One of the world's most popular poultry is the goose, a member of the duck family. Today, there are many goose species, many of which are bred specifically for growing on the farm. The article tells about such a breed as Toulouse geese.
Toulouse Geese
Breeding history
Breeders from sunny Toulouse, which is located in the south of France, set themselves the task of obtaining a productive species that would bring quality meat and justify the cost of its maintenance. By crossing selected representatives, a new breed was eventually obtained.
Bred in France in the XVIII century, the Toulouse breed of geese gradually gained popularity throughout Europe, and then beyond. To date, the Toulouse goose has the first place in popularity among domestic breeds. In the photo you can see how beautiful this view is, and its description deserves special attention.
Appearance and description
Toulouse geese have gray plumage (a legacy of wild relatives), which darkens as the bird matures. The neck, back and wings are darker in color than the rest of the body, but the belly is usually white. Sometimes you can find a different color in a bird - brown. Toulouse - large, representative birds with a massive body and legs, a large head, a thick neck. The beak is wide, flat, orange. The weight of an adult Toulouse goose can reach up to 11 kg, a goose - about 7 kg.
One important sign is the presence or absence of a special fold on the goose's belly, called a "wallet." It is generally accepted that wallet representatives are more meaty than their opponents. But the wallet-free ones are prolific and not as clumsy as the overweight owners of the "wallet". Also, a goose may have / do not have a crease on its stomach. What explains the popularity of the breed among farmers? The advantages that the Toulouse geese possess are many:
- fast weight gain;
- productivity;
- a large amount of quality meat, fat, large, gourmet liver and valuable fluff.
As you can see, Toulouse geese are an ideal option for breeding for slaughter, therefore this species can often be found among the “population” of the poultry farm. Of course, like any breed, geese from Toulouse have their own breeding nuances:
- finicky and pampering;
- soreness, poor cold tolerance;
- passivity and, as a result, looseness of the muscles;
- poorly developed hen instinct in the female.
Caring for the imposing, obese Toulouse requires effort and effort, but the invested labor and financial costs justify themselves with a rich harvest of goose. How to properly maintain the breed, read below.
Basic care requirements
If you decide to breed Toulouse, be prepared for conscientious work: to get healthy offspring and high-quality goose, you need to carefully follow the advice of professionals. Demanding on life, these birds need certain conditions.
- Warm room for living. The temperature must be at least 20 ° C. Drafts should not be allowed, but the house should be regularly ventilated. Any change in weather conditions causes discomfort to the goose.
- Lovers of comfort, geese need dry bedding made of material that absorbs moisture well. It is best if it is sphagnum peat: sawdust or straw are also suitable. Extra bedding is included in winter.
- Regular wet housekeeping is advisable every day. The increased humidity level is not good for the bird.
- The presence of a clean feeder and drinking bowl, which should always be filled. Intense weight gain is achieved through abundant and regular nutrition, with more food consumed at night than during the day. The diet of Toulouse necessarily includes grain, wheat, corn, animal feed and grass. It is important to ensure that pets receive all the necessary minerals with their food.
- The house should be equipped with a sand trough so that the geese can take a bath and thus clean their feathers of dirt and skin vermin.
- Set up a flock area or paddock near the goose that is well lit by the sun. In the warm season, geese can spend most of their time there. Provide the area with a tight canopy and fence (preferably mesh).
- Twice in the season after molting, the wings should be cut to the pets so that they would not be able to fly away from the yard.
Poultry farmers recommend dividing the house into sections, placing 3 geese and 2 gander per 2 sq. M. m. If you are interested in Toulouse geese, in the photo you can see incredibly attractive handsome men.
Breeding Toulouse geese
The issue of offspring requires a separate discussion. When equipping a poultry house, take into account the fact that each section should be equipped with 2-3 nests. As mentioned above, the goose of the described breed is not a very responsible hen, so the owner will have to put eggs under the laying hen or use the services of an incubator. It is imperative to provide the birds with conditions that are comfortable for breeding, primarily heat and light. Egg laying in the Toulouse geese begins in early spring and brings the farmer about 40 eggs from one individual per year.
Toulouse breed of geese on the farm of Igor Lunin. Expedition on goose-breeding farms No. 2.
Toulouse geese, Germany; Scene IgorOryol
When the goslings turn five days old, they can be allowed to walk if the weather is warm. It is important to ensure that chicks are properly fed at least 6 times a day. It is necessary to prepare a special mixture of grated cereals, herbs and vegetables. With appropriate care, newborns will gain weight very quickly and will weigh about 4 kg by the age of 2 months.
Proper care is the key to the profitability of the Toulouse goose for the owner. Choosing this particular bird, you will not be mistaken and will be rewarded with a good profit, because Toulouse geese are extremely productive and profitable.