The Accidental Smallholder Forum

Livestock => Poultry & Waterfowl => Topic started by: Wildman on January 20, 2009, 09:26:43 pm

Title: geese
Post by: Wildman on January 20, 2009, 09:26:43 pm
We have one F/Male white and one Grey Male that do mate, can the cross breed. Last year he did not mate right , she had 18 eggs but went well over time so we took them from her. He seems to be doing the job this year and she has made her nest and had one egg today.
Title: Re: geese
Post by: Rosemary on January 20, 2009, 09:52:26 pm
Congratulations!
Title: Re: geese
Post by: Wildman on January 20, 2009, 10:03:39 pm
thank you, can they breed. she did sit on 18 last year to no good
Title: Re: geese
Post by: Rosemary on January 20, 2009, 10:18:11 pm
No idea but it sounds like they're having fun trying!

I suppose they are different species even if closely related (it's 20 blah years since I did biology and haven't really though about it in the interim) but horses and zebras can mate and horses and donkeys, because the courtship behaviour is similar enough for each species to understand the other, but the offspring are infertile. But that doesn't help at all really - I think what I'm suggesting is that they should be able to successfully mate but the offspring may be unviable.

Sorry!
Title: Re: geese
Post by: Hilarysmum on January 21, 2009, 08:30:55 am
My friend has toulouse geese and ebdens.  They mate, sometimes they have offspring with black and white feathering.  So far as I know they are still capable of reproducing.  On giving it some thought, it must be possible otherwise it would not be possible to produce new breeds (I think ???)
Title: Re: geese
Post by: pattimontreal on January 22, 2009, 04:30:39 pm
Hello!  I raised Toulouse geese for many years and always collected the first few weeks of eggs. She won't set them until she has a big enough clutch.  I would take the eggs for about two weeks - they're delicious. That way if she has some "bad" ones (non-living, not rotten) they won't interfere with a good healthy clutch.  Especially if your geese are young (under 3 years).  Geese breed with geese.  Don't expect any geese/duck crosses but geese/geese should be viable regardless of breed.