Pilgrim Geese breeder recommendation?

[zooweemama]

I would love to begin researching a few breeders of Pilgrim geese to check out. I would rather start out with a pair or trio of good quality if possible. I do not have an incubator so getting eggs would be chancy since I would have to have a broody duck or chicken at that time. I do have some geese and ducks from Metzers and have no major issues with them. I do like supporting quality, responsible private breeders first if I can.

If you have to PM me your recommendation- that is fine! <3

 

[Kevin565]

Have you thought about Shetlands? They are about the size of Pilgrims but I heard they are much better free rangers. The only drawback is I'm pretty sure they can fly. Holderreads sells some nice quality day old pairs for 85 I believe.

 

[flockman]

Unfortunately I don't know of any. I do know that Metzer purchased pilgrims from Holderread when he was getting out of them. I had a hard time picking between pilgrims and buffs. I ended up with buffs just for looks. Now the autosexing thing would be really nice.

 

[zooweemama]

Have you thought about Shetlands? They are about the size of Pilgrims but I heard they are much better free rangers. The only drawback is I'm pretty sure they can fly. Holderreads sells some nice quality day old pairs for 85 I believe.

I researched that a bit ago. Holderreads used to have Pilgrims but they do Shetlands now. They can fly I read. Clipping a bunch of wings can get laborious. I am not sure if Pilgrims can because no place has said as much yet.

Are Embden good foragers? I need a good forager. A goose will get as much food from the land as he can. I will feed them feed of course- but the idea to range them is also they are healthy, lean(er), cost effective and happy doing goose things. If I have to feed a goose a ton of feed- the cost factor creeps in. The Brown Africans really don't eat all that much. I wanna say a cup a day? It's hard to measure now since they eat with the ducks though. They tank up on grass, pond goodies and whatever else strikes their fancy. I think the smaller goose though is probably the way to go...smaller bird = less feed.

I will have to think about this. The Pilgrim and the Shetland DO look similar but the Shetland looks more duck like and the Pilgrim looks more goose like (imho) and one of the things I love about geese...their goosey looks. I love them.

 

[Kevin565]

I'm not honestly sure about Embdens but with them being so big I'd think it'd be hard maintaining their weight on mostly forage. I defiantly think the smaller breeds would have a better conversion rate.

 

[zooweemama]

I'm not honestly sure about Embdens but with them being so big I'd think it'd be hard maintaining their weight on mostly forage. I defiantly think the smaller breeds would have a better conversion rate.

That makes sense.

 

[CelticOaksFarm]

90% of any goose breeds diet should be pasture. Some breeds are much calmer than others too and can be picked on by the more aggressive breeds. We wont let the Africans be in the same area as the Sebastopols, Dewlap Toulouse or Americans. They are just too mean and bully and pull feathers of the much quieter breeds.

Not all birds of a breed fall into the typical description, but it is good to know your birds and be prepared to have separate pastures if needed to keep each safe when dealing with multiple breeds.

Geese graze not forage, so making sure you have plenty of green pasture or yard to not be worn down or eaten to bare ground is also important.

 

[poultryfan73]

I have both the Buffs and the Pilgrims, Both are great foragers the only thing I dont like about the Buffs is they are a tad noiser then the pilgrims. Although i do have better fertility with my Buffs which is a good thing. Both breeds are very friendly which Im very grateful for. I do like the autosexing with the Pilgrims though. Overall they are both great breeds for foraging but I just like my Pilgrims.

 

[zooweemama]

90% of any goose breeds diet should be pasture. Some breeds are much calmer than others too and can be picked on by the more aggressive breeds. We wont let the Africans be in the same area as the Sebastopols, Dewlap Toulouse or Americans. They are just too mean and bully and pull feathers of the much quieter breeds.

Not all birds of a breed fall into the typical description, but it is good to know your birds and be prepared to have separate pastures if needed to keep each safe when dealing with multiple breeds.

Geese graze not forage, so making sure you have plenty of green pasture or yard to not be worn down or eaten to bare ground is also important.

Thanks. I used wrong terminology. We have been discussing which area for the Pilgrims (should we choose to move forward). We want it to be near the pond. I think we might lightly fence of their area but all would still have access to the pond. If we ever have more brown African geese- it won't be for a couple years. So just the two for now and they will be housed right next to our house. They've adopted a patch a green in a total opposite area of where we'd likely put the new geese. Does anyone know if Pilgrim geese fly? A chicken seems to dress out about 1/3 less of its live weight. Is that about what a goose will do? So a 12 lb goose may dress to about 7-8 pounds? Excuse my typos. Sent from my iPhone.

 

[zooweemama]

I have both the Buffs and the Pilgrims, Both are great foragers the only thing I dont like about the Buffs is they are a tad noiser then the pilgrims. Although i do have better fertility with my Buffs which is a good thing. Both breeds are very friendly which Im very grateful for. I do like the autosexing with the Pilgrims though. Overall they are both great breeds for foraging but I just like my Pilgrims.

Buffs are a breed I wanted before I even got the Brown Africans. We opted for he BAs because we had read they we're so chatty. Oh boy they are lol. I am not sure I'd want more than 4 of them at a time though! Haha Excuse my typos. Sent from my iPhone.