Geese

[squibbs]

In a kind of response to the Turkey posting I thought I would detail my raising of geese - personally I don't like Turkey - not terribly flavoursome and no matter how I (or others) cook it always a little too dry

We bought 3 embdens at auction at 18 days old (so said the label) for £25. Built a mini house for them - cost about £100. They had a 5kg bag of crumb and a 20kg bag of growers. They mostly ate grass and fallen apples and brassicas with perhaps a bag of corn between them - total cost for feed about £20

They were very affectionate as youngsters, bit feisty when older and upset the daughter and the missus though I never had much trouble with them. I did wing clip them after watching them fly down the paddock - they didnt get much height but I didnt fancy losing them.

I got them processed properly mostly because of the plucking and because I sold 2 of them to friends. £9.30 each bird

Total costs:
Birds + feed + slaughtering = 72.90

Profits:
2 sold at £35 + £45 = £80 plus whatever we saved from not having to buy our own - say £40 - total £120

If you include the house which should last several years we are at a bit of a loss - but won't be over the longer term

Next year we shall get more and keep a pair for breeding I think

[binley100]

I think a gander may be a bit more than feisty. On the Edwardian Farm last week they got a gander as a guard to keep the foxes away ,

[Nicos]

We had 3 this year...and thinking of getting 5 or 7 next year.
Apparently the big cost is the feeding through winter...ours will be in the freezer again by November

Have to say though ,that they are wonderful birds and we've thoroughly enjoyed having them around.

[squibbs]

I think a gander may be a bit more than feisty. On the Edwardian Farm last week they got a gander as a guard to keep the foxes away ,

Yes, but they do get attached to their keepers, I could sit down in the paddock and the geese would come sit down with me and honk quietly even without food. I don't think they liked my daughter as she used to chase them about a bit when they were smaller. Not sure why they didn't like the missus - maybe it was because I did most of the feeding and putting away in the younger days.

On the occasions we persuaded the neighbour to put them to bed because we were going to be late she said she had a very tough time with them hissing and flapping all over the place!

[Nicos]

We could pick up and cuddle our Tolouse gander..little sweetie he was!

[Mell]

I've 7 geese, two steinbacker garden geese and 5 of unknowness, two were eggs we put under the girls & the other three are their offspring.

Much as Ilove goose, it is more than my life is worth to kill them as they are my daughter's ! Their main purpose in life is cutting the garden's grass, clearing up leaves & excess apples and fertilizing, but they are good guard birds & whilst we have had one fox hit since we had them, it is very rare.

We don't have problems with them, even the gander, unless you try stealing their eggs once they are sitting.

[miker2d2]

I'm interested in maybe raising a couple of geese for meat next year

how much mess do they make? I have a fairly large lawn for them to graze on, the ducks don't make alot of mess on it but I have penned them in now the weather is wetter and the garden a little muddy.
will they live with ducks as I have 3 khaki campbells although I could separate if required

merry xmas to you all

Mike

[Nicos]

Mine did sloppy 'popseis' about every 20 mins

[walldanzig]

what a great post Squibs I have two canadian geese and was seriously considering hatching some off next year.

[Mell]

My steinbachers were fine with my runners, but the others hmm not so good, in the garden no problems, but they have seperate houses at night.

Yes & they poo a lot, depends on the size of the garden, if you notice it in the winter with ducks geese will be worse.

[chris]

Bleeeeh!! I want to move house again to have a big garden... and awayish from neighbours so that I could raise some geese for food without them bothering the neighbours.

My concern about all this semi-self sufficient stuff is, going on holiday is going to be a problem.. I'm quite particular about my routine.. and esp in winter time, fresh water daily (sometimes 2/3 times) is a bit of a burden to ask of someone.

Defo going to cook goose again next year, I really enjoyed it this year. So tasty.. think I over cooked it a bit (only had half a goose from waitrose), but I wanted to ensure it was cooked properly.

Someone near me raise one, I'll buy one!!!

Can you breed with brothers and sisters?

[Nicos]

Personally I'd prefer not to breed with my brother!!

[Mell]

Yes holidays are a real pain ! I've a grown up son so he tends not to come on hols with us & he or his girlfriend do the animals whilst I'm away but it is a logistical nightmare !

The alternative is a house/animal/garden sitter that you pay. I've done that before. Or make friends with somebody in the same circumstances & swap chores with them.

I would not recommend breeding brothers & sisters.

It is not the recipe for disaster people tend to think, but it is full of potential problems if you are not really careful and if you arn't familiar with gene interactions...

Trouble with birds of specific breeds is you don't always know if they are related. My practice is to buy in eggs from far away once in a while & cull the previous males. The opp can be done if the male line is particularly good to preserve
of course !

[Bramble-Poultry]

@ chrismarks - we are now based just outside rhayader in mid wales and will be rearing norfolk geese and brecon geese this summer for the table.

we have just finished off our christmas with 150 turkeys going off, surprisingly after that lot we had pork for christmas dinner!

we agree with mell about not breeding brother to sister if you wish to retain some for breeding, but it is indeed a recognised practice (terminal matings) for all birds intended to be culled for meat as you will not proliferant bad genes from the initial cross as all offspring are then killed.

[Mell]

Even with terminal matings whilst you are inevitabily not passing on the genes, I feel we have a responsibility to the life of the animal we choose to kill, so if there was a chance of genetic defects that would adversly affect the animals' life, I do not think it is responible breeding to continue. As most people will know little about lethal, semi lethal genes and harmful etc, I still suggest steering away from the practice.