Italian geese: description of the species, features of care, reproduction, characteristic features, rules of keeping and profitability

2024 Author: Howard Calhoun | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-17 10:16

Geese breeding is a great way to earn money for a farmer. They are unpretentious in care, quickly gain weight and are in demand among the population. White Italian geese will not only bring a good income, but also decorate the courtyard with their appearance. Birds adapt well to different conditions of detention, they can be bred in any climatic zone. Italian geese are a godsend for the enterprising farmer.

Historical background

Italian geese breeding was started in the 19th century. Farmers crossed local native birds with individuals brought from China. The introduction of new blood gave impetus to the development of the breed. From Italy, a new goose species quickly spread throughout Europe.

In the Soviet Union, the breed appeared only in 1975. The first Italian geese were brought from Czechoslovakia. The breed quickly gained popularity among Soviet citizens not spoiled by a productive bird. livestockItalian geese grew rapidly, by 1980 there were about 35 thousand individuals. The bird, bred in a warm country, quickly adapted to the climate of the Soviet Union, which ensured its high popularity.

Features of the breed

Geese breeding business can build even a small farm. Buying chicks or hatching eggs will not require large investments. But at this stage it is important to choose an unpretentious and productive breed. For a novice farmer, Italian geese are ideal. Snow-white birds are very beautiful, they have an active and independent character. Description of the Italian goose breed:

• body compact, proportional;
• medium size head, neat;
• beak is bright, red-orange;
• neck strong, medium size;
• chest deep and wide;
• legs are strong, powerful;
• tail developed, well fitting to the body;
• high set wings;
• white plumage, hard, dense.

The average weight of adult birds is 5-7 kg. Sometimes geese have gray feathers in small quantities - this is a drawback. Such individuals are undesirable for breeding.

The "Italians" are friendly to people, they make good contact. To another bird, ganders are very aggressive, especially when it comes to protecting girlfriends and offspring. They will not let strangers near their family, and often they themselves become provocateurs of conflicts. On the run, Italian geese try to stay away from other birds.

Goose coop device

If the farmer already has a poultry house, that's great. But if there is no goose house, then you can build it yourself. First you need to create a project based on the number of intended birds. But it is better to take into account the planned livestock with a margin: sales will increase, young goslings will grow up, new breeds will be purchased.

A barn can be built from a variety of materials, but cinder block is the most popular. It is produced in any region, it will be easy to buy it. Cinder block construction is proceeding quickly, so the goose house can be erected in a couple of months. If the farmer lives in a cold area, then the barn will need to be insulated.

To keep 20 geese, you will need to build a room with an area of 20 square meters. The height of the ceilings should be as in the house, at least 2 meters. In such a goose house it will be easier to take care of the bird, and the air in it will circulate much better. The roof can be made gable, it is convenient to clean off the snow from it in winter.

The goose house should have both artificial and natural lighting. A sufficient number of windows will save electricity. Access to sunlight favorably affects the geese, especially during the breeding season. It is advisable to equip the canopy in the room, they will prevent the passage of cold air in the winter season.

Goose care

In the summer, the bird must be provided with sufficient walking. From the description of Italian geese, it follows that they simply need green mass. On the run, the bird will be able to eat as much grass as it wants. Eating green mass benefits goose he alth, and the farmer saves on feed at this time. In summer, a variety of plants can make up to 80% of the bird's diet.

You can feed geese with industrial compound feed. This is very convenient for the farmer, because everything is already balanced in the finished diet, and nothing extra needs to be added. If for some reason the owner does not want to feed the geese with compound feed, then he needs to buy a grain crusher in advance. With the help of the mechanism, the farmer will be able to grind oats, barley, grass, vegetables.

For the preparation of homemade feed, chalk, s alt and vitamin supplements are added to the grain. A shell rock is placed in a separate bowl, which improves digestion in a bird. If the farmer keeps cows, then the geese can be fed whey for better growth. The bird will not refuse vegetables: potatoes, zucchini, pumpkin.

Features of winter maintenance

Many have seen photos of Italian breed geese walking in the snow in winter. Some farmers harden their birds and take them out for a walk even in frost. But you need to prepare geese for the winter cold gradually, so initially the stay in the open air should not be long. The Italian bird is unpretentious and hardy, so it easily adapts to frost.

The room where geese are kept in winter does not need additional heating. But a draft in the barn should not be allowed, the bird can get sick. Usually, in early autumn, farmers inspect the winter shelter and close up holes in it.

In the cold season, geese are kept on a deep bed of sawdust, peat or straw. It is laid and not changed until spring, only a clean layer is poured if necessary. Decomposition processes soon begin to occur in the depth of the litter, and a large amount of heat is released, so the geese do not freeze. If the room is built soundly, then inside there will always be a positive temperature, even if severe frosts begin outside.

Breeding

Italian geese are mainly bred by incubation. This is due to the fact that females are reluctant to sit on eggs. Their maternal instinct is poorly developed, so it is easier for a farmer to use an incubator. You can lay eggs on other breeds of geese, and they will successfully raise Italian chicks. But sometimes there are exceptions, but it is possible to check the maternal instinct in a particular bird only empirically. The first eggs of the female begin to bear from 9-10 months. The reproductive age of a bird with good care can last up to 8-10 years.

Italian geese have good he alth, they usually have a high fertility, regardless of the time of year. With proper transport of hatching eggs, the farmer can count on good hatchability. Especially increases the chances of a large number of chicks using units with an automatic overturning mechanism.

Growing goslings

Chicks hatched by a mother hen practically do not need human help. Already from the 3rd day, the mother begins to bring offspring to the pasture. She makes sure thatgoslings ate well and protects them from any danger. But the farmer should pay special attention to weak chicks. In some cases, it is better to isolate such goslings and provide them with enhanced care. If the chicks are well fed and given all the necessary vitamins, then soon they will catch up in the development of their he althier counterparts.

You need to grow goslings from an incubator in a different way. The chicks hatch from the eggs on day 28 on their own, but some of them may require human assistance. In this case, the farmer can carefully remove part of the shell, thereby freeing the little gosling. At first, the chicks live in a brooder - a special place where it is dry, warm and light. After the birth, the goslings are placed under the lamps.

After the chicks dry a little, they are fed. You can offer them some chopped boiled eggs, but it is better to give the goslings industrial compound feed for the smallest ones. Drinkers should always be filled with water. In the early days, a small amount of manganese can be added to them for disinfection. Weaker goslings are separated from strong brothers, as the first ones need special care and enhanced nutrition.

Productivity

Italian geese are a great choice for a farmer. They have very tasty meat, they quickly gain weight and carry large eggs. In addition, the bird is very beautiful, which cannot but please the owner.

Productive characteristics of Italian geese:

1. Females lay 45 to 55 eggs per season. They have excellent taste and weigh about160 g. From the geese of this breed it is often possible to achieve a second autumn egg-laying.
2. Adult Italian birds can weigh up to 8 kg. Their meat tastes great.
3. Italian goose liver is used to make foie gras. With some fattening systems, organ weight can reach up to 500-600 g.

High fertility allows the farmer to run a hatching egg business. They are in special demand in the spring, when the population begins to breed goslings for the summer.

Veterinarian advice

In the photo, Italian geese are very beautiful, which increases the demand for this type of bird. When buying young animals, the farmer needs to quarantine them. This must be done, even if the bird has a veterinary certificate. After quarantine, the farmer needs to invite a doctor to examine the Italian geese. If all is well, he will allow the bird to be released to the main flock.