Geese

[davidsonroost]

We have ducks and geese and chickens all together. We believe now that we have 6 ducks and 2 are females and 4 are males. The 9 geese are as follows we believe we have 4 females and 5 males. Now yesterday and this morning we have a male duck that keeps going after one of the female geese. It's the same one every time and to us seems like it's wanting to mate. Is this even whats going on and what should we do. It does not seem that he is trying to hurt her but chases after her and trying to grab the back of her neck feathers.

 

[sourland]

He is trying to breed the goose - if he accomplishes the deed, no harm will be done. If he starts to try and mate the chickens you will have a far more serious situation as he can seriously injure them. In reality you have too many drakes and ganders. I personally would consider lessening the number of males in that flock. Good luck at resolving this situation.

 

[davidsonroost]

Yes we have come to the same conclusion of the male/female ratio. Husband said that we had 2 choices and that was give them away or have dinner. I thought this over and we did spend the time raising them and the girls have gotten attached but they were bought for meat/eggs and this will be a learning lesson for them. As well as me lol I've never killed a bird for dinner before so here's my first lesson.

 

[SweetPromise]

My husband, brother and I processed 3 ducks last weekend. We had never done any birds ourselves before. We did a ton of research first, and it went well. The only part that was difficult was getting all the down off of the ducks, I'm not sure we plucked them cleanly enough, but time will tell. Best of luck!

 

[davidsonroost]

My husband, brother and I processed 3 ducks last weekend. We had never done any birds ourselves before. We did a ton of research first, and it went well. The only part that was difficult was getting all the down off of the ducks, I'm not sure we plucked them cleanly enough, but time will tell. Best of luck!

If I might ask how did you kill the bird? I have to kill 1 goose and 2 ducks and 1 rooster and I really don't like the wringing of neck I've always heard being done.

 

[CelticOaksFarm]

It depends on if you are culling or if you are butchering. Read through the meat bird area to learn the rainouts methods that work for others.