Re: Re: menu plans and weightloss/ goose source

[Guest guest]

>Hi Heidi,

>Do you raise your own geese? Do you know of a clean store brand to

>buy? It is my understanding most commercial ducks and geese are

>raised on a poor diet under terrible conditions. I want a formerly

>happy, healthy bird to eat.

>I miss having goose fat for frying.

>Thanks,

>Sheila

No, these are store bought, though they say " organic free range. " It is really

tempting to raise some though, I'd bet they are pretty easy and they

are pretty expensive. The neighbor raised 50 turkeys one year -- I think

about 15 geese would do us for a year. I hear they are fairly mean, so

I wouldn't mind eating them.

Heidi S

[Guest guest]

Probably from goslings they'd be fine, Heidi. Like watchdogs letting you know

when someone comes. If loose they tend to check anyone different out. We

inherited an alpha gander from a friend. Was a less dominant gander and goose

too. They were all Toulouse geese. Other breeds may be better. Were told he

would go after his wife and daughter but hubby thought he might correct that

habit. He didn't bother husband. I could usually back him up by stepping

towards him and he'd give up. Girls were petrified of him as he'd end up

chasing them. Had to walk them up the driveway to meet schoolbus. One day I

thought I had him at bay and he followed me up the front steps. Latched

onto my

inner upper thigh as I had shorts on. Man, they pinch hard! Anyway we found a

female free home for them shortly after that as I'd had it. Don't hang clothes

on a clothesline in their reach either. They wrecked some of my favorite

clothes chewing on them leaving grass stains I couldn't get out. Chewed holes

in a few.

Wanita

>No, these are store bought, though they say " organic free range. " It is

really

>tempting to raise some though, I'd bet they are pretty easy and they

>are pretty expensive. The neighbor raised 50 turkeys one year -- I think

>about 15 geese would do us for a year. I hear they are fairly mean, so

>I wouldn't mind eating them.

>

>Heidi S

[Guest guest]

>Probably from goslings they'd be fine, Heidi. Like watchdogs letting you know

>when someone comes. If loose they tend to check anyone different out. We

>inherited an alpha gander from a friend. Was a less dominant gander and goose

>too. They were all Toulouse geese. Other breeds may be better. Were told he

>would go after his wife and daughter but hubby thought he might correct that

>habit. He didn't bother husband. I could usually back him up by stepping

>towards him and he'd give up. Girls were petrified of him as he'd end up

>chasing them. Had to walk them up the driveway to meet schoolbus. One day I

>thought I had him at bay and he followed me up the front steps. Latched

>onto my

>inner upper thigh as I had shorts on

Hmmm ... less than glowing reasons to keep them around! How long until they

are eating size? My kids are scared stiff of our one rooster (we keep him

caged, the hens fly in and out), and he is a lot smaller than a goose.

Also, do they stay in the yard? We are on 5 acres, but it is not fenced.

The chickens stay fairly near their food bowl

Heidi S

[Guest guest]

At 09:05 PM 4/16/03 -0700, you wrote:

>

>>Probably from goslings they'd be fine, Heidi. Like watchdogs letting you

know

>>when someone comes. If loose they tend to check anyone different out. We

>>inherited an alpha gander from a friend. Was a less dominant gander and

goose

>>too. They were all Toulouse geese. Other breeds may be better. Were told he

>>would go after his wife and daughter but hubby thought he might correct that

>>habit. He didn't bother husband. I could usually back him up by stepping

>>towards him and he'd give up. Girls were petrified of him as he'd end up

>>chasing them. Had to walk them up the driveway to meet schoolbus. One day I

>>thought I had him at bay and he followed me up the front steps. Latched

>>onto my

>>inner upper thigh as I had shorts on

>

>Hmmm ... less than glowing reasons to keep them around! How long until they

>are eating size? My kids are scared stiff of our one rooster (we keep him

>caged, the hens fly in and out), and he is a lot smaller than a goose.

>Also, do they stay in the yard? We are on 5 acres, but it is not fenced.

>The chickens stay fairly near their food bowl

>

>

>Heidi S

Would think they'd get full size in a 6-8 month period like a pig. Don't know

how tricky they are when young like turkeys. Don't want to lose many when

you're paying $3-$5 each. They do eat a lot of grass as Lierre said. They

don't

wander. Our's stayed around the house and barn only. 17 acres without fencing

here. They didn't go in the beaver pond beside the house like the ducks did.

Lost some of those to predators we assume just like the guinea hens which

would

patrol and forage the surrounding woods. Have about 3 acres open. Farmer's

supply stores I've found out since have portable pens for under $100 that

could

work for moving them around and keeping them from going after people if its in

their nature. They will still honk to let you know someone's there.

Wanita

[Guest guest]

>Farmer's

>supply stores I've found out since have portable pens for under $100 that

>could

>work for moving them around and keeping them from going after people if its in

>their nature.

Hmm. That sounds like an idea. The geese cost about $30 each frozen, and

we have LOTS of grass!

Heidi S