How long can a domestic goose live?

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It makes no sense to keep geese for more than 5 years, although they are considered real long-livers among poultry. How long geese live in a backyard depends on the direction of productivity and the quality of maintenance.

Appearance

Geese have a rather short neck and beak, as well as high legs. The length of the head of the individual is proportional to the beak. In the upper region it is rounded, and below it is flat, with sharp spiked teeth. The color of the feathers in most cases is white or gray, but there are other colors (it all depends on the breed). The bird weighs about 6−8 kilograms (in some cases 10−15 kilograms), males are much larger than females.

How long do geese live on average in a home pen?

Geese became the first poultry that people had on their farm. They can be divided into two groups based on origin:

The first group is the wild gray species.
The second group is from the Chinese goose.

The average lifespan of a domestic goose under simple conditions ranges from eighteen to twenty years. On farms where birds are raised by conveyors, this period is reduced by 1.5–2 times.

In 80% of cases, the life cycle of birds is determined by the main goals of poultry farmers and lasts no more than 3–5 years.

It turns out that rare species live longer. For example, the lifespan of the Vladimir clay goose is 25–30 years. This is explained by the fact that they are very thick and their bones are slightly wider than ordinary ones. Also, it is the geese of this breed that produce a large number of eggs in the first year. Such geese are valued in absolutely every country, but their cost is quite decent. The life expectancy of Dzhavekheti geese is practically no different from Vladimir clay geese. They can live for a very long time. It’s just not advisable to wait for them to get old. After all, by the age of 10 they will no longer reproduce, and if they are used for meat, it will not be so tender and tasty. It no longer depends on the breed.

They feed almost exclusively on plant foods, mainly green parts of plants and seeds. With the help of a beak equipped with sharp teeth along the edges, they pinch grass, cereals, cabbage, and pick off leaves, berries, pods and ears of corn. In addition to plants, some species also eat small vertebrates and insects.

The rate of domestication of geese was significantly greater than that of all other birds. All domestic breeds are bred from wild ones. The gray goose is the progenitor of all domestic bird species. In nature there are two subspecies of this breed - Ukrainian and Tambov. Both are suitable for breeding in different climates.

Geese are excellent and responsible parents. The male accompanies the female from the moment the pair joins until the end of her life, helping her throughout the hatching of the chicks and raising the young. In the event of the death of the female, the male independently takes upon himself all the responsibilities of raising the offspring and copes with this no worse than a full-fledged couple.

It is customary to use geese until they are 8 years old, and ganders until they are 3-4 years old. Then they sharply reduce their productivity and do not justify their maintenance. The old livestock is simply culled and replaced with young stock.

The life cycle of a domestic waterfowl will be determined by several main factors:

breed;
proper nutrition - prepared with your own hands;
access to water and pasture;
the purity of their contents;
absence of drafts;
availability of lighting and nesting sites.
presence/absence of enemies.

Geese should live in a good quality poultry house. It should be warm, dry, light, ventilated, and free from drafts. The goose house should be spacious so that there is enough space for everyone and the birds do not feel discomfort. Geese cannot be kept in cages like chickens; they can only live in a free-range poultry house or in a pen.

Experienced poultry farmers know that obtaining a strong livestock begins with the acquisition of healthy young animals with good genes or the competent selection of parent pairs from their own flock.

Negative factors that can affect the life cycle of geese are: various viral and infectious diseases;

bad water, which regularly stagnates in drinking bowls;
poor quality food;
unsanitary conditions in the premises where birds are kept;
accumulation of a large amount of dirt on the walking area, in which various parasites are born and reproduce: mites, fungus.

In many ways, the lifespan of the chicks is also influenced by the care of the chicks - it is the first days and weeks that often lay the foundation for future health and lifespan. Weak chicks can be kept separately, providing them with milder conditions - in the future this will help raise healthy productive individuals.

How to transport goslings

When transporting goslings, you must follow the same rules as when transporting other chicks. Goslings tolerate transportation well if the desired temperature is maintained (hypothermia should not occur) and there is a sufficient amount of fresh air. They are transported in standard shipping boxes.

How to feed?

Feeding is a very important process in raising geese. You should definitely familiarize yourself with how to feed these birds if you decide to breed them. So, the daily diet looks like this:

500 grams of beets and potatoes;
100 grams of carrots;
70 grams of grain;
25 grams of mineral feed.

