Toulouse geese~anybody raise them and can tell me about the breed?

[Beekissed]

I am interested in getting a few Toulouse this spring and wanted to know about the characteristics of the breed.

Are they gentle?

Hardy?

Good breeders, layers, mothers?

Predator considerations, such as special precautions?

Shelter they like best?

Nesting areas? How do they like them?

Compatibility with other animals/livestock/poultry?

Feed? Will they continue to forage and graze well in the winter?

Any info would be appreciated!

 

[birdnutz]

I noticed nobody answered you, so I will. Right now I have 15 toulouse geese(wayyy tooo many). I've found that they are way gentle. They like to threaten but don't do anything else. Except when they are setting or have goslings. That is a different story, then,they get as aggressive as any of the other breeds. I wouldn't consider them good lyers, she laid 12 eggs and hatched all of them. They were fantastic parents though. The whole flock took it upon itself to protect the goslings.
Ectremely hardy breed. Last year we got into the minus 50 range and didn't have any problems. They did look miserable but I think everyone was. they will continue grazing unless it gets snow covered. My geese nest in the corner of my guinea building. It's kind of like an open ended no top box. Most of my geese just have a loafing shed type of building open to the south that they rarely use. I haven't had any problems with predators. The dogs seem to leave them alone. But I would say that any of the larger predators could be a threat to them,coyote,bobcat etc.
I keep all the geese except the breeding pair seperate from my bantam ducks. They're dangerous to my ducklings. They can tend to bully the others but not to the point of being dangerous to them. That includes the adult ducks. My free range bantam rooster has lost a few tail feathers accasionally but no real damage except to his pride. Most of the bulling comes from the young geese. I think it's because they become bored and need something to do. On the whole I let them range with everything I have except the duckilings.

 

[Cottage Rose]

Don't you have to have deep water for them to breed in because they are so big and heavy they can't breed on land?

 

[Beekissed]

Thank you, Birdnutz! That was very helpful! I think I have a place they can loaf in and nest in. Do you harvest their down, by any chance? Do you sell breeding pairs? If so, how much do you usually ask? If I get too many, I would like to be able to sell the excess goslings or adults.

If they don't need a body of water, I have the perfect place for them to live and graze. I am going to do all the research I can on them, as I have raised ducks, chickens and turkeys, but never geese. Thank you again!

 

[shelleyd2008]

A friend of mine has embdens, canadian, and african geese. She hatches many many goslings every year from them, and she has no water source whatsoever. She has a few 55 gallon drums that are cut in half lengthwise, which she fills twice daily for them to bathe. I would highly doubt the toulouse would be that much different.

 

[Beekissed]

I have a big, blue barrel that I can half and build a frame for, if I have to do so. It even has an plug that could be drained. IF I could keep the dogs and chickens out of it!

 

[greyfields]

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I do not raise them myself, a neighbor does. They strike me as no different from any other goose.

So, with geese, if you raise them as goslings in a brooder, they will imprint on you and be very gentle. If you let the goose and gander do the work, though, they'll be completely wild and the parents will spend the first year hissing at you if you go near them.

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Yes.

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All geese are predator prone. You ought train them early on to "go to bed" somewhere secure to be let out during the day.

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We've used everything from chicken tractors to loafing sheds for them. We have so many now that I don't "put them to bed" at night anymore. They do gravitate towards my workshop and all sleep near it. They seem to prefer, though, to not be under cover.

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I wait until they decide where they'll nest, then I throw hay down onto it. They'll 'bury' several eggs before deciding to sit on the clutch.

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Absolutely! Geese are very easy to raise. They're my favorite livestock here on the farm. The Tolouse is the classic eating goose, as well. It's been around a long time for that very reason.

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They graze year around. In the dead of winter, though, they won't be getting tons of nutrition from the grass. I do throw out some grain for the ducks and geese daily (about 25 lbs daily for 32 geese and 26 ducks). They seem to get by fine.

 

[Beekissed]

Great info, Greyfields! Thanks! I've never eaten goose but am up for anything. I think a dressed out, spice rubbed and stuffed goose would make a wonderful Christmas present.

Do they just lay once a year and raise one clutch? How would one manage to have your green geese at the right age for Christmas processing if you cannot control when they hatch?

 

[Cek goose]

hoping you are still on this page since you have toulouse. suddenly one of mind can't stand or walk without extreme diffuclty..her tail feathers looked rough at the edges, all in one day. once up she can hobble and then walk a few feet and plop onto the ground. if you know, let me know! I cam cek goose on this barnyard page!

 

[livininbrazil]

hoping you are still on this page since you have toulouse. suddenly one of mind can't stand or walk without extreme diffuclty..her tail feathers looked rough at the edges, all in one day. once up she can hobble and then walk a few feet and plop onto the ground. if you know, let me know! I cam cek goose on this barnyard page!

Hi cek goose. There are a number of threads on here about geese having this difficulty. If you read through you´ll get a lot of info. Most likely to do with lack of niacin. But have a read.