Kholmogory geese: breed description and content

2024 Author: Priscilla Miln | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-16 00:21

Geese are domesticated birds that can be found in many yards. Today, a lot of different species have been bred, each of which has its own differences. In this article we will talk about one of the popular breeds. Meet the Kholmogory geese.

History of the breed

This is one of the very first breeds that were bred on the territory of our country. It is still not known exactly what breeds these birds originated from, but there is an assumption that Chinese and Arzamas geese were crossed for this.

Presumably, this species got its name in honor of the area where it is most common. The first records of this breed appeared in 1885. Meanwhile, some believe that the fabulous swan geese are precisely those geese of the Kholmogory breed. Locals say that these birds combine swan majesty and typical goose character.

Description of the breed

These poultry are divided into three types. They are divided according to the color of the plumage - it is gray-piebald, gray and white. Characteristicsthe Kholmogory goose is an elongated neck (somewhat similar to the neck of a swan), a large head, decorated with a bump on the forehead, a large, strongly curved, hunchbacked downwards and a very strong beak, bright orange-yellow legs.

Kholmogory geese have a fold on the stomach, a well-developed and deep chest, a wide, strong and heavy body, as well as a kind of "purse" located under the bird's neck.

The nature of these poultry is calm. They get along well with other animals and can be in a large herd. Another feature of this breed is high acclimatization abilities. It is thanks to this that they can be bred in any region of the Russian Federation.

Economically useful qualities

The main characteristics of the breed:

- 92% of young animals are preserved;

- hatchability is 52%;

- fertility rate – 81%;

- egg weight - from 0.16 to 0.22 kg;

- geese carry about 20 eggs a year, the best representatives can bring about 50 eggs;

- live weight averages eight kilograms, the best representatives can reach 12 kilograms.

Kholmogory geese are excellent and fast fattening. Nests are very caring. Birds have a high life expectancy. This breed was used in breeding such breeds as Lindovskaya, Solnechnogorskaya, Vladimirskaya, etc.

How to properly maintain

Many people wonder: Where to buyKholmogory geese? It's just not a problem. As we wrote above, this breed can live in any region of our country, and it is not difficult to find a person selling goslings. But even before acquiring chicks or adults, you need to properly prepare their place of residence.

First of all, it is necessary to lay the foundation of the future goose house. Be sure to make sure that the groundwater at the laying site will not rise to the same level as the floor. It is best to build a house for geese out of wood. Floors must be covered with sawdust or straw.

Many poultry can hardly stand the cold. Kholmogory geese are not afraid of frost, which means that the straw bedding in the goose coop may not be too thick. In the meantime, don't use cement flooring, it's better to use wood as well.

Of course, there must be doors in the goose house. They should be installed on the side that is least blown. If there is a constant draft in the room, the birds will stop eating and get very sick. It is worth noting that Kholmogory geese love large spaces. The size of the future goose house should be calculated according to the formula: 1 bird \u003d 1 square meter of the room. To make the birds walk well, arrange a small and not too deep pond or pool in the yard.

Keeping geese

Kholmogory goose is a beautiful, caring mother hen. However, in order for them to feel comfortable, the special room must be dry and warm. The temperature must be at least five degrees. Most often, geese rush at the end of winter, in February. Meanwhile, you can speed upthis process. Properly selected artificial lighting, which will extend the daylight hours, will lead to the fact that the birds will begin to rush already in January, at the beginning of the month. Therefore, if you want to place an ad with the text “I will sell Kholmogory geese” before your competitors, you should seriously address this issue.

Determining that a new laying will soon begin is easy. The geese begin to behave very restlessly. Birds move around the nest all the time and scatter straw. Watch the temperature in the room! If it is below zero, then the eggs must be placed in a warm place. In order for the Kholmogory geese to rush well, it is necessary to purchase several manufacturers at once. Otherwise, the laying of hens will be halved.

Chick keeping

After the goslings hatch, they need to be laid on a dry bed. Chicks will get stronger faster and better if the temperature in the room provided to them does not exceed +22 degrees. They begin to let them go for walking only after their paws gain stability. Make sure that the goslings do not fall on their backs, they are not able to rise on their own and can simply suffocate.

In the warm season, the amount of food should depend on the age of the chick and its body weight. In winter, it is increased.

If it's hot outside, the birds should be near the water. In the autumn they are transferred to the goslings, which must be painted with slaked lime.