Mankind has been breeding geese for many centuries, and perhaps this bird can be called one of the most popular among domestic animals. Today, there are dozens of breeds in the world, many of which were bred as a result of selection. The article talks about one of them, like the Hungarian geese.
Hungarian geese
Short description
Modern representatives of the Hungarian geese are descendants of the wild, which were crossed with Emden and Pomeranian to preserve the species and improve the gene pool. In the Soviet countries, these individuals were introduced shortly before perestroika. At home, in Hungary, birds have a conservation status as the most actively bred in the country. The main producer of the breed is Bashkortostan.
Hungarian goose - a large bird, with a massive body, short legs, sloping back, protruding chest. The beak is usually orange, but almost always darkens with age. The male can be distinguished from the female by the length of the neck: in the gander, it is usually longer and more muscular. Photos of Hungarian geese can be seen on thematic sites for clarity.
Appearance and features
Rather quickly gaining weight, to maturity, males reach a mass of up to 8 kg, and females - about 6 kg. Coloring is monophonic, white or gray, spotted individuals are rarely found. Usually in the farms of our country you can see the geese of the Hungarian white. What is remarkable about the Hungarian geese among other species?
- High-quality meat and gourmet large liver (about 600 g).
- Valuable feather and fluff that can be plucked up to 4 times a year. Interestingly, there are special representatives of the species that are carriers of the frizzling gene, the owners of the most valuable feather - curly. They can be distinguished by the softness of the plumage in the hips and tail.
- Fast weight gain: already at the age of 2 months the gosling weighs 4.5 kg.
With proper care and plentiful feeding, the geese will be an excellent investment by the farmer in the economy and will pay back the costs of their maintenance. Like any breed, the Hungarian goose has its drawbacks, but they are not so significant. Here are some nuances that are quite surmountable when observing the recommendations of specialists.
- poor tolerance of dampness, soreness;
- short period of laying.
How to properly keep the Hungarian goose and provide the necessary conditions to grow a good producer and get healthy offspring? Read about it below.
Maintenance and care
Active and mobile Hungarian goose to drive into the house is required only in cold weather. The flock spends most of the year in a specially equipped paddock. A prerequisite is the presence of a nearby pond and clearing for walking. A spacious room is selected for the house, where birds will hide from frost. The temperature in it may not exceed 0 ° C, but the floor must certainly be dry, and the litter is made of material that feeds moisture - it is best if it is peat. Do not forget to regularly ventilate the room and carry out wet cleaning to prevent diseases in birds.
Pets should be provided with a trough for receiving cleansing water procedures. It is advisable to fill the tank with a mixture of sand and ash so that birds can clean themselves of skin parasites. Special attention is required to the feeding of the Hungarian goose. Since birds are raised for slaughter, their diet should be not only rich in quantity, but also balanced and contain all the vital minerals and nutrients.
Hungarian geese feed on grass in large doses: about 500 g per day, moreover, they are quite picky and prefer nettles, dandelions, sour acid, and sorrel. Poultry farmers do not recommend swampy and grassy zones for grazing. In addition, the daily diet includes hay, root crops, crops and animal feed. The total amount of daily intake of food should be about 2 kg. Particular attention should be paid to the nutrition of the Hungarian goose in the winter, when he does not go outside and does not have the opportunity to independently receive the norm.
A feature of the diet of a laying hen is a double dose of hay and nettle, but fattening in order to obtain a maximum liver is required in advance, from the age of two months and two weeks. In addition to crushed grain, chicks should receive protein feed. When the pet's weight reaches 6 kg, it is still fed for about a month with boiled corn with the addition of sunflower oil and salt.
Breeding control
The productive age of the Hungarian goose includes a period from 2 months from birth to 3 years. Goose productivity depends on the quality and quantity of food consumed by it, and with proper nutrition, it is able to bring up to 55 eggs per year with a chick survival of about 70%. Each egg weighs an average of 175 g. Many owners prefer to use the services of an incubator for hatching eggs.
The breed of Hungarian geese, popular today, is in demand among large poultry farms and in narrow circles of amateur farmers. You can buy eggs and young animals at poultry stations and other large farms. There you can also receive recommendations on the cultivation and breeding of such a species of poultry as geese of the Hungarian breed. The description of these beauties speaks for itself: Hungarian geese are pure white - truly unique and beneficial birds.