It is better to adhere to the following feeding regimen:

7:00 – dry food, including sprouted grain;
15:00 – vegetables, mineral supplements and hay dust;
20:00 – it is worth giving flour and grain.

Important! If we consider the summer period, it is worth noting that geese must nibble grass, and its amount can reach up to 2 kg per day

Laying hens

It is necessary to fatten geese well before laying eggs.

It is very important that the diet includes roughage and green food. If you exceed the norm, the bird will begin to gain weight, and in the future this will affect the eggs. Geese must be prepared 30 days before laying eggs.

Feeding should include wheat and oats, and it is also worth adding alfalfa or clover hay. You should also definitely add goose meal, cake, legumes and vegetables to your diet. According to the norms, it is also worth including bone or fish meal. It is necessary to feed geese up to 4 times a day, with dry food 2 times and wet food 2 times.

Geese must be prepared 30 days before laying eggs. Feeding should include wheat and oats, and it is also worth adding alfalfa or clover hay. You should also definitely add goose meal, cake, legumes and vegetables to your diet. According to the norms, it is also worth including bone or fish meal. It is necessary to feed geese up to 4 times a day, while giving dry food 2 times and wet food 2 times.

Important! A week before laying eggs, you should include vitamin supplements in your diet.

Fattening for meat

It is worth taking a closer look at the question of what to feed adult geese if they are later used for meat.

Please pay attention to the quick guide:

greens are half of the diet;
legumes;
corn;
soybean cake.

Important! If you feed young geese correctly, then at 3.5 months their weight will be 4 kg. There are two ways to fatten geese. There are two ways to fatten geese

There are two ways to fatten geese.

Lugovoy. This method is cheap and simple. Geese need to be released into pastures where he will graze. About 30 days before slaughter, it is necessary to intensify fattening - you must always keep the feeders full, and do not forget about a sufficient amount of water. During this period, the goose consumes approximately 400 grams of grain per day. If you leave the lighting dim, the birds will be able to eat at night. In about 1 month, the goose gains one and a half kilograms. This method is not complicated. You can use ready-made tables that show the required quantities of products for fattening geese.

Intensive. Many people like this method because it is characterized by short deadlines. The fattening time is approximately 2.5 months. The main thing is to limit the movement of geese. The birds are placed in special boxes that are small in size and have a hole for their heads so they can feed. To quickly fatten geese, they are fed oats, wheat and barley. If you need to gain weight fairly quickly, then you should definitely use force-feeding. After about a month and a half of intensive feeding, the bird is ready for slaughter.

Parent stock

It is worth paying attention to how to properly feed the parent flock, which depends on what period they are in

Grocery. During this period, feeding should be thorough, but without the use of coarse mixtures. A few weeks before the start of the productive period, you need to gradually increase the caloric content of food, as well as add vitamins. The main thing is to increase protein in food. An excellent choice is a wet mash that includes hay meal, feed and vegetables. For geese during this period, it is necessary, in addition to the norm, to give 100 grams of sprouted grains, 10 grams of protein and 50 grams of carrots

It is worth noting that geese must also feed at night. Vitamins, fish oil and yeast should be included in the diet in small quantities.

Unproductive

This period is no different. During this time, geese should graze and eat as usual.

Diseases and their impact on quality of life

If kept poorly, the lifespan of birds may be shortened. But if you take into account the health characteristics of geese, this will increase their life resource. To increase the life expectancy of these birds, you need to monitor their diet and physical condition. Geese may have the following health problems:

1. Diseases of the oral cavity - for example, tongue retraction. The use of antiseptics and feed additives with vitamins and minerals will help the bird return to normal.
2. Peritonitis. It may appear due to injury, fear, or imbalanced nutrition. There is no home treatment. Prevention will help to avoid this dangerous condition.
3. Vitamin deficiency. Manifested by developmental delays and weak feather cover. Egg production is greatly delayed or does not occur. You can give specialized supplements for poultry or introduce foods rich in microelements and vitamins into the diet. Sources of necessary substances are fishmeal, vegetables, dairy products.
4. Prolapse of the oviduct. It can be carefully put back in after treating the organs with an antiseptic. After the procedure, apply ice to shrink the tissue. One of the possible causes of pathology is increased egg size.

