I have Geese! Toulouse Questions.

[PortugalBreeder]

"Foie gras" - 'fat liver' in French.

 

[elizabethbinary]

I'm was not going to overfeed my geese to fatten their liver. I'm just going to use the liver they come with to make foie gras. They'll be treated and fed just as politely as my hens and ducks.

Edit: I'm aware this doesn't make it technical foie gras, but it's close enough for me.

 

[PortugalBreeder]

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[Miss Lydia]

Oh what a relief,

 

[Omniskies]

That wouldn't be foie gras at that point: just goose liver

Although, there's been research done on naturally produced foie gras. Geese will gorge on feed in the winter (our winter - I don't know when they would do it out in Aussieville

producing an extremely fatty liver. Technically, anyone who keeps their geese on loose feed produce this fatty liver every winter (called "humane foie gras" when marketed, but not officially meeting the French definition of foie gras).

For anyone who is for or against foie gras, I wholeheartedly recommend the book Foie Gras Wars. I was 125% mortified and opposed to the production of foie gras for years, having seen the horrible videos and all that. I read the book because I have an unhealthy fascination with reading anything about waterfowl. After I finished the book (which, surprisingly, gave away a lot of really good information about how regular meat ducks are raised - something I hadn't found anywhere else), I decided I wanted to try it on 2-3 ducks and 2-3 geese myself before passing full judgement.

Anyhow, as far as the angel wing goes, if it can be fixed then it really should. It will look less grusome and your goose will appreciate the ability to walk between tight spaces without getting their feathers caught up on everything

Edit: Er, whoops. Edited to apologize for missing your edit about already knowing it's just goose liver. Bleh.

 

[elizabethbinary]

No it's okay thanks for all the goose liver info!!! Since my geese are on a smaller property I assume around winter time they'd get pretty fat livers anyway from the natural way I feed them so I assume they'd actually have pretty fatty liver for 'humane foie gras'. I know it's not teeeechnical foie gras, but like I said... good enough for me. It's a personal thing, just something I always wanted to try - so now that I have geese, I will!!

I'll try to fix the angel wing asap.


So.... I sexed them. Like... the proper way. One male, one female. And I never ever want to do that again. I think I've taken 12 showers. Goose penis. D:

 

[The goose girl]

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Will you need therapy?

 

[elizabethbinary]

Called the lady and they're from different stock anyway, so I have a breeding pair - for forty bucks! YAY! Ewewewewewewewewew.....


**edited to removed inappropriate commentary**

 

[Omniskies]

That has to be the greatest reaction to sexing geese I have ever heard. Usually people freak out over being pooped on. A lot. Apparently whenever I tell people how to sex geese they hear an extra secret step that I don't realize I tell them: "When sexing, make sure you feed the geese heavily for an hour and then flip them over to check the vent."

Congratulations on being a successful goose rapist. At least you know what you now have and can now look forward to lots of awesome goose dishes next year.

You'll have to make some pfeffernusse. Not because they're good, but because I've never gotten around to making them and want to know what they're like. We always end up running out of goose fat way, way too soon.

Also, you're right, fatty liver is probably as good a place as any to start. It's supposed to have a much different texture and flavor than a regular liver. "Humane" fatty livers sell in the States for around $30.00/lb. That's just for a pound of liver. I can't imagine how much more expensive it is on your side of the pond.

Enjoy you babies. If you keep a garden, set it up so they can weed it. If you plan on making any quilts for those freezing 20 C nights you guys get out there, live harvest some of that down. And don't forget to save the eggs for crafts. Geese pay for themselves a thousand times over in practically every way. Even out here where they are easier to come by they're worth $50/gosling

 

[elizabethbinary]

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Oh wow so I really did get a fantastic deal on my geese then?! Fabulous!! They will be excellent stock then for my flock. I really am starting to enjoy their personality, they're actually pretty sweet and we caught them WAY easier than the ducks. Although I did discover that if you squeeze their vent, you can squeeze out their poo!! Yay!! hahaha... but no really I think I gave a goose a goose. D:

I have never even seen foie gras for sale here, how rare is THAT!? And I'm a major foodie!

I'll make pfeffernusse first, just for you

Luckily I live in SEQLD so I don't get too cold but I do plan on a lovely goosedown blanket anyway!!!

I also plan on using duck/goose fat to make soap, since I do that as well.

And bones for stock.

Etc etc etc.

I'm REALLY happy with my geese THANK YOU ALL!