Toulouse Geese Thread

[CelticOaksFarm]

aoxa I call them goose and gander as soon as I know the genders. Just easier that way. Fall they get called Juvenile goose or gander, spring following their hatch year just goose and gander,

Pete I believe our Avian Biotech location here in FL will still accept the goose samples as the other lab has stopped taking them.

 

[aoxa]

aoxa I call them goose and gander as soon as I know the genders. Just easier that way. Fall they get called Juvenile goose or gander, spring following their hatch year just goose and gander, Pete I believe our Avian Biotech location here in FL will still accept the goose samples as the other lab has stopped taking them.

Should they start to lay the spring after their hatch? I've been calling my girls geese now for some time. We normally just call them 'our girls'. They respond to girls and their names. They are very intelligent.

I really miss them this tiny.

 

[pete55]

This is a tricky one and really depends on a few factors;

1. The vigour and fertility of your line
2. Were they hatched in Spring or a later June/July hatch
3. How they were raised and managed

As a general rule we find our yearling females do lay in the following Spring and around 12 eggs in their first season (size of egg and clutch increase in the following year). We often find Ganders fertile too though not as reliable.

The main school of thought suggests they breed after 2 years.

Super cute picture of a Buff gosling

 

[CelticOaksFarm]

oh I so miss the fuzzy stage of cuteness. Not much longer though before the breeding season is in full swing again.

 

[aoxa]

This is a tricky one and really depends on a few factors;

1. The vigour and fertility of your line
2. Were they hatched in Spring or a later June/July hatch
3. How they were raised and managed

As a general rule we find our yearling females do lay in the following Spring and around 12 eggs in their first season (size of egg and clutch increase in the following year).  We often find Ganders fertile too though not as reliable.

The main school of thought suggests they breed after 2 years.

Super cute picture of a Buff gosling

They were hatched in May 2012.
I believe he has pretty good fertility. Can't say for sure though.
How would the last part come into play? My two were raised on pasture from 2 weeks +. Always grass to eat. They need to eat more because I don't want to mow

Would you attempt to incubate the first year? Oh it's going to be tough finding those eggs since they free range :/

 

[aoxa]

oh I so miss the fuzzy stage of cuteness. Not much longer though before the breeding season is in full swing again.

That age comes and goes so fast. They doubled their size easily within a week. Then they go into that awkward stage where they are all legs and chicken wings

 

[CelticOaksFarm]

aoxa, just chatted with the lab and yes they still accept them

 

[Iain Utah]

Pete, I have a few questions about your breeding program, if that is ok. How many total geese do you have? Of that, how many buff and grey dewlaps? Do you separate into breeding groups, pairs/trios, or a combination of both? Do you have natural water (pond, stream) or do you provide kiddie pools for breeding? What is your egg collection/setting practice? Do you keep 1st year female and/or male or early season eggs for hatching?

I am trying to get organized for breeding season. For dewlaps, I have 2 pairs of buffs/grey adults, 1 pair of grey adults, 2 pairs grey adult female/juvenile male, 2 pairs grey juveniles, and my 6pack of buff juveniles. Plus I have another dozen brown & white africans that free range on my separate horse property.

 

[aoxa]

aoxa, just chatted with the lab and yes they still accept them

Pete, I have a few questions about your breeding program, if that is ok.  How many total geese do you have?  Of that, how many buff and grey dewlaps?  Do you separate into breeding groups, pairs/trios, or a combination of both?  Do you have natural water (pond, stream) or do you provide kiddie pools for breeding?  What is your egg collection/setting practice?  Do you keep 1st year female and/or male or early season eggs for hatching?

I am trying to get organized for breeding season. For dewlaps, I have 2 pairs of buffs/grey adults, 1 pair of grey adults, 2 pairs grey adult female/juvenile male, 2 pairs grey juveniles, and my 6pack of buff juveniles.   Plus I have another dozen brown & white africans that free range on my separate horse property.

Great questions! I'd like to hear the answers to this from Celtic as well as Pete.

 

[Going Bhonkers]

Wait, I am confused about something. Can you submit down feathers from goslings as DNA samples?