Lifespan of wild geese

In the wild, the survival of birds depends on external factors, unlike domestic ones, for which care and living conditions are important. Wild geese can live more than 70 years, and the recorded life record for a wild representative of the species in captivity is 80 years!

Many birds die in the teeth of predators. Immature young animals are attacked by arctic foxes, foxes, wild boars, and also hunted by golden eagles, peregrine falcons, etc. Geese can die from various diseases that break out in the flock from time to time. Not all birds can withstand long, grueling flights to and from wintering grounds. Finally, human shooting of wild geese leads to a significant decrease in the population of some species.

Geese of the Linda breed

One of the best breeds of geese, bred through long crossings of Russian and Chinese species. Geese are birds with a long life expectancy. How long they live at home directly depends on the person who has taken on such responsibility as growing and proper care.

The Linda goose lives up to 18–20 years, but laying hens are not kept for more than five years; on large farms, birds are raised for no more than 2–3 years.

People involved in livestock farming are often interested in questions about geese.

Ornithologists have determined how many years geese live in natural and domestic conditions. So, in the wild, if a bird is lucky and does not fall into the clutches of predators and does not become a hunting trophy, then it can live up to 25 years.

Most often, birds die at the age of 2 years. Environmentalists call for careful bird hunting to preserve the number of wild geese.

Of course, in a private household, a domestic goose rarely lives for more than 5 years. And on farms where birds are raised by conveyors, this period is reduced by 1.5–2 times.

However, the unnatural interruption of the lifespan of birds has nothing to do with their natural lifespan.

Factors that influence the lifespan of geese

The lifespan of wild geese is affected by environmental factors, but in the case of domestic geese, it all depends on their care and living conditions.

Proper nutrition

A suitable diet for geese, regardless of age, ensures good health and longevity. At home, geese are usually fed natural food. In summer, the basis of their diet is grass, and in winter it can be replaced with hay or silage.

The diet of geese also includes cereals. Wheat, oats or barley should be added to food constantly, regardless of the season. They can be given crushed or whole, separately or mixed with vegetables.

Don't forget about vitamins and minerals. Sources for geese include fresh vegetables such as;

pumpkin;
carrot;
potato;
beets and others.

It is beneficial for a large number of geese to buy ready-made commercial feed, but it must be of good quality and include all the useful additives that geese need.

Geese will not grow well on poor feed. At the same time, their health deteriorates, which will certainly affect their life expectancy.

Conditions of detention

If geese are kept in proper conditions, they are guaranteed to live longer. Birds should live in a comfortable place. It is advisable to make the poultry house warm, dry, light and it should be well ventilated, but drafts should not be allowed.

Another important condition is space. There should be enough space for everyone in the goose coop so that the birds do not feel discomfort.

In summer, geese should be released into the yard and left for a long period of time, walking them as much as possible in green pastures and near nearby bodies of water.

In winter, geese should live in a warm and dry place, where they turn on the lighting in the mornings and evenings, increasing the daylight hours to 12 hours.

The goal of poultry farmers

Geese live at home as long as the farmer allows them. Birds are specially fed for meat or kept to lay eggs.

The shortest lifespan of a domestic goose raised for meat is 4 months or a little more. Keeping large numbers of geese for a longer period of time is simply not profitable.

Homemade

The life cycle of a domestic waterfowl will be determined by several main factors:

breed;
quality of food;
living conditions;
presence/absence of enemies.

For household owners, with proper care and a balanced diet, poultry can live from 15 to 20 years, and in some cases - up to 25 years.

Negative factors that can affect the life cycle of geese are:

various viral and infectious diseases;
bad water, which regularly stagnates in drinking bowls;
poor quality food;
unsanitary conditions in the premises where birds are kept;
accumulation of a large amount of dirt on the walking area, in which various parasites are born and reproduce: mites, fungus.

Purchasing young stock

How long do ducks live: factors influencing life expectancy
Having decided on the breed, we purchase goslings. When purchasing, you may encounter unscrupulous sellers. They may slip in goslings of the wrong breed or not entirely healthy ones.

It is good to buy birds from a breeder at home. Then there is the opportunity to see the mother herd. See in what conditions it is kept. What kind of geese are they, are they strong, are they large, do you like them. And then, if the seller is not afraid to show all this, then he probably won’t deceive.

