Goose lovers – please help!!

[psue]

The greys are in far better condition than the buffs are. However if you google dewlap toulouse pictures most of the birds you will see are 4-7 years old and older. They dont develop fully by 1 year unlike other breeds. They also do not prefer large pastures, smaller space is good and they require far more feed than other breeds to keep them in proper condition. If you feed them the same amount you feed a Sebastopol they will remain underweight. Think slow like a sloth and large like a hippo.

We love big geese... I'm have more trouble with the thought of possibly cutting down the Embden's feed to make sure they aren't over weight then the idea of free feeding. I'm still free feeding as with the exception of one classic Roman goose all of mine are this years hatch and still growing.

 

[LightningTFarm]

I have just recently gotten the waterfowl bug, and have started with raising a small flock of Welsh Harlequin ducklings and one Cayuga I got from Holderread as hatchlings. They are 12 weeks old today. I have been thinking of getting a pair of geese, as I have heard they will help to keep predators away (especially hawks) from ducks on pasture. I had never really given much thought to dewlap Toulouse till I saw this thread. I started reading it the other night and stayed up till 3 am - I couldn't stop!! And here I am again at 1 am, reading it over again. I am beginning to think I need to adopt a pair of these geese. I have done a little research, and have read that they are calm. I live on 50 acres and could section off some pasture near my duck house for them, and put a small house to lock them up at night.

Have I lost my mind???????

 

[kraftyladies]

I have just recently gotten the waterfowl bug, and have started with raising a small flock of Welsh Harlequin ducklings and one Cayuga I got from Holderread as hatchlings. They are 12 weeks old today. I have been thinking of getting a pair of geese, as I have heard they will help to keep predators away (especially hawks) from ducks on pasture. I had never really given much thought to dewlap Toulouse till I saw this thread. I started reading it the other night and stayed up till 3 am - I couldn't stop!! And here I am again at 1 am, reading it over again. I am beginning to think I need to adopt a pair of these geese. I have done a little research, and have read that they are calm. I live on 50 acres and could section off some pasture near my duck house for them, and put a small house to lock them up at night.

Have I lost my mind???????

nope, I think it's wonderful and you should do it!!!

 

[CelticOaksFarm]

Geese will NOT protect ducks or any other bird from predators. Geese are just as likely to be killed by a raccoon as a duck is. Dewlap Toulouse need level ground with good grass for grazing, and not large open pastures as they will not use the entire large space. A pair should have a house 4-5' high x 6' wide and 4-5' deep, plenty of ventilation, and a secure door. If you are interested in them please fill out the adoption info form so Iain and I can read it over and one of us get back to you about them. Please know that if you did adopt they would be two ganders, not a male/female pair as thats what needs placed at this time.

 

[Iain Utah]

Berner, here is a link to a thread Pete started with pics of how his champion dewlap's sired gosling developed.

https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/564141/development-of-dewlap-toulouse-goslings

And here are my youngest babies at approximately 14 weeks old. First pic is Ember, my girl who hatched on 5/12. Next pic is her hatchmate brother, Tank.




The last set of pics are of Ginger, my buff girl who started this current chain of events as I had her shipped to me at one month old and she arrived extremely beat up, needing emergency surgery.

PIC OF GINGER UPON ARRIVAL WITH ABSCESSED FACE

24 HOURS LATER, POST SURGERY


Here she is at 14 weeks old.

 

[BernerBabe]

I have just recently gotten the waterfowl bug, and have started with raising a small flock of Welsh Harlequin ducklings and one Cayuga I got from Holderread as hatchlings. They are 12 weeks old today. I have been thinking of getting a pair of geese, as I have heard they will help to keep predators away (especially hawks) from ducks on pasture. I had never really given much thought to dewlap Toulouse till I saw this thread. I started reading it the other night and stayed up till 3 am - I couldn't stop!! And here I am again at 1 am, reading it over again. I am beginning to think I need to adopt a pair of these geese. I have done a little research, and have read that they are calm. I live on 50 acres and could section off some pasture near my duck house for them, and put a small house to lock them up at night.

Have I lost my mind???????

You should do it They geese wont protect the ducks but my ducks learned to take cover when the geese would "raise the alarm." The gander eventually adopted the ducks as his and then he was definatly protective. That gander will also protect the chickens so maybe he has a thing for small fowl The rest of the geese just go about their business. I don't know about hawks. We had a hawk take a chicken that had escaped the coop and was in the yard right next to the geese. But maybe if the geese alarm when on pasture the hawk back off because it has lost the element of surprise?
But geese are fun to have around. If you like ducks you will love the geese as well. I think you should go for it!

 

[Iain Utah]

Lightning, if you have horses, it is an easy transition to having geese, as they have very similar needs. A pair of grey dewlap ganders would be a wonderful addition to your farm!!

 

[BernerBabe]

Berner, here is a link to a thread Pete started with pics of how his champion dewlap's sired gosling developed.

https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/564141/development-of-dewlap-toulouse-goslings

And here are my youngest babies at approximately 14 weeks old. First pic is Ember, my girl who hatched on 5/12. Next pic is her hatchmate brother, Tank.
The last set of pics are of Ginger, my buff girl who started this current chain of events as I had her shipped to me at one month old and she arrived extremely beat up, needing emergency surgery.

PIC OF GINGER UPON ARRIVAL WITH ABSCESSED FACE

24 HOURS LATER, POST SURGERY


Here she is at 14 weeks old

Thanks so much for the pics. And so sad that Ginger arrived an abcess. OUCH! Pete's geese are actually the ones to spark my interest in the dewlaps a few years ago. I am sorry if I made it sound like I thought you were doing a bad job with them or that they were inferior geese. I just wondered how much weight played a part in dewlap and keel developement. I know the show birds are conditioned well. Just like with a halter horse. The same horse can have three totally different looks whether he is fed for the show ring, the pasture, or is not getting enough food. Iain I think what you are doing is wonderful! it takes such a special person to step up and take on a rescue of this magnitude. Amazing.
I also am filling out the adoption form here in a little bit. Just let me know if/when/and how much of a deposit you need.

 

[Iain Utah]

Thank you for the compliment and excellent news on your decision to get a gander!!! I am asking for $25 up front to cover the cost of the shipping box, but am waiting to collect payment for shipping when the weather is cooler and we are ready to send these babies to their new homes.

Generally speaking, it takes up to 3 years to fully develop dewlaps/keels and weight plays a major role in that development, especially with keels as keels are fat deposits on the breastbone. Also, they do not develop uniformly, just like human girls will enter puberty and develop breasts anywhere between age 10 and age 18.

The horse analogy is perfect and I am also discovering that it takes as long to rehab a neglected goose as it does a neglected horse.

 

[CelticOaksFarm]

Ginger arriving like that made me so angry for you and her both. (as I bet you can remember) She looks so good now in her big girl feathers.