Meat Geese?

[MissPrissy]

Then you may as wll keep them for your own freezer and not sell them.

If you sell a mature goose for $20 to someone you have just eaten about $30 - $40 of loss considering what it takes to raise a goose for the table.

 

[redoak]

Thanks for the input about the rope idea. It sounded too good to be true.

 

[Omniskies]

I cheat and grow my geese on grass - especially since we're doing everything we can to grow our own bird feed. For the first month they get the grower crumble, then after that they get oat and wheat grass in addition to all the grass in the pasture we have fenced off for them.

All in all, it costs me less to raise a goose than a turkey, chicken or duck - or even one of each combined

.

Here's a good article about raising geese on grass, and a nice introduction for anyone wanting to try geese, or give them a second shot: http://www.motherearthnews.com/Do-It-Yourself/1970-03-01/Geese-Grow-On-Grass.aspx

 

[MissPrissy]

I raise my on pasture too but I put a lot of time and effort into mine being as I hatch my own eggs. I have 30 days invested in them before they hit the ground. You may think you only have a little grain in them but you have a whole lot more in them birds than you realize. Geese are my favorites and I have myself invested in them to get to the to the point they can even be put on pasture.

 

[Jenlyn9483]

This is all wonderful very useful information and food for thought. I have a big sping fed pond on the east side of my farm, not far from my house. I have been trying to introduce the geese to the pond several, several times and they dont have much interest in it. I have even picked them up and put them in the water and as soon as they are in they do a U-turn and paddle back to shore so fast you would think thier were crocodiles after them. Sometimes I let get them to go out of the east gate the side yard to eat grass near where the pond is but they always end up waiting to be let back in so they can come back into the yard they keep mowed down. I guess they feel very secure there since thats where they were raised as goslings..All this tall green grass to eat and they want to be in the yard..GO FIGURE! But If i decide to keep two of the trio I have for breeding they will have to relocate to the east side of the farm. I purchased these geese from the local feed store and paid $10 a peice for them as hatchlings..I cannot imagine someone selling a grown goose for less then $25, they eat ALOT of starter crumbles that first month!

 

[Omniskies]

The average price for geese out here is $10. I had a chance to pick up five laying adults this weekend for $40

. More people out here need to dig geese. That'd certainly help prices.

As for your pond problem, geese aren't big on ponds like ducks are. Give them a wading pool or big tub to swim and bathe in first. They'll get the idea.

Also, geese don't like tall grass. They want a nice mowed yard, then they'll keep it mowed for you. If the grass starts dying give them more room and if they can't keep up then you may need to mow on occasion.

 

[Jenlyn9483]

These 3 do a wonderful job keepin the yard mowed down, And I did purchase a kiddy pool for them and one for my ducks which they just love. Matter of fact the ducks like it better than the pond too.

 

[greyfields]

Mowing also breaks up the manure and exposes it to ultra-violet radiation. I generally harrow my pastures twice a year on top of mowing to keep the ground healty.