It is better to buy not day-old goslings, but those that are five days old. They cost a little more, but their survival rate will be slightly higher. When buying goslings, follow these recommendations.

Pay attention to the behavior of the goslings. It’s good if they are vigorous and active, they squeak loudly, and their necks stretch upward. The navel should be overgrown without crusts. The tummy should be taut. Nothing protrudes from the nostrils of the beak. Check the paws for dislocation

Wild

There are more than a dozen breeds of wild geese in the world. Their average lifespan is 18–20 years.

However, despite the large number of domestic birds, wild birds are often hunted, particularly in America and Europe.

In Asian countries, work is also underway to collect down from wild geese. Due to such factors, the life cycle of birds is significantly reduced, moreover, the populations of some species are significantly reduced and require protection.

Wild geese are attractive prey not only for people, but also for many predators. Birds often become victims of eagles, golden eagles, peregrine falcons, etc. Chicks turn into food for foxes, wild boars, and arctic foxes.

Content Features

Although the goose is generally unpretentious to the refinement of feed (it is often given vegetable waste from the human table), a decrease in the quality of care will cause a lack of weight gain in youth. First of all, underweight is indicated by an infection - there are a number of them, starting with bird flu, which sharply reduces both the bird’s immunity and its appetite, which is why weight gain stops; in some cases, the bird is able to lose some of the weight. Get help from a veterinarian.

The most intensive growth of the bird will begin when it consumes not just greens from the garden and garden, but also foods enriched with calcium and vitamins: eggs, cottage cheese, improved quality grain (wheat, buckwheat, etc.), potatoes, carrots, cabbage . The diet here is not very different from the menu of wild geese. If it’s a pity to feed carrots and potatoes “as is,” you can give the gander peelings of these vegetables, heads of cabbage and drying leaves of cabbage that are not included in the human menu. If you bought a watermelon, feed the geese and other poultry the watermelon rind. Be sure to add a little chalk to your goslings' food.

What determines life expectancy?

As mentioned above, the lifespan of domestic waterfowl depends on a set of factors that positively or negatively affect this indicator.

Let's take a closer look at each of them.

Proper nutrition

One of the main fundamental factors for the long and healthy existence of birds is nutritious, high-quality nutrition.

Birds that can graze freely and live near bodies of water have the best health and longest life cycle.

In such cases, even a seventy-year period will not be the limit for them.

Food has an important influence on how long waterfowl live.

It is better to avoid using store-bought feed; the best option for poultry is food prepared on a private farm.

The basis of the diet should be plant foods, including aquatic vegetation.

In the summer, nettles, clovers and meadow grasses will help satisfy the need for vitamins and minerals. In winter, it is recommended to use hay and silage as feed.

Grains - oats, wheat, rye, vegetables - potatoes, carrots, beets will be irreplaceable at any time of the year. It is also necessary to give birds salt daily, at a rate of at least 2 g of salt per individual, chalk, sand, small gravel, which contribute to the digestion process.

The diet of geese must be composed taking into account the correct combination of proteins, fats, carbohydrates and fiber. You can feed the birds ready-made food.

For intensive growth and development of birds, vitamins such as A, E, B2 are necessary. They should be given at all periods of the life of geese, but young animals are most sensitive to a deficiency of biologically active substances.

Conditions of detention

How long geese can live on modern farms or private farms will also depend on the conditions under which the birds are kept. They are quite hardy and can adapt to almost any climate: heat or frost.

Nevertheless, you still need to adhere to certain rules when keeping waterfowl. It will be useful for you to learn how to determine the sex of a goose and goose, what and how to properly feed goslings at home, as well as how to properly pluck a goose at home.

The main requirements for keeping geese at home are:

spacious room. The minimum area per individual should be 1 square. m;
light. Birds should be provided with good lighting, since a lack of light can lead to decreased immunity and a drop in livestock productivity;
good ventilation. By their nature, geese evaporate a large amount of liquid, which leads to increased air humidity in the room. To prevent air from stagnating, it is necessary to organize a high-quality ventilation system;
dry litter. Despite the fact that birds, thanks to their good fat layer, tolerate cold well, their paws and beak remain sensitive to low temperatures.

In order to protect your limbs from frost in winter, you should install a clay or wooden floor in the room, always covered with bedding material: straw, sawdust, hay.

