Chinese geese: photo and description of the breed

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

One of the types of domestic birds are Chinese geese. This breed was first domesticated in Manchuria. This is a small province in northeast China, which is how the geese get their name. In Europe, Chinese geese began to be bred in the eighteenth century.

Features

The Chinese goose is an unusual breed. Despite its small size, the bird is very popular with farmers for its high egg production and excellent productivity. The breed is often used in breeding, crossing to increase the productivity of other breeds. Chinese geese are often crossed with Kuban, Gorky, Kholmogory and some other species. Selection allows improving the characteristics of the latest breeds, increasing productivity.

Features

Chinese geese are of two types - gray and white. The former are often called brown, as this is a more accurate definition.

For a bird of this breed is typical:

• medium body, slightly raised in front, egg-shaped;
• neck is long, with a pronounced bend;
• chestrounded, smoothly passing into the body;
• belly does not hang like some other breeds;
• head is long, forehead is wide;
• tail is short, pulled up to the top;
• legs wide apart, medium length;
• beak is medium, with a growth in the form of a bump, which is orange in white birds and black in gray birds;
• the back is wide, with a convex upper part, a sharp transition to the tail;
• eyes are dark, bulging;
• wings have a wide span, lowered, fit well to the body;
• plumage is dense.

The photo of Chinese geese shows that the bird has a small body weight - ganders weigh an average of six kilograms, and geese - no more than five.

Farmers choose the Chinese breed because of its qualities. The bird is characterized by unpretentious care, endurance. She is not demanding on the composition of the diet.

Bird color

In gray Chinese geese, most of the body is covered with brown and gray feathers, sometimes there are individuals interspersed with white feathers.

The wings and lower leg of both species are painted in milky color. In gray representatives, the sternum is white-brown. A dark stripe runs from the beak, through the head and neck, to the body.

Bird temper

Geese are mobile, energetic birds. Representatives of the breed often show aggression.

Geese are considered centenarians - life expectancy is 25 years. The oldest specimen was 49 years old.

The Chinese breed is kept separately from other birds, breeds of geese. This is because they are aggressive.during the laying period.

Productivity

Chinese geese are described as being highly productive. They are characterized by high egg production. So, one goose lays about 50 eggs per year. The maximum egg production rate for geese is 120 eggs per year.

Geese start laying eggs at the age of nine months. The duration of this period is 180 days. The weight of one egg is 150 grams.

The hatchability of geese was highly appreciated. According to statistics, it reaches 85%, which is a very good indicator. The young of the breed is rapidly gaining weight. Already by two months of life, geese weigh about 3.5 kilograms, the bird grows completely by 9 months. At this time, they gain the weight of adults.

Contents

Keeping geese is not difficult, and even a novice poultry breeder can handle this task. But even this does not mean that the bird does not need to create optimal conditions.

1. Geese are kept in a dry, warm place.
2. The bird is afraid of drafts.
3. The house must have a good ventilation system.
4. Gese provide constant access to water, feed.

Geese feed on grass growing on lawns. Because of this feature, they are provided with walking throughout the daylight hours. If it is too cold outside, then the bird should not be walked. Birds quickly get frostbite on their paws, which can result in the death of individuals.

In cold weather, improve the diet. Various mixtures of root crops, bone or fish meal, mineral, vitaminadditives, s alt, chalk, grain mixtures. In winter, geese are fed twice a day, following the schedule. Moreover, in the morning, a smaller portion is given than in the evening.

Poultry

In the cold season, the bird is kept in a poultry house. It must be at least two meters high. The area is calculated by the number of individuals at the rate of two square meters per bird.

It is recommended to install a thermometer to monitor the temperature. Geese feel best at a temperature of +16 degrees. In such conditions, the birds' appetite increases and they begin to actively gain weight.

Humidity is kept at 70% in the house. Removal of excess moisture is carried out by the ventilation system. It also provides fresh air. The best option is the installation of a supply and exhaust system.

In order for the geese to consistently produce eggs, there must be natural and artificial lighting in the house. Birds are provided with at least 14 hours of daylight.

Geese are raised by the floor method. Because of this feature, straw, hay, and sawdust are laid in the barn. Periodically, the bedding is changed, adding fresh ingredients.

Features of breeding

White and brown Chinese geese are characterized by high fecundity. Already after nine months, they begin to lay eggs, performing the function of a producer. When breeding geese of this breed, the following positive qualities are taken into account:

• High fertility - about 90%.
• Whenbreeding takes into account the fact that geese do not differ in their desire to hatch offspring. Because of this feature, goslings are hatched in incubators.

Chinese geese are crossed with other breeds of larger weight to increase their live weight. It can be geese of the Kholmogory or Toulouse breed. As a result of the selection done, you can get more tender meat and a moderate amount of fat. The resulting crosses, crossbreeds are in great demand, which is growing every year.

Walking

For proper development, the bird needs walking. For this purpose, they equip a fence, equip a place where the bird will graze. The walking area must have access to water. The hole in which the bird will go to the poultry yard from the poultry house is made either from the southeast or from the south.

The walking area is fenced with a net with a height of at least 1.3 meters. A canopy must be mounted so that the bird can hide from the sun and rain. A place for feeding birds will also be equipped here.

Chinese geese can walk on pastures until frost. With this type of content, they have a large mass of fat by winter, and the poultry farmer saves feed. You can save even more if the bird swims in a pond, where it finds a lot of he althy and tasty food for its food. Swimming has a positive effect on the he alth and development of the bird.

Drinkers, feeders

In the house and on the walker, two feeders are installed. One is intended for food, and the second - for river sand, gravel, shell rock. Feeders can be made from plywood, wood, plastic and other materials.

Be sure to ensure constant access to clean and fresh water. It is poured into drinkers. In winter, the drinker is heated so that the water does not freeze.

In the poultry house, nests are necessarily installed where goose eggs will be laid. They are made at the rate of 1 nest for three individuals.

Feeding rules

The bird of the Chinese breed is not demanding on the diet. In the summer, geese can find food for themselves while walking. They do not refuse to eat fresh plantain, clover, yarrow, dandelion and other plants. In ponds, they look for reeds, rods and more.

Additionally, the geese are fed in the evenings. In winter, the bird is fed twice a day at exactly the same time. This is an important time for the birds to return to the house at a certain time.