Raising Geese?

[yanks26]

What do you guys know about raising geese? I heard the demand for geese in increasing over recent decaded and was wondering if this would be a better alternative than starting a business with chickens?

 

[greyfields]

I sell about 20 per year for meat at Christmas time. Geese are fun and easy animals to raise. The biggest issue is they only breed/hatch in winter/spring, so you have to keep them nearly 9 months before you can sell them. That's why they tend to be costly due to the duration of the "crop".

 

[yanks26]

Oooo thats a bummer. How do they only hatch at a certain time? I thought you can use an incubator any time of the year. Lol.

 

[ChickenToes]

Geese don't lay eggs all year round, only in the winter/spring. That's why you can't hatch them whenever you want.

 

[yanks26]

Hahaha that makes sense.

 

[papagoose]

I am getting ready to try my hand at breeding geese and ebaying some eggs and hatching some as well for sale at the local "critter swaps" I have seen breeding pairs go for $50 last year and goslings and teens go for $15 each. I have mostly Africans from what I can tell. I got my originals through Craigslist and Freecycle and then hatched out a dozen to raise for this years breeding stock. I am always on the look out for geese to add to the gaggle! There is a demand for geese and if you don't mind knowing some are headed for a dinner table you should be able to make some money off them.

 

[Cottage Rose]

Realistically theres no such thing as "making money" selling geese (or any critter for that matter) unless you're a commercial hatchery or something like that.
With time and feed investments you will be lucky to break even.

 

[vkulesh]

Quote:
well, I also just bought a breeding pair of grey toulouse for $16 (delivered). They are great geese and I felt bad for their previuos owner, because there is no way she did not lose money selling them at $8 a piece. So do your research first.

PS there is nothing better than goose meat though! So you can always eat them if nobody buys them.

 

[banter]

I know I'm going to end up as a wayward home for geese-prob chickens too! The sad part of it all is that I love dark meat. I have found the goose poo water is an excellent fertilizer for the garden! I had some MEGA veggies last year using their wastes! I have to recycle water when I can, we live on top of a mountain and the wells drain down to the consumers below us! The geese get the fresh water and the plants get the used. Works out well for all involved!

 

[banter]

Oh, I also save on Health Club rates by hauling the water-Who needs Curves!