Goose Information

[Lofty Dreams]

A POND FULL OF GESSE

GEESE INTRODUCTION
Male geese are called ganders and a female is called a goose.

GOSLINGS
They can be brooded like chicks except that they need ½ of a square foot for two weeks that should be doubled every two weeks until six square feet. Temperature should be 90 degrees F six inches above the litter. Place the goslings under the heat source. After ten days reduce the temperature by 5 degrees F slowly or they might die until the temperature is 70 degrees F. They must stay dry and clean with fresh air in their brooder without drafts and they mustn’t get too wet for three weeks. Put rags or burlap bags on the floor for the first weeks if they are on wire. If they are raised on a wire floor use 3/8 of an inch, don’t put small breeds on it. The bedding shouldn’t be made of fine particles because they can ingest it. Give access to food and water at all times and make sure it’s large enough for their heads. Do not use medicated feed, use a starter mash that can find at local feed mills. Feed starter for the first three weeks then switch to a grower mix. You can give small amounts of grit and greens when they’re three weeks old. After six weeks they should be able to be free range.

HOUSING , PREDATORS AND PARASITES

Housing
Duck require four to five feet per bird. Geese require five to six feet .One nest holds four-five hens. One idea for a nest is a barrel with one side open as long as it is secured to not roll.

Predators
They can be avoided with fencing and storing feed in metal storage bins. But if you have hawks attract crows with dog food and honey.

Parasites
External Parasites like lice and mites can be removed by washing the birds with a lice shampoo or dusting them with a product designed for that purpose.

Internal Parasites like tapeworms can be removed with wormer.

CLASSES OF GEESE
Heavy

Medium

Light

GEESE BREEDS

Heavy

Class: Heavy
Breed: Buff Toulouse
Weight:
Old gander: 26 lbs Old goose: 20 lbs
Young gander: 20 lbs Young Goose: 18 lbs
Disqualifications:
Dewlap: no dewlap on mature birds
Bill: Knob
Recognized: Ornamental
Flight: no
Eggs: 20-50
Characteristics: large, lose feathered, dewlap


Class: Heavy
Breed: White Embden
Weight:
Old gander: 22 lbs Old goose: 18 lbs
Young gander: 18 lbs Young Goose: 15 lbs
Disqualifications:
Plumage: no other colors then white
Recognized: meat
Flight: no
Eggs: 40-60
Characteristics: blue eyed


Class: Heavy
Breed: Brown African
Weight:
Old gander: 22 lbs Old goose: 18 lbs
Young gander: 18 lbs Young Goose: 15 lbs
Disqualifications:
Bill: no knob ,other then the color black
Dewlap: no dewlap, other then the color black
Wing: white in primaries or secondaries
Recognized: meat
Flight: might
Eggs: 30-50
Characteristics: knob, dewlap

Medium

Class: Medium
Breed: Buff Saddleback Pomeranian
Weight:
Old gander: 17 lbs Old goose: 15 lbs
Young gander: 15 lbs Young Goose: 13 lbs
Disqualifications:
Dewlap: distant dewlap
Feet and Shanks: not red orange
Recognized: meat, ornamental
Flight: no
Eggs: 20-40
Characteristics: has a saddle shape on back

Light


Class: Light
Breed: White Tufted Roman
Weight:
Old gander: 12 lbs Old goose: 10 lbs
Young gander: 10 lbs Young Goose: 9 lbs
Disqualifications:
Plumage: not pure white
Tuft: no tuft
Recognized: ornamental
Flight: Might
Eggs: 20-40
Characteristics: tuft of feathers on head

This was a 4-H project I used the Standered of Perfection

 

[pete55]

This is a very well presented report of some sound information and has obviously taken sometime and research to produce. My congratulation and thanks for positing some quality information. Well done

Just one small point is goslings should be introduced to tender grass from an early age although protected in a secure pen. As long as the weathers pleasant they should befinefor few hours outdoors. They do seem to do well once on the grass and it keeps them busy.

Thanks again for all your hard work.

Pete