Toulouse Geese Thread

[CelticOaksFarm]

I never have because they dont want just the feather. You have to pull it completely out base and all from the chest (for this lab) I wouldnt want to yank a down patch off a gosling, easier to vent or wait for first feathers.

 

[pete55]

Oh goodness what a lot of questions

Our Dewlap programme is based on 3 key lines; Holderread, Sarah McHolm (Canada) and English lines. Of these the most important is our Holderread line and our foundation Gander Dewlux who sadly died earlier this year at 9 years old. He had wonderful type, good fertility and superb character (a true gentle giant) and very important for us as I've 2 small children

His type, size, character and fertility seem to run in his line. Ganders despite their massive size mate readily and are fertile in their first year and into older age. An important consideration in Dewlaps as some ganders prove not to be so fertile or keen to mate.

From him we have 2 sons Dewlux 2 and Titan. Dewlux 2 being just like his father but bigger. Titan's a 2011 male and looking very good but still developing his keel. We also have his 2011 sister who's also very big but could do with a bigger keel. We also have Lincoln a 2011 son of Dewlux2 and looking almost as good as his father with some development to go. He seems to be getting better and better but his full development wont be completed until next year. Both these 2011 Ganders filled eggs this year.

Of the McHolm line we have a 2011 male and female, These were bred from a McHolm Gander (since sold) and Jemimah (Buff female). Although the female's nice the male has not developed a keel and failed to fill eggs this year. Im not sure we'll keep him or use him further. Overall this pairing was disappointing and I doubt we'll use Jemimah again due to poor size and type..

Then we have another 2 Buff females (2008) Tia and Maria. Both lovely, good size but weaker heads and dewlap. These were both bred from a German split gander. We did have a Buff Gander but lost him in Spring but he'd been in poor health when we bought him but decided to take a chance. Due to the scarcity of Buffs it was a blow to lose him.

This year we are running on a lovely 2012 male from Dewlux's son and daughter so he's a double grandson of Dewlux. Really pleased with him but the mating was far too close and many embryos disintegrated at 5 days incubation from this mating (siblings are not ideal as a method of line breeding)! We also have 2 females hatched this year that we're running on and one's a beauty and the daughter of Dewlux2. She'll be line bred to her father in 2013 to 'fix' this grey line.

Then we have 4 Grey 2012 Ganders split for Buff so these will be used for the Buff females and a Dewlux daughter in 2013.

So in total we have 14 Greys and 3 Buffs though I doubt we'll use one of them as we're not happy with her size and type. Its not easy to keep the right birds but have selected carefully. Hopefully 2013 will finally see the breeding of some high quality Buffs which integrates our Dewlux lines

Generally we maintain them as pairs which they seem to prefer and collect eggs as they are laid leaving a dummy egg in the nest. Although we have a large natural pond the Dewlaps never go on it and prefer small pools about 2-3 inches deep which stimulates the Ganders for mating. They're actually used as cement mixing trays and about 1 metre diameter.


DEWLUX


DEWLUX 2


DEWLUX2 AND BUFF GOOSE MARIA


LINCOLN, SON OF DEWLUX 2 AT 8 MONTHS


2012 - 12 WEEK DAUGHTER OF DEWLUX 2


2012 - 12 WEEK GANDER AND DOUBLE GRANDSON OF DEWLUX


2008 BUFF FEMALE MARIA


2008 GOOSE - TIA

 

[aoxa]

Oh goodness what a lot of questions

Our Dewlap programme is based on 3 key lines; Holderread, Sarah McHolm (Canada) and English lines.  Of these the most important is our Holderread line and our foundation Gander Dewlux who sadly died earlier this year at 9 years old.  He had wonderful type, good fertility and superb character (a true gentle giant) and very important for us as I've 2 small children   His type, size, character and fertility seem to run in his line.  Ganders despite their massive size mate readily and are fertile in their first year and into older age.  An important consideration in Dewlaps as some ganders prove not to be so fertile or keen to mate.