In winter, the optimal temperature in the poultry house is considered to be 0 degrees. If the walls and ceiling of the goose barn are insulated with mineral wool or other heat-insulating materials, then additional heating of the room will not be required.

It is strictly forbidden to keep geese:

In a cramped, dark and damp room, since there is a high probability that the birds will be exposed to various ailments, including colds;
In unsanitary conditions, dirt, as this can lead to bird diseases, decreased productivity, and weight loss;
Indoors without bedding, because in winter they can get frostbite on their paws and beak. In order for the birds to feel comfortable, it is recommended to regularly disinfect the goose coop, avoid large accumulations of dirt and heavy contamination of the bedding material, and avoid the formation of dampness and drafts.

Breed

How long a goose will live is directly influenced by its breed. There are breeds of long-lived birds for which the age of 20 years is not the limit.

Among them are the following:

Vladimir geese. On average, birds of the Vladimir breed can live from 25 to 30 years. Their good health and long life cycle are due to their strong body structure, special wide bones and excellent resistance to various external factors.
Javakheti. Representatives of this breed are able to perfectly adapt to various living conditions, including being able to live well in mountainous areas and hot regions. Adults have excellent immunity, capable of resisting various ailments, and easily tolerate the harmful effects of parasites and poor climatic conditions. Their life expectancy is the same as that of Vladimir.
Kholmogorsky. Kholmogory are characterized by a strong physique, a massive, muscular body, a beautiful straight back, good health and strong immunity. They are able to live on average 16–18 years.

The goal of poultry farmers

And, of course, the lifespan of domestic birds in most cases is limited by the goals of poultry farmers. The age of geese has a direct impact on their productive qualities, in particular egg production, reproduction, and meat properties.

Peak egg laying in geese occurs between two and three years of age. After this, egg performance decreases significantly, and keeping poultry becomes impractical.

Representatives of meat breeds are slaughtered immediately after they reach a certain weight or even earlier, in cases where a significant increase in weight has to wait a long time.

Important! In households and farmland, geese live as long as the owners need them. Average life expectancy is from 3 to 5 years.

Among all representatives of waterfowl, geese are the real long-livers. Some of the individuals are able to live 70–80 years. However, in 80% of cases, the life cycle of birds is determined by the main goals of poultry farmers and lasts no more than 3–5 years.

How to extend the life of geese?

The main factor thanks to which a goose can live so long is a nutritious diet. In addition to food, the goose menu every day should include:

2 grams of salt, as well as gravel, sand and chalk in small quantities - the digestive system of geese works in such a way that without these additives, food will be digested and absorbed poorly;
vitamins A, B2 and E.

How else can you extend the life of birds:

Birds are waterfowl, and accordingly, the basis of their diet should be what is easily obtained in the water. Therefore, geese that have free access to bodies of water can usually live much longer.
The lifespan of geese is influenced by convenient placement. Such large birds need significant areas, so the size of the goose coop must be calculated based on the fact that 1 square meter must be allocated for each goose.
The premises must be periodically disinfected. An important criterion for the longevity of geese is the basic rules of hygiene in the goose barn. Disinfection will prevent the penetration of infection.
Geese are not afraid of frost - in winter it is quite possible to keep the temperature in their barn at zero degrees, but not lower. It is advisable to make the floor from wood or clay, since these are quite warm materials and the geese’s paws do not freeze on them. Additional thermal protection will be a bedding of sawdust and dry hay.

Ornithologists study geese and can almost accurately determine the life expectancy of these birds in the wild and in the home. And if the life span of wild geese depends on various environmental factors, then in the case of domestic geese, what matters is mainly what they are intended for. The farmer himself decides how long this or that individual will live.

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Long-lived geese

The 25th anniversary is considered an unattainable anniversary for the vast majority of geese, but for many individuals that are not raised for slaughter, this age is theoretically accessible.

If you believe the Guinness Book of Records, which is considered the recognized authority in terms of fixing records, then the main long-liver among geese was the gander George.

At the time of this individual's death in 1976, its age was 49 years and 8 months - so it is not documented anywhere that such a bird lived more than 50 years.

Life in nature and on the farm

In the wild and in private farmsteads, the potential lifespan of geese depends on a number of factors.

