05-01-2015, 10:05 PM
Geese eat grass and weeds as fast as they grow, but do not touch certain cultivated plants. They also add manure to the soil.
Geese seem to be more resistant to diseases than other avian species.
Uses: They can be use for weed control and as guard animals. They can be use to control heavy infestation by water hyacinth. They have exceptional eyesight and wide field of vision. Outsiders cannot calm them to silence. They are also used by the military and in some cases, they replace guard dogs.
Image: http://www.moosemanorfarms.com/about-ame...geese.html
Breeds: White Chinese geese are the favorites for weeding purposes, or Africans where a larger bird is desired for marketing at the end of the weeding season. These geese are more energetic and active than Toulouse and Emden, although those breeds are also used. The White chinese geese will do less damage to the crop they step on, because of their lighter weight. They lay more eggs and a better guards.
Disadvantage in Developing Areas: They take 2 years to fully mature and they are not prolific layers, except for the Chinese geese. Therefore, their overall reproductive rate is low. Also, the processing of geese is more complicated than the processing of chickens, especially if downs and feathers are involve. Technical skills are needed to pluck the birds efficiently and some equipment may be necessary in order to handle the down and feathers properly.
Stocking: 2-4 geese per acre in row planting. More may be needed in bed and when grass and weed infestation is heavy. It is better to place them in the field when the first grass/weeds starts growing.
Field Management: Day old should be brooded for 6-8 weeks before releasing to the field permanently without shelter.Younger birds can be used if they’ll be sheltered.
Goslings can be turned out on grass within a few days and supplemental feeding of grain started the second week.
Water Trough: Place them in the far end of rows so that the geese will work the full length of rows on their way to drink. Water troughs may be moved occasionally to make birds concentrate their efforts where they are most needed. If there are no trees, provide temporary structures for shade.
Supplemental Feed: Small amount must be provided. 5-20lb a day per 100 birds. Don’t give them too much though.
Grower-mash pellets should be used as supplemental feed until at least 1 weeks of age. After which grain may be used, but it is better to supplement grain with chicken or turkey grower pellets (non-medicated).
Feed them once per day in the evening by scaterring the feed on the ground. This gives all birds the opportunity to feed.
Fencing: High fences are not required as geese seldom fly. A 4-30 inch fence is ok. Poultry netting supported by stakes often is used where temporary fencing is desired. At night, you can prevent animal attack by using light where the geese congregate.
Insecticides: Some insecticidesand are dangerous to them. Fertilizers are also dangerous. Remove them from the field when spraying and do not return them for several days. If there is rain, do not return them until puddles where insecticides have collect disappear into the ground. Herbicides apparently, are not harmful.
Marketing: You can fatten them in a cage before sale. Feed them all the grain they’ll consume 3-4 times a day. Continue for 3-4 weeks until they weigh 10-12lb or more. Growing mash or fattening pellets must be fed with grain for efficient feed conversion.
Next Batch: Carrying geese over from one season to the next is not recommended. Older geese are less active in hot weather than young birds. Adult geese will eat more Johnsongrass roots turned up during tillage than goslings, but are more difficult to restrain from crossing fences. It is usually less expensive to buy goslings in the spring than to carry old birds through the winter.
Crops: Geese can be used for cotton, strawberries, in nurseries, corn, beans, asparagus, mint, beets, hops, onions, potatoes, orchards, groves and vineyard etc. They seems to perform well in crops such as coffee, banana and plantain, as well as kiwi plantation and cotton fields, where chemical control is not practiced or is not possible.
Goose production fit in well with corn production. They will eat young corn plants, so they should be placedin the field sometime after the last cultivation when the corn has been “laid by” (Cultivate for the last time). After corn is harvested, the geese are allowed to remain in the field to pick up shattered grain to fatten for market.
Training: You can train your geese to eat grasses and weeds they don’t normally eat by feeding them the grasses/weeds when they are still young. Alternatively, feed them all the weeds/grasses at a tender age.
Company: As geese are herbivores, you can add a small number of ducks to help control insects, snails and slugs.