From him we have 2 sons Dewlux 2 and Titan.  Dewlux 2 being just like his father but bigger.  Titan's a 2011 male and looking very good but still developing his keel. We also have his 2011 sister who's also very big but could do with a bigger keel. We also have Lincoln a 2011 son of Dewlux2 and looking almost as good as his father with some development to go. He seems to be getting better and better but his full development wont be completed until next year. Both these 2011 Ganders filled eggs this year. 

Of the McHolm line we have a 2011 male and female, These were bred from a McHolm Gander (since sold) and Jemimah (Buff female). Although the female's nice the male has not developed a keel and failed to fill eggs this year.  Im not sure we'll keep him or use him further. Overall this pairing was disappointing and I doubt we'll use Jemimah again due to poor size and type..

Then we have another 2 Buff females (2008) Tia and Maria.  Both lovely, good size but weaker heads and dewlap.  These were both bred from a German split gander.  We did have a Buff Gander but lost him in Spring but he'd been in poor health when we bought him but decided to take a chance.  Due to the scarcity of Buffs it was a blow to lose him.

This year we are running on a lovely 2012 male from Dewlux's son and daughter so he's a double grandson of Dewlux.  Really pleased with him but the mating was far too close and many embryos disintegrated at 5 days incubation from this mating (siblings are not ideal as a method of line breeding)!  We also have 2 females hatched this year that we're running on and one's a beauty and the daughter of Dewlux2.  She'll be line bred to her father in 2013 to 'fix' this grey line.

Then we have 4 Grey 2012 Ganders split for Buff so these will be used for the Buff females and a Dewlux daughter in 2013.

So in total we have 14 Greys and 3 Buffs though I doubt we'll use one of them as we're not happy with her size and type.  Its not easy to keep the right birds but have selected carefully.  Hopefully 2013 will finally see the breeding of some high quality Buffs which integrates our Dewlux lines

Generally we maintain them as pairs which they seem to prefer and collect eggs as they are laid leaving a dummy egg in the nest.  Although we have a large natural pond the Dewlaps never go on it and prefer small pools about 2-3 inches deep which stimulates the Ganders for mating.  They're actually used as cement mixing trays and about 1 metre diameter.


DEWLUX


DEWLUX 2


DEWLUX2 AND BUFF GOOSE MARIA


LINCOLN, SON OF DEWLUX 2 AT 8 MONTHS


2012 - 12 WEEK DAUGHTER OF DEWLUX 2


2012 - 12 WEEK GANDER AND DOUBLE GRANDSON OF DEWLUX


2008 BUFF FEMALE MARIA


2008 GOOSE - TIA

Absolutely stunning Pete!

Can you post a picture of a mature grey female? I'd like to see them.

 

[Iain Utah]

Thank you for your thoughtful and detailed response to my questions! Your geese are STUNNING!! Hope you do not mind a few follow up questions.

What size yards do you keep your pairs in? Do you share fence lines between pairs? If so, what type of fencing do you use?

 

[pete55]

You're welcome and hope it helps. The pairs are seperated in the Winter into breding pens or I'd never keep track of the lines and which are Buff splits. They generally have a free run at the moment but in Spring pens are about 40 feet square though some smaller. Pens are divided by 4 feet high mesh fencing. Very tricky to have sufficient grass here as we live in an Oak Wood and it doesnt grow well. One of the reasons we want to move but house sales are very poor in the UK. We'll be sorry to leave as we love it as a family home and its ideal for the children. Of course we also keep other animals including Sebbies, Africans, Parrots etc

 

[aoxa]

You're welcome and hope it helps.  The pairs are seperated in the Winter into breding pens or I'd never keep track of the lines and which are Buff splits.  They generally have a free run at the moment but in Spring pens are about 40 feet square though some smaller.  Pens are divided by 4 feet high mesh fencing.  Very tricky to have sufficient grass here as we live in an Oak Wood and it doesnt grow well.  One of the reasons we want to move but house sales are very poor in the UK.  We'll be sorry to leave as we love it as a family home and its ideal for the children.

