[funkyfish]

I'd like to have some geese, for xmas for us and poss to sell. Have no idea if anywhere local to us (East Devon) would do them? Has anyone sent just a few off to be done?


Are they any good as guards for chickens? Had all 9 ducks and 10 growers taken/killed over the weekend- electric now sorted (wasn't working), was just thinking for back up.

[hughesy]

We've got a dozen large Embden geese here. They seem to be able to look after themselves and are very alert to intruders. They don't give a monkeys about chickens though they just see them as an opportunity to pinch some layers pellets if they can. I certainly wouldn't think of them as any kind of protection for chickens.

[Harebell]

I think Otter Valley Poultry do the odd day of private poultry slaughter http://www.ottervalleypoultry.co.uk/ they are near Honiton.

I spent a long time looking for a place to get some turkeys and geese done last year but not many professional places (i.e. so you can legally sell on the birds to the public) will do private poultry slaughter and it seems to cost about £10-15 per bird (turkey or goose - oven ready). 

Foxes sometimes take adult geese and geese do tend to bully chickens, so they are not the best guards for chickens!

[funkyfish]

Thanks guys! We are now going to put all birds in runs so may have geese to keep the grass down.