Raising Geese for Meat

[Earthfarmer]

I would like to raise geese for meat but am not sure of the best way to get "stock". One way is to buy the goslings ($15/ea) and that's easy, though pretty expensive. Another approach would be to buy fertilized eggs and use an incubator to hatch them (still pretty expensive). I could let my geese mate and then take the eggs and, again, use an incubator to get my stock, or I could let the geese mate and let them raise the goslings for a couple of weeks until I can snatch them away and put them on pasture somewhere else on the property. Finally, I suppose I could let them grow together as a family and then just slaughter the geese "babies" when it's time (doesn't sound right). Does anyone have thoughts on this? Is the best option to just take the eggs, hatch them myself and forget the expense and drama?

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

I'd rather let the geese do all the work after you get a few breeding birds. Goslings make a mess. It's easier if the parents can tend to them. I'm still a novice with geese, so I'm not totally sure. We will find out next year if we let ours reproduce. I was happy this year when my older geese took my batch from this year and took over their care.

 

[Purple_grape84]

I would incubate myself and raise in a seperate pen until old enough to go out to the field. They don't need heat for as long as chickens. Geese would need to be Broody and have enough eggs to consider sitting.

From my own experience with young geese laying and sitting their first nest, they are not good at it.

They started laying and hoarding eggs too early, so the eggs got cold before they started sitting on them. They also spent too much time away from the nest.

And they will try to kill you if you even look at their babies.

 

[RainbowHen]

My geese were very successful parents and I was very happy to let them play the part. Goslings are gross, messy, adorable little buggers. My geese were not at all aggressive towards me over the babies apart from a hiss and some side-eye. They weren't very friendly anyway so it was no bother to me. Maybe you could find yourself a pair or trio of older geese and allow them to breed and raise some goslings for you.