It's a good breed to keep with low fencing, as there is no way a goose/gander that large could jump/fly a fence. Can't say the same for my chickens/ducks/turkeys.

How did you get lines from Canada and US to the UK?

 

[pete55]

They were imported about 9 years ago along with a Buff African line. I must admit ours never fly and doubt they ever could

 

[aoxa]

They were imported about 9 years ago along with a Buff African line. I must admit ours never fly and doubt they ever could

But they sure try Mine have never even come close!

 

[1MrsMagoo]

Oh goodness what a lot of questions

Our Dewlap programme is based on 3 key lines; Holderread, Sarah McHolm (Canada) and English lines. Of these the most important is our Holderread line and our foundation Gander Dewlux who sadly died earlier this year at 9 years old. He had wonderful type, good fertility and superb character (a true gentle giant) and very important for us as I've 2 small children

His type, size, character and fertility seem to run in his line. Ganders despite their massive size mate readily and are fertile in their first year and into older age. An important consideration in Dewlaps as some ganders prove not to be so fertile or keen to mate.

From him we have 2 sons Dewlux 2 and Titan. Dewlux 2 being just like his father but bigger. Titan's a 2011 male and looking very good but still developing his keel. We also have his 2011 sister who's also very big but could do with a bigger keel. We also have Lincoln a 2011 son of Dewlux2 and looking almost as good as his father with some development to go. He seems to be getting better and better but his full development wont be completed until next year. Both these 2011 Ganders filled eggs this year.

Of the McHolm line we have a 2011 male and female, These were bred from a McHolm Gander (since sold) and Jemimah (Buff female). Although the female's nice the male has not developed a keel and failed to fill eggs this year. Im not sure we'll keep him or use him further. Overall this pairing was disappointing and I doubt we'll use Jemimah again due to poor size and type..

Then we have another 2 Buff females (2008) Tia and Maria. Both lovely, good size but weaker heads and dewlap. These were both bred from a German split gander. We did have a Buff Gander but lost him in Spring but he'd been in poor health when we bought him but decided to take a chance. Due to the scarcity of Buffs it was a blow to lose him.

This year we are running on a lovely 2012 male from Dewlux's son and daughter so he's a double grandson of Dewlux. Really pleased with him but the mating was far too close and many embryos disintegrated at 5 days incubation from this mating (siblings are not ideal as a method of line breeding)! We also have 2 females hatched this year that we're running on and one's a beauty and the daughter of Dewlux2. She'll be line bred to her father in 2013 to 'fix' this grey line.

Then we have 4 Grey 2012 Ganders split for Buff so these will be used for the Buff females and a Dewlux daughter in 2013.

So in total we have 14 Greys and 3 Buffs though I doubt we'll use one of them as we're not happy with her size and type. Its not easy to keep the right birds but have selected carefully. Hopefully 2013 will finally see the breeding of some high quality Buffs which integrates our Dewlux lines

Generally we maintain them as pairs which they seem to prefer and collect eggs as they are laid leaving a dummy egg in the nest. Although we have a large natural pond the Dewlaps never go on it and prefer small pools about 2-3 inches deep which stimulates the Ganders for mating. They're actually used as cement mixing trays and about 1 metre diameter.






DEWLUX2 AND BUFF GOOSE MARIA



2012 - 12 WEEK DAUGHTER OF DEWLUX 2



2008 BUFF FEMALE MARIA


2008 GOOSE - TIA

You boys are extremely handsome, but oh, man do I love these ladies! Simply stunning!!!!!!

 

[pete55]

Thank you but we are hoping to breed some Buff Boys next year that look good too.