SO Goose poor ...is Normal?

[mominoz]

From reading posts , seem like geese raising is like rabbit raising. As a food source or market, it's pretty limited ... mostly done for hobby and maybe showing and personal enjoyment

Be nice if it could become like goats, that started that way and now have a niche market ,at least in the southeast. Hopefully not like the emu market. My husbands boss wanted us to 'get in ' on the emu breeder market years ago... At the time a family with 3 kids and one income could not afford to "invest" in emus
I would guess, that the Sebastopol breeders may make a profit.because of recent popularity.... but it seems no one else gets beyond break even, if that. Course that makes it harder for the breeds to survive ......

 

[JordanFamily]

It takes years to really make anything in breeding anything at all... I learned that when It took 4 years to get out of the whole when I started dog breeding... To be honest if you are breeding for quality it takes effort and a lot of time and money to get to where you really make any money at all. So just like dog breeding you should do it to better the breed and because you love that certain breed... If you are doing it for the most part to make money I would say you would probably do better quicker by putting your money on the stock market..lol... Whatever you decide is a gamble... I personally love to see the babies... Most people would rather buy a bird at the store than buy a bird to have to clean it themselves to cook and eat... It takes alot of time to clean a bird and so the most people who buy them are wanting pets... And you never know what the next big seller will be so again it is all a gamble....

 

[zazouse]

The reason it is limited is because you have to have a USDA stamp on your product and in order for that to happen you have to have an inspector,i f there is not enough product to warrent an inspector on your place you are out of luck.
See chickens,cattle pigs etc are raised on such a large scale that they have an inspector on at all times where as a small buisness can't afford such a thing.

We use to raise rabbits an a big scale and learned all about this process that was years ago but don't believe things have changed.

 

[Olive Hill]

Quote:
Things are not always as they seem.

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This entirely depends on the situation -- the producer's location and details of their operation. Most small poultry producers qualify for exemption from the requirement for individual carcass inspection -- both ante and post mortem.

 

[Shiloh Acres]

I'd be curious to visit a place I just discovered near me.

I was driving down a new road and looked over to see acres and acres of green pastures, with large ponds, and parts of it were COVERED with white. I had to get a closer look and they were GEESE. Looked to be a thousand or so geese, most of them gathered around the main pond.

They appeared to be full-grown, or near that. I'm very curious about their operation. I can't imagine BREEDING in a flock that size. Maybe they just grow them out. I sure would be curious to know.

I'm sure they are in it for profit, but I'm sure you're not talking about that scale.

I suspect it depends on local market. I raised a small flock living in a corner lot, and I had lots of people stop and knock on my door and ask (almost beg) me to sell them geese for various reasons. If I had WANTED to sell my geese, I probably could have made money easily. Geese were not common there and it took me two years to get my first goslings there.

 

[mominoz]

No, I am not into geese as a 'get rich quick" thing

......I was thinking for the good of the Breed conservation and or species ...that a useable purpose or niche market makes survival easier. You don't see a shortage of cows....

and it would be good for at risk breeds to find a niche ...I'd have geese because I like them

But having large breeding flock is limited by resources.....I guess that is why some have "preserves " or "rescue ranches".....Goats and sheep seem to have found such niches... and horses.....
I can care for a certain number of geese and choosing a rarer Breed may help a bit, but my flock size would be limited if I can't find a niche for offspring or eggs........I guess That is the challenge......not just to have a few of the Breed , but to help find ways to preserve them......thru many uses....

 

[Okla-doodle-doo]

It seems like the "goose" market is a very stable one. They always sell for around $20 each(not the fancy breeds) at the sales around here. I guess you would have to raise some to make a profit because they never seem to go up (or down) in price. For sure not a buy/resale bird!

 

[goosedragon]

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In NC the niche matket for goats has mostly "Texans" for customers. They call themselves Texans because their documents were made in Texas while waiting for their backs to dry (wink). My county is now 18% and it is estimated that half of that is 'legals' They come here to work in the poultry processing plants. They like young goats for BBQ much like the natives do pig pickings. BBQ'ed goat is very Good Eats!