Gray geese are waterfowls belonging to the family of ducks. Body length can reach 0.9 m, wingspan up to 1.8 m. The head is large, the beak is short, thick, red with a bright end. The neck is shortened, the back is straight, wide, chest
convex. The wings are developed, pressed to the body.
The legs are short, there are skin folds on the stomach. The plumage is mostly gray with various shades. The edges of the feathers on the back are slightly lighter. A wavy pattern is possible on the neck and belly. Gander (up to 8 kg) is larger than geese (up to 6 kg).
Thoroughbred gray geese grow up to 4 kg in 2 months. For a season from an adult goose, considering the offspring, you can get about 60 kg of tasty meat. To grow a caterpillar up to 75 days of age for meat, you need about 12 kg of grain, about 30 kg of herbs, vitamins and supplements. The numbers are for those who doubt whether to breed these birds.
This bird is unpretentious, hardy, quite resistant to disease. The abundance of litter and the territory for walking are important conditions for its maintenance. He spends a significant part of time in the fresh air, and the gray goose walks even in mild frosts. The photo shows this well. But the legs and beak can freeze, which is why bedding needs a lot.
Gray geese graze on pasture grass, eating about 2 kg of greenery per day. Preference is given to plantain, dandelion, nettle, bindweed, yarrow, etc. If the pastures are good, then they need to give concentrates about 60 g for each bird per day. In addition to greens, geese need vegetable protein feed (peas, beans, oilcake), meat and bone
meal and
fish meal. Rye and vetch should not be given, from them the quality of fat is deteriorating.
Geese should be provided with fresh water at any time of the year, not only for drinking, but also for washing the beak. In winter, they readily eat snow. Despite the fact that these birds are waterfowl, they can safely do without a reservoir.
Large gray geese - a breed bred simultaneously in Ukraine and in the Tambov region. Obtained by crossing the Toulouse geese with the Romanov ones. Oviposition begins at 10 months of age and lasts up to two years, after which it drops sharply. Geese carry about 60 eggs per year. The instinct of incubation in them is well developed.
Goslings appear approximately 20 days after incubation. They need to be kept separately from adults. For growing young animals you need a warm whitewashed room and dry litter. If for some reason the goslings are without a mother, then they need additional heating. To do this, you can use ordinary water-filling warmers. At first, goslings are very vulnerable, they need to be fed and watered ad libitum. At night, it is advisable to turn on dim lighting, young animals will behave more calmly.
Gray geese live for about 5 years, so the breeding herd needs to be formed only from individuals without physical disabilities. Otherwise, maintenance costs will exceed economic benefits. There should be 3-4 geese per 1 gander in a tribe. The breeding herd must not be fattened in the same way as individuals intended for slaughter. For successful breeding, their nutrition must be balanced.
Breeding geese is a troublesome business, but the delicious diet meat obtained from them is worth it.