Breeding geese is a great way to earn money for the farmer. They are unpretentious in care, quickly gain weight and are in demand among the population. White Italian geese not only bring good income, but also decorate the compound with their appearance. Birds adapt well to different conditions, they can be raised in any climate zone. Italian geese are a godsend for an enterprising farmer.
Historical reference
Italian geese breeding was started in the 19th century. Farmers crossed local indigenous birds with individuals brought from China. The introduction of new blood gave an impetus to the development of the breed. From Italy, a new species of geese quickly spread throughout Europe.
In the Soviet Union, the breed appeared only in 1975. The first Italian geese were brought from Czechoslovakia. The breed quickly gained popularity among Soviet citizens who were not spoiled by a productive bird. The stock of Italian geese grew rapidly; by 1980, there were about 35 thousand individuals. The bird, bred in a warm country, quickly adapted to the climate of the Soviet Union, and this ensured its high popularity.
Breed features
A goose breeding business can even build a small farm. Large investments purchase of chicks or hatching eggs will not require. But at this stage it is important to choose an unpretentious and productive breed. For a beginner farmer, Italian geese are ideal. Snow-white birds are very beautiful, they have an active and independent character. Description of the Italian goose breed:
- the body is compact, proportional;
- medium-sized head, neat;
- the beak is bright, red-orange;
- the neck is strong, medium in size;
- the chest is deep and wide;
- legs are strong, powerful;
- tail developed, well adjacent to the body;
- wings set high;
- plumage of white color, hard, dense.
The average weight of adult birds is 5-7 kg. Sometimes a small amount of gray feathers is found in geese - this is a drawback. Such individuals are undesirable for breeding.
The Italians are friendly to the person, they make good contact. To another bird, gander is very aggressive, especially when it comes to protecting friends and offspring. They will not allow strangers to their family, and often they themselves become instigators of conflict. On walking, Italian geese try to stay away from other birds.
Track device
If the farmer already has a room for keeping birds, then this is fine. But if there is no caterpillar, then you can build it yourself. First you need to create a project based on the number of expected birds. But the planned number of livestock is better taken into account with a margin: sales will increase, young goslings will grow up, new breeds will be purchased.
The shed can be built from different materials, but the most popular cinder block. It is produced in any region, it will be easy to buy. Construction from the cinder block is fast, so the trackman can be erected in a couple of months. If the farmer lives in a cold area, then the barn will need to be insulated.
To keep 20 geese, it will be necessary to build a room with an area of 20 square meters. The height of the ceilings should be in the house, at least 2 meters. In such a gooseneck it will be easier to take care of the bird, and the air in it will circulate much better. The roof can be made gable, it is convenient to clean snow from it in winter.
There should be both artificial and natural lighting in the crawler. Enough windows will save electricity. Access to sunlight favorably affects geese, especially during the breeding season. It is advisable to equip the canopy in the room, they will prevent the passage of cold air in the winter season.
Goose Care
In the summer, the bird needs to provide sufficient walking. From the description of the Italian geese it follows that they simply need green mass. On walking, the bird can eat as much grass as it wants. Eating green mass benefits goose health, while the farmer saves on feed during this time. In the summer, a variety of plants can make up to 80% of the diet of the bird.
It is possible to feed geese with industrial compound feed. This is very convenient for the farmer, because in the finished diet everything is already balanced, and you do not need to add anything extra. If for some reason the owner does not want to give feed to the geese, then he needs to buy a grain mill in advance. Using the mechanism, the farmer will be able to grind oats, barley, grass, vegetables.
To prepare home-made compound feed, chalk, salt and vitamin supplements are added to the grain. In a separate bowl they put a shell rock, which improves the digestion of the bird. If the farmer holds cows, then geese can be fed serum for better growth. The bird will not refuse vegetables: potatoes, zucchini, pumpkins.
Features winter content
Many saw photos of Italian geese walking in the winter in the snow. Some farmers temper their bird and take it out to walk even in the cold. But you need to prepare the geese for the winter cold gradually, so initially staying in the open air should not be long. The Italian bird is unpretentious and hardy, so it easily adapts to frost.
The room where geese are kept in winter does not need to be heated additionally. But a draft in the barn should not be allowed, the bird may get sick. Usually in early autumn, farmers inspect the winter premises and close holes in it.
In the cold season, geese are kept on a deep litter of sawdust, peat or straw. It is laid and not changed until spring, only a clean layer is added if necessary. In the depths of the litter, decomposition processes soon begin to occur, and a large amount of heat is released, so the geese do not freeze. If the room is built soundly, then inside there will always be a plus temperature, even if severe frosts begin on the street.
Breeding
Italian geese are mainly bred by incubation. This is due to the fact that females are reluctant to land eggs. Their maternal instinct is poorly developed, so it is easier for the farmer to use an incubator. You can lay eggs on geese of other breeds, and they will successfully grow Italian chicks. But sometimes there are exceptions, but to check the maternal instinct in a particular bird can only be experienced. The first eggs of the female begin to lay from 9-10 months. Reproductive age in birds with good care can last up to 8-10 years.
Italian geese are in good health, they usually have a high fertility, regardless of the time of year. With proper transportation of hatching eggs, the farmer can count on good hatchability. Particularly increases the chances of the emergence of a large number of chicks using units with an automatic flip mechanism.
Goslings Growing
The chicks brought by the brood hen practically do not need human help. Already from 3 days, mother begins to breed offspring in the pasture. She makes sure that the goslings eat well and protects them from any danger. But the farmer must pay particular attention to weak chicks. In some cases, such goslings are better isolated and provide enhanced care. If the chicks are well fed and given them all the necessary vitamins, then soon they will catch up in the development of their healthier counterparts.
Goslings should be grown differently from the incubator. Chicks hatch from eggs on day 28 on their own, but some may require human help. In this case, the farmer can carefully remove part of the shell, thereby freeing the little caterpillar. At first, the chicks live in a brooder - a special place where it is dry, warm and light. After birth, goslings are placed under the lamps.
After the chicks dry out a bit, they are fed. You can offer them some chopped boiled eggs, but it is better to give the goslings industrial compound feed for the smallest. Drinking bowls should always be filled with water. In the early days, they can add a small amount of manganese for disinfection. Weaker goslings are separated from strong counterparts, since the first need special care and enhanced nutrition.
Productivity
Italian geese are a great choice for the farmer. They have very tasty meat, they quickly gain weight and carry large eggs. In addition, the bird is very beautiful, which cannot but please the owner.
Productive characteristic of Italian geese:
- Females carry 45 to 55 eggs per season. They have excellent taste and weight of about 160 g. From the geese of this breed, it is often possible to achieve a second autumn egg laying.
- Adult Italian birds can weigh up to 8 kg. Their meat has excellent taste.
- The liver of Italian geese is used to make foie gras. With some feeding systems, the weight of the body can reach 500-600 g.
High fertility allows the farmer to conduct the business of selling hatching eggs. They are in special demand in the spring, when the population begins to hatch goslings for the summer.
Veterinary Advice
In the photo, Italian geese are very beautiful, which increases the demand for this type of bird. When buying young animals, the farmer needs to quarantine him. This must be done, even if the bird has a veterinary certificate. After quarantine, the farmer needs to invite a doctor to examine the Italian geese. If all is well, then he will allow the bird to be released to the main herd.