In natural conditions

Wild birds are susceptible to disease; weak birds die during long flights to their wintering grounds; predators also contribute to the reduction in the number of birds. But even in such conditions, gray geese live up to 20-26 years (the average lifespan is 15 years), and white (polar) geese in the wild live up to 10-20 years. Banding helps ornithologists calculate their age. Wild ducks live almost as long as geese - their maximum lifespan is 20 years, the average is 12-14 years.

On the farm

On farms, the health of geese is carefully monitored, ideal living conditions are artificially created for them, and they are protected from external dangers (bad weather, predators). But despite this, the potential life expectancy is approximately the same as that of wild individuals - if the bird is raised not for meat and eggs, but as a pet, then it may well live up to 24 years or more. Much depends on the characteristics of the breed:

Vladimir have a strong skeleton, they retain mobility for a long time, are rarely injured, thanks to which they can live up to 25 years;
Javakheti - the breed was bred for grazing on high mountain pastures, geese have strong immunity, they live up to 25-30 years.

Other potential long-livers:

Kholmogorodskie;
Lindovskie;
Gorky;
Tula.

Life expectancy and direction of productivity

How many years domestic geese will live depends on the direction of productivity.

Meat and egg breeds

Meat and egg geese are kept for up to 5 years. By 3 years they reach maximum egg production, after 5 years of keeping the indicators drop seriously, it is not advisable to keep them any longer. Feed costs will be unjustified, the quality of meat decreases every year - it becomes more and more tough.

At home, the farmer monitors the performance of each individual and individually decides how many years the goose will live. Some breeds enter sexual maturity earlier and the body wears out faster, others begin to lay eggs later and the peak of productivity also shifts.

As for large farms where poultry farming is on stream, geese are kept for a maximum of 3 years, after which they are replaced by a new generation.

Meat breeds

Meat breeds have minimal egg production, so the main purpose of rearing is to produce meat. The highest growth rates occur before puberty. At this point, individuals gain approximately 3/4 of the weight inherent in the breed.

From the moment of puberty, growth rates fall and appetites increase, so those individuals that do not go to brood are slaughtered.

The farmer does not have to spend money on fattening, the weight of the carcass is already close to the maximum, the quality of the meat is at a high level (it is juicy, not yet tough and not very fatty). How long geese of meat breeds will live is decided by the farmer - as a rule, representatives of meat breeds are kept at home for no longer than a year.

Where to start breeding geese

First of all, you need to decide on your main goals. It could be:

rearing for meat;
fattening for healthy fat;
sale of liver;
getting fluff;
sale of eggs.

The “heavier” the breed, the faster the bird gains slaughter weight - for example, Kholmogory geese grow up to 4 kg in just 60-65 days

The breed is selected in accordance with the direction of interest. Most often, poultry is kept for meat. But here, too, everything is ambiguous. Depending on the type of productivity, taste qualities can vary greatly - some birds are quite fatty, others, on the contrary, are too “dry”. Some breeds gain optimal slaughter weight in 2-4 months, but there are also those that will have to be fattened for more than six months.

Taking into account the breed characteristics, it is necessary to take care of the conditions of keeping birds at all stages of development: from egg to slaughter. This must be done before purchasing the first livestock, and not later!

Temporary mobile or stationary shelters are made for young animals, they fence off a walking area, and think through approaches to the reservoir.

Next comes the purchase of feed. Their volume depends on the planned livestock, season, and stability of supplies.

Only when all the preparatory measures have been completed does the farmer acquire his first goslings. Usually this is the purchase of day-old or grown-up young animals. From this moment the troubles directly related to raising geese and their breeding begin.

Diet and conditions of detention

How long white domestic geese and other breeds live depends on the conditions of their detention. The potential lifespan of birds that have access to water is higher than those that are kept in a pen with a trough dug into the ground instead of a pond. This is explained by the fact that they belong to the category of waterfowl. For normal development, food is required that can be obtained in reservoirs - small crustaceans, snails, duckweed, etc. It is almost impossible to completely replace the “water diet” with ordinary food.

In order for a bird to have strong potential, it is necessary to include other foods in its diet:

cereals;
meadow grasses (summer), silage and hay (winter);
vegetables (cabbage leaves, carrots, potatoes, zucchini, pumpkin, etc.);
feed yeast;
meal and cake;
salt (minimum amount);
chalk, crushed shell, fish, blood and meat and bone meal;
skim milk, buttermilk, whey.