You should have a temporary holding pen where they will be kept when there is no grass.
Geese seem to be more resistant to diseases than other avian species.
Uses: They can be use for weed control and as guard animals. They can be use to control heavy infestation by water hyacinth. They have exceptional eyesight and wide field of vision. Outsiders cannot calm them to silence. They are also used by the military and in some cases, they replace guard dogs.
Image: http://www.moosemanorfarms.com/about-ame...geese.html
Breeds: White Chinese geese are the favorites for weeding purposes, or Africans where a larger bird is desired for marketing at the end of the weeding season. These geese are more energetic and active than Toulouse and Emden, although those breeds are also used. The White chinese geese will do less damage to the crop they step on, because of their lighter weight. They lay more eggs and a better guards.
Disadvantage in Developing Areas: They take 2 years to fully mature and they are not prolific layers, except for the Chinese geese. Therefore, their overall reproductive rate is low. Also, the processing of geese is more complicated than the processing of chickens, especially if downs and feathers are involve. Technical skills are needed to pluck the birds efficiently and some equipment may be necessary in order to handle the down and feathers properly.
Stocking: 2-4 geese per acre in row planting. More may be needed in bed and when grass and weed infestation is heavy. It is better to place them in the field when the first grass/weeds starts growing.
Field Management: Day old should be brooded for 6-8 weeks before releasing to the field permanently without shelter.Younger birds can be used if they’ll be sheltered.
Goslings can be turned out on grass within a few days and supplemental feeding of grain started the second week.
Water Trough: Place them in the far end of rows so that the geese will work the full length of rows on their way to drink. Water troughs may be moved occasionally to make birds concentrate their efforts where they are most needed. If there are no trees, provide temporary structures for shade.
Supplemental Feed: Small amount must be provided. 5-20lb a day per 100 birds. Don’t give them too much though.
Grower-mash pellets should be used as supplemental feed until at least 1 weeks of age. After which grain may be used, but it is better to supplement grain with chicken or turkey grower pellets (non-medicated).
Feed them once per day in the evening by scaterring the feed on the ground. This gives all birds the opportunity to feed.
Fencing: High fences are not required as geese seldom fly. A 4-30 inch fence is ok. Poultry netting supported by stakes often is used where temporary fencing is desired. At night, you can prevent animal attack by using light where the geese congregate.
Insecticides: Some insecticidesand are dangerous to them. Fertilizers are also dangerous. Remove them from the field when spraying and do not return them for several days. If there is rain, do not return them until puddles where insecticides have collect disappear into the ground. Herbicides apparently, are not harmful.
Marketing: You can fatten them in a cage before sale. Feed them all the grain they’ll consume 3-4 times a day. Continue for 3-4 weeks until they weigh 10-12lb or more. Growing mash or fattening pellets must be fed with grain for efficient feed conversion.
Next Batch: Carrying geese over from one season to the next is not recommended. Older geese are less active in hot weather than young birds. Adult geese will eat more Johnsongrass roots turned up during tillage than goslings, but are more difficult to restrain from crossing fences. It is usually less expensive to buy goslings in the spring than to carry old birds through the winter.
Crops: Geese can be used for cotton, strawberries, in nurseries, corn, beans, asparagus, mint, beets, hops, onions, potatoes, orchards, groves and vineyard etc. They seems to perform well in crops such as coffee, banana and plantain, as well as kiwi plantation and cotton fields, where chemical control is not practiced or is not possible.
Goose production fit in well with corn production. They will eat young corn plants, so they should be placedin the field sometime after the last cultivation when the corn has been “laid by” (Cultivate for the last time). After corn is harvested, the geese are allowed to remain in the field to pick up shattered grain to fatten for market.
Training: You can train your geese to eat grasses and weeds they don’t normally eat by feeding them the grasses/weeds when they are still young. Alternatively, feed them all the weeds/grasses at a tender age.
Company: As geese are herbivores, you can add a small number of ducks to help control insects, snails and slugs.
You should have a temporary holding pen where they will be kept when there is no grass.