Features of Toulouse geese
One of the most popular poultry in the world is the goose, a representative of the duck family. Today, there are many goose species, many of which are bred specifically for growing on the farm. The article talks about such a breed as the Toulouse geese.
Breeders from sunny Toulouse, 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 finally obtained.
Bred in France in the XVIII century, the Toulouse breed of geese gradually gained popularity throughout Europe, and then beyond. Today, 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 heritage of wild relatives), which darkens as the bird grows older. The neck, back and wings are darker in color than the rest of the body, but the stomach is usually white. Sometimes you can find a different color in the bird - brown. Toulouse - large, representative birds with a massive body and legs, a large head, a thick neck. Beak is wide, flat, orange. The weight of an adult Toulouse goose can reach up to 11 kg, geese - about 7 kg.
One important sign is the presence or absence of a special fold on the belly of a goose, 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 awkward as the overweight “wallet” owners. 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;
- a large amount of high-quality meat, fat, large, delicious liver and valuable fluff.
As you can see, the Toulouse geese are ideal for breeding for slaughter, so 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 tolerance of cold;
- passivity and, as a result, friability of muscles;
- poorly developed brooding instinct in females.
Caring for imposing, obese Toulouse people requires effort and effort, but the labor and financial expenses paid off justify a rich goose harvest. How to properly maintain the breed, read below.
Basic care requirements
If you decide to breed Toulouse, be prepared for conscientious work: in order to get healthy offspring and quality goose, you need to carefully follow the advice of professionals. Demanding on life, these birds need certain conditions.
- Warm room for housing. The temperature should be at least 20 ° C. Drafts should not be allowed, but the house should be regularly ventilated. Any change in weather conditions causes the goose to feel uncomfortable.
- Fans of comfort, geese need a dry litter made of a material that absorbs moisture well. It is best if it is sphagnum peat: sawdust or straw is also suitable. In winter, additional bedding is included.
- Regular wet housekeeping is advisable every day. The increased level of humidity is unfavorable for the bird.
- The presence of a clean feeder and drinking bowl, which should always be filled. Intensive weight gain is achieved by abundant and regular nutrition, while at night the amount of food consumed is higher than during the day. Diet Toulouse without fail includes grain, wheat, corn, animal feed and grass. It is important to ensure that pets receive all the necessary minerals with food.
- The house should be equipped with a sand trough so that geese can take baths and thus clean their plumage from dirt and skin parasites.
- Near the caterpillar equip a platform or a corral for walking the flocks, 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 the birds with the expectation of 3 geese and 2 gander on 2 square meters. If you are interested in the Toulouse geese, you can see incredibly attractive handsome men in the photo.
Breeding Toulouse geese
A separate discussion requires the issue of offspring. When equipping a house, the fact that each section should be equipped with 2-3 nests should be considered. As mentioned above, the goose of this breed is not a very responsible brood hen, so the owner will have to lay eggs under a 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.
When the goslings turn five days old, they can be allowed to walk if the weather is warm. It is important to carefully monitor that the chicks receive proper feeding 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. By choosing this bird, you will not be mistaken and will be rewarded with a good profit, because the Toulouse geese are highly productive and cost-effective.