Geese are a large type of waterfowl that are often mistaken as being a large duck, but they are not and are a very different animal...
Geese and humans have a very long history with each other – from the dawn of time these animals have been used to define the different changes in the seasons and weather changes etc. The Canadian geese traditionally fly south for the winter letting the American Indians know that the cold season is approaching. They then returned in the spring for the hatching season.
Geese were the original Christmas bird, long before the Turkey graced the table at a Christmas feast. The feathers and down of the Geese have been used for centuries to make warm clothing and especially bedding. Geese have also been used as watchdoga s to alert landlords of approaching intruders.
There are many breeds of geese but sadly we are losing many of them through cross breading and also through the lack of interest in these large majestic water fowl.
Geese are primarily a grazing animal and being so, make great lawnmowers. However, you need to be sure not to overstock an area as they can destroy a lawn as once the grass has gone they will start to pick on the roots. Some Vineyard growers run geese under the grape vines to keep the grass down. Other people have used Geese to weed paddocks, mainly using Chinese Geese, getting them as goslings and feeding particular weeds and later releasing them into the paddocks where they eat the weed.
An Important fact about Geese is that they are capable of living an extraordinary long life. We have a couple of Geese said to be over fifty years old. The Geese can become completely bonded to the Household family greeting members as they arrive home from work or school. Geese can also be very affectionate towards their owners.
Some people are of the opinion that geese are dangerous and that they always attack people, this is not entirely true. Geese, like people, have many different behaviour patterns and actions to different situations -
When Geese put their neck out horizontally Honking they are welcoming who or whatever they are walking towards.
When they put their neck out horizontally hissing they are saying stay away.
Geese are very protective of their family, and this includes their nests and young.
When Geese are nesting it is better to leave them alone. During the breeding season they will settle down and get used to their minders being around them and will see that you are not a threat to them. Bluehills Poultry Stud runs up to around a hundred geese and we have had no incident of aggressive geese towards Staff or Visitors.
Some of the interesting breeds are: Chinese (both Brown and White}; Pomeranian; Sebastopol; Toulouse; Roman; Roman tufted; Embden and Pilgrim.
All these breeds are rare in true blood form and some of these breeds are classified as highly endangered and critically endangered on the Rare breeds list. Bluehills Poultry Stud is one of the few Breeders who keep all these breeds and are committed to the preservation of these Majestic birds.
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