Male or female?? No eggs.....

[Wolfwoman]

I have three geese that I was told that at least one was a female... they were pretty sure TWO might be...but anyways... they are now about a year old, born last April and I thought they would be laying eggs by now. The two people that have the same type geese as mine say theirs are laying from about May thru June or July depending on when they start.

So, I'm thinking with no eggs so far that I have all males?? Is there a way to tell? I can't afford to winter over critters that aren't producing and will butcher if they are all males....

Any advice on this is appreciated... they are a Toulouse/African cross...

 

[Puddle Foot Farm]

It looks like you have a proper trio there, or at least one female. But, when did you get them? Geese generally start laying Jan-early March, depending on the weather, and then continue until early May-June. Some geese continue laying until August (like my chinese). If you got them just recently, then the stress probably made them stop laying, and then they were out of season. Also, if the geese went broody, they probably ended the season for themselves. Also, sometimes geese don't lay until their 2nd year. They're very nice looking geese, good luck with them!

 

[Wolfwoman]

I got them August or September of last year and they were born in April. All the ones that the people have here are laying starting in May... So they have been here almost a full year. If they don't lay until next year then I guess I'll winter them over this winter and see what happens.

 

[bock]

Patience

I would wait and see what gender they really are. Even if they are males, I would hate for them to be killed

, my all-time favorite goose was a Chinese gander.

Whatever happens, those are beauiful birds.

 

[Wolfwoman]

Thank you

They aren't the friendliest critters either. They know that I feed them and clean their pool and they tolerate me in their pen and have never attacked, but the big one always hisses at me. I don't have the luxury of having farm critters that don't support themselves, much as I would like to! So if there's no eggs or babies, then there is meat. We have decided to winter them over and we are making plans for a better winter place for them, but they best come up with some eggs next year!! lol

 

[sillysister74]

Let them weed for you.. then they can be self supporting

 

[Wolfwoman]

I wish they could, but I live on a highway and can't fence here. I'd be afraid that they would get into the front area, plus we own/run the General Store here and even tho MY nine dogs are contained at all time, other idiots often let theirs loose.

 

[arherp]

The two smaller ones could be girls, because they are smaller...

 

[blissdragon]

If you could get a video of them walking around and doing stuff, we'd probably be able to tell you what you have based on how they carry their body and head and how they sound.

Girls tend to have lower pitched sounds and grunts. Boys are more liable to trumpet and squack.

And, I am fully supportive you eat as many of them as are not productive for you otherwise. Raising our own food, being connected to the source of our nourishment, is a whole different world than buying factory farmed meat from the grocery store!

Dana

 

[Steve_of_sandspoultry]

The quickest way is vent sex them if you don't mind a little poo and the thought of groping a goose or gander.

Steve