Proper living conditions contribute to increasing life expectancy. Based on each individual, at least 1 sq.m. is allocated.

The room is insulated - even in cold weather, the temperature inside should not fall below 0 °C. The floor is made of wood or clay and covered with straw, hay, peat, sawdust - this eliminates the risk of frostbite on the paws.

Maintaining high-quality air exchange becomes a prerequisite - ventilation is organized. The premises are regularly cleaned - contaminated bedding is replaced and equipment is washed.

Longevity Extension

Poultry depends on humans. Geese live a long time when their health and living conditions are in order. To do this you need:

Complete nutrition. Don't forget that geese are waterfowl. The diet is supplemented with appropriate food: duckweed and aquatic vegetation.
More movement. Farmers make spacious goosenecks, let them go to a pond, yard, meadow, and construct containers for swimming.
Temperature not lower than 0 °C.
Good lighting.
Ventilation, dryness.
Regular cleaning and disinfection of poultry houses and pens.

If you need a long-lived goose, they monitor heredity and genes. Even in good conditions, initially sick, weak individuals do not set records.

Wild geese are also helped to live longer and increase their numbers. Some species are protected by states.

Geese are long-lived. Although, as a rule, people give time to poultry. Often wild geese die early due to hunters or predators.

How many years do geese live on average?

In addition, the geese are provided with good lighting and ventilation. Lack of light leads to decreased immunity and death of livestock, and insufficient ventilation leads to increased pressure in the premises and wet bedding.

The floor in the goose coop is made of clay or wood and bedding is laid (hay, sawdust, straw act as bedding material), otherwise the limbs and beaks of the birds will freeze in the cold season.

The walls and ceiling of the poultry house are insulated with mineral wool or other materials with thermal insulation properties, which avoids the need for heating in winter.

For your information. The optimal temperature in the goose barn in winter is considered to be 0 °C.

In order for the geese to feel comfortable in the room, it is cleaned and disinfected in order to prevent clutter and failure of the material used for bedding.

Attention! Keeping livestock in unsuitable, dark and damp rooms, as well as in unsanitary conditions, is strictly prohibited: this leads to a deterioration in the immunity of the birds, a drop in their productivity, a sharp decrease in weight, and frostbite on the beak and limbs during the winter season.

Breed

The breed also influences how many years a goose will please its owner. Long-lived birds include Vladimir, Javakheti and Kholmogory geese.

Representatives of the Vladimir breed have strong bones and resistance to adverse external influences. These birds live on average 25-30 years.

Representatives of the Kholmogory breed have a strong build, a powerful body covered with developed muscles, a flat back, good health and strong immunity. These birds live somewhat shorter - about 16-18 years.

When do geese start laying eggs at home?

The first eggs are obtained from females in farmsteads at the age of 8-9 months. They continue to lay eggs for up to six years. Once they reach this age, it becomes unprofitable to leave them.

Puberty

Sexual maturity in geese is determined by the age at which females begin laying eggs. In birds of early maturing breeds it occurs at 240 days of age, in birds of medium maturing breeds - at 270 days, in late maturing breeds - at 31 days.

Ganders become sexually mature at 35 weeks of age.

Egg production

From one goose you can get from 30 to 150 eggs per year.

Moreover, the quantity is directly dependent on:

age;
breeds;
season;
diet and food offered;
conditions of detention.

In free-ranging birds, egg production is usually reduced.

In free-ranging birds, egg production is usually reduced

Increased egg production is facilitated by:

increasing the length of daylight hours (installation of special lighting equipment);
maintaining optimal temperature in the poultry house (arrangement of a heating system or high-quality insulation of the goose house);
quality food;
keep in a dry, clean room.

For your information. One egg laying cycle is observed throughout the year. After which the goose begins to hatch the chicks. However, by preventing females from nesting, repeated oviposition can be achieved.

Birth of offspring

Full puberty in a goose occurs at the age of 9 to 10 months . Egg production in most cases occurs in winter or spring. In this case, the male and female live as a pair throughout their lives. This process of monogamy occurs due to the special conditions for raising chicks. At this time, the male flies little and guards the goose, which hatches the eggs. If the female dies for some reason, the male is able to raise the chicks on his own.

