Pilgrim Goose Question

[ameraucanacrazy]

Some one is selling a pair of these for $30 and i was wondering if this is a good price and is this breed mean and do they bite. And they are full grown, and are they easy to breed?

thanks.

 

[Omniskies]

That is a very good price if they are pure Pilgrims. Make sure you find out as much as you can before buying. A lot of people will look at pictures online and then decide something they have that looks similar is the real deal. Unfortunately, mixed geese look a lot like Pilgrims if you don't know what to look for.

If they are pure, Pilgrims are a very laid back, mild mannered breed. The worst Pilgrims I have had were standoffish and hissy - never was I attacked. Even during the breeding season. Last year I gathered eggs from the pens even while hens were trying to go broody. While I had a shield of sorts in case they got testy, all they did was grumble while they were lifted up, prodded under, or moved.

Most of the friendliness is going to depend a lot on how much handling they had as goslings - and whether their experiences with people were good or bad.

I have more information about Pilgrims here: http://omniskies.com/goosepilgrim.shtml

 

[kswaterfowl]

EXCELLENT PRICE! We sold one of our spare this year's ganders for 20.00 by himself two weeks ago. Pilgrims are a great breed, occassionaly you see an agressive gander here and there, but otherwise they are good geese. We started off with a trio and now have of 15 adults and some young. I would buy them up if I were closer. My sister-in-law is in GA, but I don't think I could convince her she needs them.

 

[ameraucanacrazy]

Thank for the advice. 1)and i was wondering if i can keep them in my goat pen their is one chicken hen in the pen with the goatsand the goats love her(i have 3 goat) 2)and do hawks eat them 3)and do they fly

 

[Omniskies]

Most Pilgrims will adapt to bizzare animals without a problem. But as with anything, keep an eye on them and make sure that they are getting along with one another before deciding things are fine. Usually it works out, but when it doesn't you want to know immediately.

Hawks will try to snatch up goslings if left unattended. One year we had a problem with owls that were hitting the geese at night and killing them, but were not able to carry them off. Since then we don't let the geese out in their pasture at night.

Pilgrims are too heavy to fly, but they will definitely glide on a strong wind. Our flock will go to the top of a hill (no matter how small) and will take off running with their wings out until they can catch a strong breeze. If they make it into the air they look surprised, then pleased right before they crash to the ground, at which point they get up, act as if it was a perfect landing, and the whole flock chatters about how incredible it was. On occasion one will tumble over the fence and will spend the afternoon trying to find a way back in to be with everyone else.

 

[ameraucanacrazy]

One last question i have never had geese but my aunt had one that bite her and did not let go and was wondering if they do bite how can i stop them from doing this.

thanks,

 

[Omniskies]

Don't get close to their mouth

I've never been bitten by a Pilgrim. That doesn't mean they can't bite, but that the odds are pretty low that they actually will. If you do end up with aggressive geese, please remember that part of the breed's trait is its docile nature. Aggressive birds shouldn't be kept as breeders.

Secondly, give your geese space and move calmly around them. When I am around aggressive birds I become indifferent. Keeping a close eye on them, backing up, or otherwise acting nervous just seems to make a mean animal bolder. I have heard that hand feeding will make a goose nippy, but that behavior is easy enough to stop (when they get nippy, stop what you are doing, raise your arms out to look larger, and storm after them a few paces to run them off. Then go back to what you were doing as if nothing happened at all. They're not stupid - they get the hint).

Above all else, learn how to understand their body language. Would you run up and pet a growling dog? Would you reach down to pick up a hissing cat? When a goose sounds mean, give them the space they need _before_ they have to resort to showing that they mean it. Most geese want you to fall for the bluff so they don't have to do anything else. Other geese give you a warning and _dare_ you to make a move so they can show off in front of the kids, the flock, or the ladies. Understanding the behavior, and why they do it, before they feel the urge to attack is the easiest way to not be attacked.

 

[ameraucanacrazy]

okay thanks

 

[Shiloh Acres]

Quote:
LOL I just want to say I love this. I have Pilgrims, Emdens, and Toulouse, and it's a perfect description (of Pilgrims and Emdens at least, Toulouse getting too heavy now).

My Pilgrim gander has started hissing at me now that they are breeding, but it's all show. He just wants to make his point.

When geese DO bite for real (I've had them bite other animals) they DO tend to hang on. And I've felt the serrations in the bills ... I'm thinking that's a nasty bite with a big goose hanging on you! My geese share a 1-2 acre pasture with young goats and a llama and I am watching to see if I'll need to separate. With breeding season, they are becoming aggressive at times with the goats (showing first signs at least). The goats just run away and all is well, but if the buckling chooses to fight back the geese could be hurt. Same if they get it in their heads to challenge the llama. She won't likely put up with that and she could easily injure or even kill them. They have great respect for the llama though, and so far I'm watching everything closely and pasturing them apart if I'm not home.

I used to keep geese with chickens and ducks though with no problems at all (well, minor scuffles but they were rare and no one got actually hurt). These geese don't tolerate the goats as well as my other geese did the poultry. All were raised with the other livestock from juveniles.

 

[D'Angelo N Va.]

Go for it...reading the Storey's book on poultry breeds now and it says Pilgrims are a very gentle breed.....