A unit of Lasting Forests
Sustained forests; sustained profits
evolving since March 30, 1999

Project Pivotal-Rig
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Enterprise 53

The Pivotal Geese Flock

 

The Flock of domestic geese (Anser anser domesticus) is a managed system. It

  1. Sells geese
  2. Sells Christmas specialties and geese
  3. Sells down and down-related products
  4. Provides "weeders" for garden weeding service
  5. Sells eggs
  6. Sells blown eggs (foam-filled) for novelty basket sent to loosers, the " big goose-egg"
  7. Sells goslings at Easter
  8. Selling books, cards, photographs
  9. Selling composite soil-hay-waste (Novosoils)
  10. Membership and website
  11. Research grants (feeds, behavior, training as weeders, pest protection, alarm animals, sentinel animals for diseases such as West Nile Virus)
  12. Conducts tours and shortcourses

The domestic breeds of geese are not capable of flight, but they can sometimes clear a 4-5 foot fence, especially if it's downhill. Domestic geese need shelter from the worst weather and wind. (They are covered with goose down.) A series of 2-bale-high "U" of hay bales covered with plywood, openings towards the south, may suffice.

Goose eggs take 30 days to hatch. The goslings are raised like ducklings.

All forms of domestic geese can be noisy, some breeds more noisy than others.The two breeds that are clearly the noisiest are the Chinas and Egyptians. The female Egyptian will often call almost non-stop during the breeding season. Chinas of both sexes are quite talkative normally and can be downright noisy during the breeding season. The medium and larger breeds of geese tend to be somewhat more quiet but all breeds will be louder during the breeding season. the African has a wonderful melodic call but that "honk" can often be heard for quite a distance. Solid fences are needed to deflect the noise upward. Otherwise they need to be kept at a distance since the noise can bother some people.

Optimum selection will be made from among:
  • American Buff
  • African
  • Bavent
  • Chinese
  • Embden
  • Normandy
  • Norwegian White
  • Pilgrim
  • Pomeranian
  • Roman
  • Scania
  • Sebastopol
  • Smålens
    (Norwegian Spotted)
  • Swedish Island
  • Toulouse

"Franchises" are developed, small goose flocks in select areas managed by separate members of the enterprise. The System provides the birds, housing, fence, insurance, veterinary services and System Central provides marketing etc. Like the goats, the birds become attached or imprinted to their handlers and those conditions. Very special care is given to selecting such caretakers, and it is made a local honor with a ceremony and newspaper announcements.

Interest in pigeons (squab), quail, and pheasants will be studied as the potentials for other poultry raising are explored.

Books are available and breeders show interest in sharing knowledge and experiences.

Estimates

Development costs are $20,000 for structures, software, and stock. It is likely to be developed in connection with The Covey.

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This Web site is maintained by R. H. Giles, Jr.
Last revision June26, 2002.