There have been cases when a goose guarded a female killed during a hunt for several days and did not allow predators, foxes, skuas and arctic foxes, to approach the corpse. If the goose is only wounded, then when there are hunters nearby, he makes goose flights over her and gives calling calls, and also sometimes descends to her.

Do geese lay eggs in winter?

In backyard conditions, females begin laying eggs as early as February. They rush at night or in the morning.

Farmers collect the masonry while it is still warm. This allows you to avoid cracking (freezing) of the eggs, as well as the goose’s refusal to wear it later.

The eggs are placed in a dry, dark room with a temperature of +5...+12 °C and subsequently used for incubation of goslings (this must be done within ten days). Lay them in a horizontal position.

Refusal to lay eggs in winter may be due to:

insufficient lighting of the room;
short daylight hours;
low room temperature;
unbalanced or insufficient nutrition;
vitamin deficiency.

The bird, ready to lay eggs, begins to worry and mark time. Geese hang around the nest, preparing it for the emergence of chicks - they bring straw, pluck feathers and cover the bottom with them.

A little about the goose breed

As many can probably guess, geese are the closest relatives of ducks. But more than that, they are both birds and animals. They are connected with the animal world by royal classification, while with the avian world they are connected by class.

The most common colors of geese are white and gray.

Almost the whole world can be called a habitat for geese. These birds even managed to conquer mountain peaks. The only exception for them is the regions of the far north. But unlike their closest relatives (ducks), geese enjoy spending time on land. It is important for them to have a body of water nearby, but they rarely go into the water.

European countries and the eastern regions of Russia are characterized by wild gray geese living on the shores of lakes and ponds. They can be caught and domesticated. After this, they will become real masters in your poultry (and not only poultry) yard.

Wild geese, unlike ducks, do not like to swim too much, but they settle near bodies of water

Here are some more interesting facts about geese:

A distinctive feature of geese is the ease with which they establish their own rules of “life” among other animals and birds on farms. They completely calmly experience the change from “wild” life to home life.
It has also been proven that geese have developed intelligence. Scientists have discovered that even the familiar “ga-ga” made by birds can be pronounced by them with different intonation and frequency, which makes it a full-fledged language for communication.
Geese are wonderful parents. The special structure of crow's feet (the presence of membranes) helps them move faster through the water, while leading a group of young animals. Each baby, after returning to shore, is carefully examined by the parent. Geese clearly control the size of their “family,” and if one of the chicks disappears, the mother will make such a noise that it will rouse the entire yard. By the way, baby geese are called goslings.
Geese are considered migratory birds. Many are accustomed to the fact that domestic geese do not disappear anywhere with the arrival of winter cold. However, there is a wild version of these birds. So she just wanders all over the world. You can find birds everywhere, from Africa to the Himalayas. Wild geese prefer to gain an altitude of approximately 4-5 km when flying. The birds rush to a new place, lining up in a wedge. Sometimes you can see them flying in a chaotic manner. On vacation, geese gather in numerous flocks.
In summer, you almost never see a wild goose flying. This is explained by the fact that summer is the working time for these birds. The cases have accumulated for a whole year. This involves breeding and training the chicks, and setting up their temporary homes, and they physically cannot fly. The thing is that an active and long flight leads to wear and tear of the flight feathers. And without them, this proud bird (or any other) simply will not fly. So we have to grow new ones before the next flight home.
Domestic geese cannot fly long distances. It's no secret that the lives of domestic geese are not as full as those of their wild brothers. So their flying skills also became “domesticated” over time. A domestic goose cannot fly further than 3-4 meters, while rising into the air only half a meter.

Geese are very caring parents

Lifespan of geese

The domesticated variety of these birds has a different lifespan from the wild variety.

Domestic breeds

The average weight that these birds reach in their lifetime ranges from 7-9 kg. There are, of course, larger breeds that can weigh up to 10-13 kg. Remember that geese are not chickens, they cannot live in cages or enclosures, they need space to walk and a good clean pond nearby.

If all maintenance conditions are met, geese will live with you for 20-25 years. Representatives of the Vladimir clay rock will last up to 28-32 years (the same as the Javakheti rock).

These are average indicators that may differ from reality. Geese are extremely dependent on human care and diet, so create appropriate living conditions for them.

Tula fighting geese