Black geese breed: description and characteristics, pros and cons and breeding

Black geese belong to a breed of wild birds called goose. A rare species of anseriformes in natural conditions lives in cold latitudes in Siberia, Yakutia, and the coastal zone of the Arctic Ocean. Hunting and food shortages endangered the existence of the population. Artificial breeding of black geese, able to adapt to life in the poultry yard, partly contributes to the solution of the problem of the extinction of the species.

Description and characteristics of the black breed

Black geese represent the duck family and are smaller than the usual domestic geese.Outwardly, the birds are similar to ducks, but differ in identical external signs among males and females, an elongated neck and habits characteristic of geese. The head, beak and neck of the birds are black. The main plumage of the body is black or dark gray, turning into dark brown, light brown or gray shades on the wings and peritoneum, and white in the undertail region.

A characteristic feature is a narrow strip of white feathers located around the upper part of the neck. Short legs are distinguished by a dark color to match the dominant color of the plumage.

Black goose are small birds, in comparison with breeds of domestic geese they are considered miniature. The average weight is 2 kilograms with a body length of 60 centimeters and a wingspan of 1.2 meters. Goose are distinguished by a peculiar gaggle, different from the sounds made by their relatives.

Pros and cons

The breed has advantages and disadvantages to consider when breeding birds.

Pros and consendurance;adaptation to cold climates;favor towards other birds (geese, ducks, swans);unpretentiousness in nutrition.freedom-loving character;the need for constant access to water.

Acclimatized in cold latitudes, black geese are wayward birds prone to migration and frequent habitat changes. To breed geese on a farm, it is necessary to provide birds with favorable conditions, equip places for swimming and grazing.

Features of maintenance, feeding and care

Black geese adapt to farm conditions and easily get along with domestic waterfowl. One of the main conditions of keeping is the presence of a reservoir where the geese spend a lot of time. Birds also mate on the water.

The resistance of geese to cold allows you to keep them in an aviary with a canopy for almost the entire season. In order to provide livestock with constant access to water, a swimming place is usually equipped on the territory of the paddock. A grazing area with a low grassy carpet is also needed. The basis of the diet is plant foods. In addition, goose eat water crustaceans, small fish.

At home, the menu includes:

• fresh greens;
• grain;
• algae;
• vegetables.

Young growth is fattened with boiled eggs, fresh grass is given, germinated grain is offered. For feeding black geese, a universal compound feed mixture for poultry is suitable, in addition they give pellets intended for waterfowl birds.

For the prevention of hypovitaminosis, vitamin-mineral complexes are added to the feed.

Bird breeding and possible diseases

The mating season for black geese begins in June. The formed couple becomes inseparable. The male attracts the female with characteristic movements and becomes aggressive towards other males. At the time of breeding, the couple is moved to a separate enclosure. A wicker or wooden nest is placed in a secluded place. The female insulates it with her own fluff and lays, on average, 4-5 eggs, in rare cases, the clutch has up to 8 eggs. Incubation of offspring takes from 24 to 26 days. The incubation breeding method is also used.

Goslings from the first hours of life are independent, mobile and need regular feeding every 2 hours. In nature, chicks stay with their parents until they reach sexual maturity, which occurs at 2-3 years old.

Black goose are distinguished by their endurance and good he alth, but violation of the maintenance requirements, an unbalanced diet and contact with infected birds can cause the development of infectious, somatic, parasitic diseases.

Possible diseases of geese:

• salmonellosis;
• coccidiosis;
• colibacillosis;
• pasteurellosis;
• aspergillosis;
• stomatitis;
• worm infestations;
• arachnoentomosis.

To prevent infections in the poultry yard, it is necessary to clean the territory in a timely manner, process feeders, drinkers, and clean artificial reservoirs. From a number of infections, vaccination of geese is provided. You should regularly inspect the livestock, isolate sick individuals.

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