Toulouse goose
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The Toulouse goose is a breed of domesticated goose derived from the Greylag Goose Anser anser.
As the name suggests, it originates from the area around Toulouse in southwest France. It is a large bird, with a weight of up to 9 kg.[1] The original grey coloured breed is a very old one and the name has been recorded back as far as 1555. The breed was first brought to the United Kingdom by Lord Derby in 1840, who imported some of them to England, and from then onwards the French Toulouse were used as breeding stock with the consequence that by 1894, English breeders had produced a massive bird. The 'Toulouse' in France, although kept in greater numbers, have never quite equaled such weights.
The bird has a very trusting nature and a placid disposition, with the consequence that it doesn't thrive in flocks of mixed breeds. More aggressive geese will greatly distress the 'Toulouse', putting it off mating and sometimes resulting in its losing out at the feeding trough. These are very domesticated birds, easily bewildered by more active breeds. They do not need water or a pond. However, being water fowl, they love bathing and playing in water and will also mate in water. They are not great wanderers, preferring to stay close to home, making them ideal for a large garden or orchard, where they will thrive. Interestingly, individual geese vary, and others thrive in mixed flocks and become severely aggressive, biting and hissing, while others are placid and prefer to follow around smaller ducks as opossed to other geese.
The breed is a good layer of eggs, producing as well as any other goose breed. They rarely have problems producing fertile eggs, although problems can occur during severe weather in the winter and spring, as is the case with most breeds. A good goose will lay up to 160 eggs a year.[1] However, these birds are not good sitters.
The breed makes an excellent table bird.
[edit] References
- ^ a b Hugo, S. (undated). Geese: the underestimated species. FAO Agriculture Department.
- Batty, Joseph (1996): Domesticated Ducks & Geese: Beech Publishing House. ISBN 1-85736-091-5
