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Goose
Most domestic geese descend from the greylag goose, while some Asian breeds come from the swan goose. They are kept for meat, eggs and down, and they graze so efficiently that they are used to weed crops and orchards. Alert and loud, they also raise the alarm…
Keeping
How it is kept
Kept for
- Meat
- Eggs
- Guarding
- Mature weight
- 4–12 kg
- Lifespan
- 10–20 years
- Incubation
- 30 days
- Temperament
- Alert, vocal and loyal; ganders can be aggressive while nesting
- Forage
- True grazers that take most of their food from good, short grass. Give grain or waterfowl pellets in winter, when grass is poor and while they are laying.
- Housing
- A simple, predator-proof shelter for the night and well-drained grass to graze. Water deep enough to bathe in keeps their plumage in good condition.
- Good to know
- Pasture quality matters more than bought feed, so plan grazing for the whole flock. Geese are long-lived and form strong bonds with each other and with their keepers. Ganders can be aggressive in spring, so take care with children around nesting birds.
Breeds
Goose breeds
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