KatAndTree]

Hey there, just curious what ratio people go with for breeding geese? I had 2 adult females and ordered goslings this year with only 1 that I specifically ordered as a male. Well… it’s starting to look like all the others are females, maybe 1 more male out of the other 5. That leaves me with 1 or 2 ganders for 6 to 7 geese for next spring…. From my reading I’ve seen everything from 1:1 as ideal to 1 gander can cover 5 geese… I was able to make another order from Metzer and got a couple more males and a few more unsexed to try to even things out? So my breeds right now:

* 2 adult females that are mixed Pomeranian and Sebastopol (supposedly)
* 1 male pilgrim
* 2 female pilgrims
* what appears to be a female buff
* what appears to be a female Emden and MAYBE a male Emden

Coming in June:
* 2 male buffs, 3 unsexed buffs.

What do you all think? How likely is it I’ll have enough males to breed all the females?

 

[AGeese]

My gander is paired with my mother goose, but he will mate with all 3 females. His son has to be strategic unless he wants to battle.

 

[KatAndTree]

My gander is paired with my mother goose, but he will mate with all 3 females. His son has to be strategic unless he wants to battle.

Interesting… what breeds are they?

 

[AGeese]

Interesting… what breeds are they?

Emben and Roman Tufted which I crossed.

View media item 7964126
Mom bringing up the rear is Embden. Dad leading is Roman Tufted. The rest are mixed.

 

[Berd Man]

Hey there, just curious what ratio people go with for breeding geese? I had 2 adult females and ordered goslings this year with only 1 that I specifically ordered as a male. Well… it’s starting to look like all the others are females, maybe 1 more male out of the other 5. That leaves me with 1 or 2 ganders for 6 to 7 geese for next spring…. From my reading I’ve seen everything from 1:1 as ideal to 1 gander can cover 5 geese… I was able to make another order from Metzer and got a couple more males and a few more unsexed to try to even things out? So my breeds right now:

* 2 adult females that are mixed Pomeranian and Sebastopol (supposedly)
* 1 male pilgrim
* 2 female pilgrims
* what appears to be a female buff
* what appears to be a female Emden and MAYBE a male Emden

Coming in June:
* 2 male buffs, 3 unsexed buffs.

What do you all think? How likely is it I’ll have enough males to breed all the females?

I think the ratio you’ll have is fine. I personally like trios because of the amount of eggs I can incubate. I prefer the ease of letting a pair raise their own outside though. The communal nest that can occur with trios and larger groups of females brings on some challenges of its own. Eggs can be squashed, nests can have hatching windows that vary drastically, etc… it’s all in how you want to manage it really.

 

[KatAndTree]

I think the ratio you’ll have is fine. I personally like trios because of the amount of eggs I can incubate. I prefer the ease of letting a pair raise their own outside though. The communal nest that can occur with trios and larger groups of females brings on some challenges of its own. Eggs can be squashed, nests can have hatching windows that vary drastically, etc… it’s all in how you want to manage it really.

I foolishly thought geese were like ducks and chickens in that 1 male will cover many females and having multiple males would present some problems, but it sounds like they can reliably cover 1-2? And hopefully won’t fight each other over females?

 

[Evadig]

I have three ganders and one female...while the ganders fight each other, only one gets to mate the female (she picked him as her special friend).

 

[Berd Man]

I foolishly thought geese were like ducks and chickens in that 1 male will cover many females and having multiple males would present some problems, but it sounds like they can reliably cover 1-2? And hopefully won’t fight each other over females?

They will establish who has the breeding rights and the subordinate males will not mate unless they can “sneak” with one of the females. If the alpha sees mating about to occur he will usually interrupt.

 

[KatAndTree]

They will establish who has the breeding rights and the subordinate males will not mate unless they can “sneak” with one of the females. If the alpha sees mating about to occur he will usually interrupt.

I was thinking I could probably keep them in separate pens for the season.

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

I had one gander for 2-3 females, but I found the females were getting bald on the back of the head. I now currently have 2 gander for 8 goose. They looked better this year. Not sure if they cover all the females.