Geese - Why Keep Them?

What I am going to write about here is why we keep them.

The Geese we keep are for the freezer ie Meat birds - The meat to me is like beef (dark and similar texture). We love this bird for a Roast and you haven't had Roast Potatoes quite like the ones basted in Goose fat, absolutely gorgeous.

They are a fairly simple bird to keep, they forage for most of their food (grass is their main feed) , bar a small amount of grain (you can fatten them in the last couple of weeks on maize meal or/and barely meal) means that they are cheap to rear. Rarely have i heard of a sick goose. They don't need much attention as they prefer their own company (always keep more than one bird - geese need to be in a gaggle, they won't be happy on their own).

They fit easily into the rotation on Greenacre and keep the grass well clipped. Although they eat around my mint & won't touch it.

They are a fairly fierce bird (my grandmothers were known the length and breadth of the countryside - people would go the high road just to avoid the house!!, although I am was too young to remember, many a neighbour has told me...) We fence our birds not just to protect them from foxes but also to protect our small kids from them.

It makes sense for a smallholder to rear geese for the table - An economical, easy, tasty addition to the freezer!!!

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