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Behaviour: Goose Production Systems 11

The document summarizes key behaviors and attributes of geese: 1) Geese are highly intelligent birds with good memories that make them effective watch animals. 2) They have strong flocking instincts and will return home in the evening even after ranging long distances, allowing them to forage widely. 3) Geese are adaptable to a wide range of environmental conditions from hot to cold climates as long as goslings are protected from cold initially.

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33 views2 pages

Behaviour: Goose Production Systems 11

The document summarizes key behaviors and attributes of geese: 1) Geese are highly intelligent birds with good memories that make them effective watch animals. 2) They have strong flocking instincts and will return home in the evening even after ranging long distances, allowing them to forage widely. 3) Geese are adaptable to a wide range of environmental conditions from hot to cold climates as long as goslings are protected from cold initially.

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diagnoz7auto7carsvan
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We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Goose production systems 11

Chapter 2
Behaviour

The early domestication of the goose was probably as much due to its behaviour as to the products that
could be obtained from it. The goose is one of the most intelligent birds. It has a good memory and does not
forget people, animals or situations easily which is what makes it such a good watch animal against intruders
whether human or animal.

Geese do not normally exhibit pecking or cannibalism and usually live harmoniously among
themselves and with other creatures. They have very strong flocking instincts and can easily be herded from one
area to another. It is because of the combination of their memory and flocking instincts that geese will return
home as a flock of their own accord in the evening, even after being permitted to range over distances of 5 km
or more. This allows the birds to make long trips every day, if necessary, to find their food.

Furthermore, geese are not very demanding with regard to their environmental conditions. The area in
which they can be bred is very large, ranging from hot (Africa) to cold (Scandinavia) countries. The most
important precaution is that the young goslings are protected from the cold during the first weeks of their life.

The goose, of all poultry species, is a bird used for multipurpose production. Raising geese provides an
opportunity to produce meat at a low cost in unfavourable areas while fatty liver production requires
considerable input but leads to a very high value product for an affluent market.

FIGURE 9. A flock of geese on the move (Poland) (Source: Wezyk, 1995)


12 Behaviour

In the wild, the bond between a breeding pair of geese is very strong and carries over from year to year.
A similar but weaker bond exists with domestic geese in small mating groups of one gander and four to six
geese. In flocks larger than twenty this bond does not exist as both geese and ganders are promiscuous.

By nature, geese are independent and intelligent creatures. If you recognise and work with their unique
attributes, you will find that geese can be one of the easiest and most enjoyable birds to work with.

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