2012 Xmas geese

[Nicos]

We decided to do our Toulouse geese early this year at 25 weeks ( ie 7 weeks earlier than last year)
The weights were really encouraging compared to last year...
2 @ 3.7kg ( 2 males)
1 @ 3.6kg ( 1 gals)
2 @3.5kg (2 gals)

last years at 32 weeks....

male was 3.5kg
the gals were 2.8kg;3.5kg;3.5kg;3.7kg

[PyreneesPlot]

Can you post me one, please?

Are they home bred or did you buy in young stock?
Have they been fattened indoors for the last bit?
I would like to raise a pair for next year but am totally cluless

I should go and talk to our neighbour (kind, ancient, incomprehensible) as he has a lot of poultry and is the main reason why we've never got around to even having chickens. We just pop over the boundary and ask for some eggs.
We were supposed to have a goose for the table from him, but when he got his new breeding pair home they turned out to be two ganders.... So maybe not the best person for advice!

[Nicos]

Bought at 3 weeks
2 boys and 3 gals.....next time we will deffo go for only one male...and 4 females ( 1 male and 4 females are soooo much easier! )

outdoor reared right til the 'end'

bought at 3 weeks...and @ 25 weeks 'done'

normal goose/duck pellets all year ( growers for the first 3 weeks) ..then added corn/wheat for the last 2 weeks.

Only time they were indoors was at night when they were herded into their wooden 'tent' inside the electric fence ( we have at least 5 foxes in the back field! )

PP - just go for 3-5 birds with one male...and put aside a couple of days to 'do' them'


(I'd really like to hear in anyone has experienced any 'easier'/faster way of plucking ???)

[jessmorris]

Lucky devils - homegrown goose - yum!