so..what breed?

[bagendhens]

were adding a pair of geese (goslings) come spring and need to decided now which breed would be best for us so we have the winter to prep.

dads list of "wants" is rather simple, a large white goose
mum wants a "pretty" bird whos going to be friendly (i know this is partially based on how their raised, but...)

personally i LOVE sebastopol and africans

were loking for a good "beginner" breed, something ct winter hardy thats a relitivly easy keeper, will do ok with a flock of chickens running around (well be getting 5 come spring also) and are good weeders/trimmers, they will be given wander over our lawns during the day, and the veggie gardens and small orchard, we live on aprox 1/2 acre.
both parents agree they want something a little "intimidating" we have kids who use our yard as a cut through doing alot of damage on the way, and a walking alarm system would be great, all geese are intimidating but both are interested in larger more "imposing" breeds to be a visual deterant. (these kids have climbed our 6 ft fencing despite warning signs, and chihuahuas arnt realy an intimidating breed of dog! lol)

now of course for me sebbies and africans made the list (ive never met a sebbie but i hear great things and there so cool looking, and ive met 5 africans thus far and never met one i havent LOVED!)
dad likes them embedens, (i just worry as im told they tend to be a little more agressive and not a good beginner breed)
toulous and Americans also make the list.

we will accept other thoughts and opinions too, theres just sooo much info out there that we want some goosey owner imput into the situation too.

any help would be awesome.

were also wondering about "mixing" but unsure of the result, are geese "breedist" or would an embedn get along with an african or a sebbie and an american ect as long as there raised together? what about mixed breeding, is that something wed have to worry about?

thanks again, this forum is a wealth of information!

 

[CMV]

If you live anywhere near people I would not recommend Africans because of the noise they generate. When the males start trumpeting they are ear-splittingly loud. They are impressive birds, but a Toulouse is equally impressive and not quite as vocal.

I love Sebastopols, myself. They are so lovely. My husband has said no more geese, though. I can live with that. Geese have been an interesting experiment, but not an altogether successful one. We won't be getting anymore.

 

[call ducks]

Pilgrms ganders are white very frendly

 

[rainplace]

Quote:
That's a great idea! Here's a picture of a male/female pair from Holderread's website:

 

[bagendhens]

thanks, ill definatly look into the pilgrims.
and thansk for the noise warning on the africans, ive never been around them during mating season which im sure is when there at their loudest and we do have neighbors, while some noise is fine, if it rivals the towns air raid siren its just not going to work lol.

and i just showed mum the pilgrims and she likes them too, dad would get to have his "big white goose" and mum would get her "pretty one" (though i think all geese are "pretty")

so right now theyve jumped to the top of the list!

 

[Soccer Mom]

I happen to adore my Africans. They don't scream nonstop, but if anything is going on, they let me know.

Then again I have over 20 guineas, so what do I know about noisy?

They are big and beautiful and can certainly be intimidating (although my little secret is that mine are big scaredy cats.) Anyone who would climb into a pasture with strange geese should have their heads examined.

I bet those kids wouldn't do it more than once.

 

[bagendhens]

lol, thats the hope, there not going to be "trained attack geese" lol, but the sighn on the fence does cealry state no tresspassing and enter at own risk..., im hoping the shere sound and fact theres a large bird charging will be enough to stop them.
there constantly leaving the gate on the otherside of the property (where there cutting through to) open, which with us having small dogs is dangerous, thus far we have caught it before the dogs noticed but im so worried that one day...

combined with the fact they drop their trash, trample through the flower beds, and when it starts getting wet and muddy they make such a horrible mess.
they also like to take fruit off the apple tree on their way through, but they wont just take one...theyll fill their pockets then throw the unripe ones, any looser ones that drop and any theyve taken a bite out of and arnt yet perfect on the ground...its ridiculous.

 

[Soccer Mom]

Who wouldn't love these faces?

 

[bagendhens]

they are gorgeous soccer mom.

when i get my own place (i want a 5-10 acre hobby farm where i want nubians, nigerian dwarf and mini nubian goats for milk, some bunnies, chickens, a couple pigs and geese)
i will be adding a small group of africans...
and some sebs, and mabe pilgrims and americans lol.

ooo and ducks!, mabe i should aim for 15 acres instead lol!

 

[Soccer Mom]

I'm a hobby farmer too! I find poultry one of the best uses of small acreage. In the spring we're going to add turkeys. I also love my dairy goats. We just added two Nubian does to our little farm and I adore them.

But I have to admit that of all the critters on the farm, the geese are some of my favorites.