Selecting for temperment

[Oneacre Homestead]

Thanks for the great photo! I can't believe they will be that big in 10 wks!!

 

[Oregon Blues]

[[[[.......sacrificed some on the temperament to get the designer color.....]]]]]]

Olive hill's Buffs must have exceptionally nice temperament because my Blue ganders are very well behaved and sociable even now while they have geese on the nest and brooding.

Except I did get some complaints filed when I changed their food this week. They stared at the food in disbelief. Looked at me with disgust, turned their backs and stomped away from their feeder.

 

[pinkyglory123]

My africans are six weeks old and have LOTS of feathers to grow to look like these ten week olds! Mine look like knee high baby hueys! However their temperement is lovely.

 

[toadbriar]

Quote:
this is good to hear! how do your blues compare for size?

Pinkglory the feathers grow in just as shockingly fast as everything else develops

though, your Africans get so big, maybe they'll take longer?

 

[Oregon Blues]

[[[.....how do your blues compare for size?....]]]]

Compare in size to what? They are smaller than Africans or Toulouse and larger than Chinese.

I've never seen my Blues side by side with Buffs, but they are the size they should be. They have good sturdy legs and feet and are good and broad across the breast. They look like nice, well built geese.

I suspect that they are slow growers. My 2 year old is a lot sturdier than the yearling. He was noticeably bigger at the beginning of the year, but the yearling is now as large. I call him "the smaller gander", but notice he is no longer smaller, just less mature looking.

They like to follow me around chatting. They love to be talked to. They chuckle and when I talk to them, they stand and tip their heads from side to side, sometimes almost turning their heads upside down. I can't fault their temperament.

They are protective about the nest if they don't know the person. But I consider that to be proper goose behavior.

The temperament on the Buffs is supposed to be excellent. I've never had Buffs, so can't compare. I do not allow bad behavior, and that really does make a difference in how animals behave. My Blues are very smart and respond to voice commands. I think they would learn bad behavior very quickly if it got them something.