Toulouse Geese Thread

[Miss Lydia]

thank you miss lydia,
I was told that Stanley (the male) was 3 years old. Gertie is 1 year old. Their previous owners said they were definitely a male and female so maybe it's just that they need to learn how to get it on LOL!

Today they are grazing quite peacefully near each other in the field. I need to get a kiddy pool so that if they do decide to do the deed, they can do it in water!

Aww I'm glad to hear things are quiet today, and maybe your right about getting things worked out, lol pics one of these days okay?

 

[Turkeytruff]

Aww I'm glad to hear things are quiet today, and maybe your right about getting things worked out, lol pics one of these days okay?

yes I promise to get some pictures when I can get my technological

(not!) brain around it.

 

[Going Bhonkers]

OK I just don't know if this is a mating or dominance thing. Tonight the two geese were taking turns dunking their heads in a bucket and then they started 'necking' each other and nipping at each other's wings. They didn't actually take any feathers out but they were really pushing and shoving at each other - kind of like my turkeys when they are re establishing their pecking order.
Then she mounted him twice and he tried to mount her but didn't succeed. On her part, it seemed like a dominance thing but I don't know.
The most frustrating thing is that I thought I was videoing it, but the start button didn't go!

Sorry!
Any comments anyone? Especially those of you that know all about how these geese mate - thanks!

I haven't seen that kind of behavior before either - but then again, I'm not a pro. Maybe they need a wider bucket?
And about your camera not recoring - Happens to me too.. I hate it!! And when it finally does record, the moment/event you wanted to capture is over

I do not own a goose and I was actually looking into this breed. Are they friendly? Will they attack my children? Any other information is useful too.

Have you looked at this thread yet? https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/618185/raising-geese-101#post_8210407
It has a lot of info about many different breeds of geese. Might also help you decide.

 

[OleMissChic]

Good morning! I'm very new to geese and someone gave me 3 Toulouse that will be a year old in April. I have no idea of their genders and can't find much online about it.
This morning one of them didn't come to the house to eat, it stayed on the pond swimming frantically. When I called it honked and honked and the other two responded, hurriedly ate and went to join it rather than continue to graze. I thought it may be hurt, went to investigate and found a nest! (photo below)
Some dumb newbie questions:
Does a nest mean I have at least one female? Do they need a male to lay? Do I need to give her/them anything extra to help?
Obviously, if they lay without a male I don't want one wasting her time on a nest that will never hatch anything so I'd love to figure out if I have a male or not too if anyone has any tips I'd greatly appreciate it!

 

[CelticOaksFarm]

ok so you found a nest, did you find an egg too?

geese dont need a gander to lay just like hens dont need a rooster to lay. You will have infertile eggs and should take them daily so doesnt want to sit. She will keep laying for the season (geese only lay in spring) and you will have wonderful eggs for baking and eating.

Make sure you are feeding a complete diet.Many feed an all flock or flock raiser type feed. We choose to feed whole grains with Mazuri waterfowl feed to all of our breeding flocks. 90% of which should be green grass gazing time every day. Fresh water daily is a must as well as a secure nighttime house so predators cant get them. A pond is NOT secure against predators (just an FYI as many think they are). Raccoons arevery good swimmer and can drown a full size dog in deep water if they so chose.

IF you have a gander then you should see breeding and her eggs should be fertile. A nesting sight should also be in a very secure from predator night time house she has free access to all day long.

Lovely geese, congrats on having them and the nest you found.

 

[OleMissChic]

ok so you found a nest, did you find an egg too?

geese dont need a gander to lay just like hens dont need a rooster to lay. You will have infertile eggs and should take them daily so doesnt want to sit. She will keep laying for the season (geese only lay in spring) and you will have wonderful eggs for baking and eating.

Make sure you are feeding a complete diet.Many feed an all flock or flock raiser type feed. We choose to feed whole grains with Mazuri waterfowl feed to all of our breeding flocks. 90% of which should be green grass gazing time every day. Fresh water daily is a must as well as a secure nighttime house so predators cant get them. A pond is NOT secure against predators (just an FYI as many think they are). Raccoons arevery good swimmer and can drown a full size dog in deep water if they so chose.

IF you have a gander then you should see breeding and her eggs should be fertile. A nesting sight should also be in a very secure from predator night time house she has free access to all day long.

Lovely geese, congrats on having them and the nest you found.

Thank you so much! So I definitely have at least one female then? I wasn't sure if maybe males build nests for warmth or what. These were "meat" geese that a farmer didn't want anymore and since I have a pond and he didn't they gave them to me. I've been at a loss as to how to prepare for them but they took to the pond and free ranging so happily I was glad to be able to provide at least that. They get extremely high quality organic, non gmo, whole grain feed and love free ranging as well so I feel covered there.

I had no idea about raccoons having that ability! I will look into providing them housing right away. They aren't tame so I wasn't sure if locking them up like I do the chickens at night would upset them or how I would even lure them to shelter. I'll research mating behavior and see if I recognize any.

Thank you so much!

 

[CelticOaksFarm]

They neck wrestle and ganders will climb onto the gooses back in the water to mate.

A house is as simple as a large dog house with a secure door ot a chain link dog kennel with hardware cloth attached to it to keep raccoons from reaching in and a top put on it. Food and a water bucket placed inside the shelter will lure them in and show them it is safe. In before sunset and out after sunrise is the routine. For weather protection you can add corrugated roofing panels or other solid panels to the kennel to protect three sides if you so choose. An airline approved dog kennel (plastic) or dog house with hay/straw is a good nesting site inside the chain link shelter also. PSue here on BYC houses her ducks and geese in chain link kennels and have great example pictures of them.

 

[OleMissChic]

Perfect! I already have some materials to create a safe place. Last question, if one is nesting and the other two are males can they all stay in the same shelter or will they want to be separated?

 

[CelticOaksFarm]

IF you have 2 \ganders you might see breeding season fighting. It can get pretty rough so be prepared to provide some separated housing just incase they try and go WWE on you. Otherwise 1 gander and 2 geese and or 1 gander 1 goose are fine together. If you do end up with 2 boys finding another girl this year will help make for happy couples and keep your property mowed even more.

 

[OleMissChic]

IF you have 2 \ganders you might see breeding season fighting. It can get pretty rough so be prepared to provide some separated housing just incase they try and go WWE on you. Otherwise 1 gander and 2 geese and or 1 gander 1 goose are fine together. If you do end up with 2 boys finding another girl this year will help make for happy couples and keep your property mowed even more.

That's interesting. I hope I have two girls and a boy but I guess time will tell. I'm more than happy to get another one for two pairs if necessary. Thank you for all your help!