Are ducks geese

Duck vs Goose: 5 Key Differences for These Birds!

Written by August Buck

Published: February 16, 2022

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While we can all recognize a duck vs goose, there are many differences between these two birds that you may not have thought about. While both belong to the same family of waterfowl known as Anatidae, these two types of birds live very different lives, especially depending on their individual breeds and ages. 

In this article, we will address some of the primary differences between ducks and geese, as well as some tips to help you tell them apart if you are unsure. We will also dive into detail regarding these birds and their diets and mating habits. Let’s get started now! 

Comparing Duck vs Goose

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The Main Differences Between Duck vs Goose

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There are many key differences between ducks vs geese to help you tell them apart. Geese are much larger in both length and weight when compared to ducks, and their necks are longer as well. Ducks have more colorful feathers when compared to geese, especially male ducks. Finally, a duck vs goose differ in their diet and lifespans, as geese live longer and are herbivores, while ducks live shorter lives overall and eat an omnivorous diet.

Let’s discuss all of these details in more detail now.

Duck vs Goose: Size and Weight

The main difference between ducks vs geese lies in their difference in size and weight. Geese are much larger than ducks, and they have elegant long necks compared to the average length of a duck’s neck.

The average duck, depending on species, weighs anywhere from 2-5 pounds, while geese weigh double that. Ducks often grow anywhere from 15 to 20 inches in length, while geese reach 30 to 50 inches, depending on the specific breed. This is a huge difference in size, and you can easily tell this when looking at a duck and goose side-by-side. 

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Duck vs Goose: Appearance

Another difference between ducks and geese can be found in their appearances. Besides their overall size differences, ducks tend to have much more colorful feathers when compared to geese. While it will always depend on the specific breed, the majority of ducks, especially male ducks, have brightly colored feathers and intricate patterns. Geese tend to be more muted in color as well as pattern. 

Ducks also have wider and longer bills when compared to geese, and this is likely due to their dietary differences. Geese have bills that are equally strong, but they are usually significantly shorter in length when compared to duck bills. 

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Duck vs Goose: Diet

While it depends on the specific breed of duck or goose, these birds tend to have different diets. While ducks are known for their omnivorous diets, geese are primarily herbivores. Geese tend to eat plant matter, both in and out of the water, while ducks eat a wide variety of fish and crustaceans, depending on their breed and local environment. 

Duck vs Goose: Lifespan

Another key difference when it comes to duck vs goose lies in their lifespan. Geese have longer life spans than ducks overall, living an average of 8 to 12 years, while ducks live an average of 3 to 8 years total. This is a statistic based on wild ducks and geese, as captive waterfowl tend to live longer lives.

The reason that ducks likely have a much shorter life span than geese is due to their smaller size and less aggressive behavior. Many ducklings don’t reach a full year of living due to predation and inability to protect themselves. Geese tend to be more aggressive than ducks overall and are fierce protectors of their babies.  

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Duck vs Goose: Mating and Breeding Habits

A final difference between ducks vs geese is their mating and breeding habits. While both of these birds are largely considered monogamous, this definition is loosely based around their breeding times, year after year. Let’s talk about this in more detail now.

For example, geese are largely considered totally monogamous, committing to a partner for the duration of their lifespan. Ducks are different from the geese in this way in that they remain monogamous with a partner for a single breeding season, seeking out new partners the next year for breeding purposes. 

Many studies suggest that this monogamy is one of the reasons why geese are more aggressive than ducks around mating season. Male geese take equal parts in taking care of their young, not leaving everything up to the female goose. This is a surprising change of pace when compared to just about any other animal in the animal kingdom, but especially birds.

About the Author

August Buck

I am a non-binary freelance writer working full-time in Oregon. Graduating Southern Oregon University with a BFA in Theatre and a specialization in creative writing, I have an invested interest in a variety of topics, particularly Pacific Northwest history. When I'm not writing personally or professionally, you can find me camping along the Oregon coast with my high school sweetheart and Chihuahua mix, or in my home kitchen, perfecting recipes in a gleaming cast iron skillet.

Thank you for reading! Have some feedback for us? Contact the AZ Animals editorial team.

Goose vs. Duck: What Are the Differences? (With Pictures)

Ducks and geese are similar in appearance, and many people mistake one for the other. While there are a few key similarities, there are also distinct differences between these two bird types. Ducks and geese are both waterfowl and both a part of the family Anatidae. They both have webbed feet and broad, flat beaks and favor living in small flocks. That said, while all geese species are migratory birds, only some duck species are, and geese are typically much larger than ducks.

Let’s look at the similarities between these two waterfowl and the key differences.

Visual Differences

At a Glance

Goose

• Origin: Egypt
• Size: 30–40 inches long, 18–22 pounds
• Lifespan: 10–24 years
• Domesticated?: Estimated 3,000 years ago in Egypt

Duck

• Origin: China
• Size: 20–26 inches long, 1.5–3.5 pounds
• Lifespan: 5–10 years
• Domesticated?: Estimated 2,200 years ago in Southeast Asia

Goose Overview

Characteristics & Appearance

Geese belong to the family Anatidae, which comprises the genera Anser, which are grey and white geese, and Branta, which are black geese. Within these groups, there are almost 100 different geese species, including:

• Canada goose
• Swan goose
• Greylag goose
• Brant goose
• Cackling goose
• Greater white-fronted goose

Geese are large birds, smaller than swans but much larger than ducks, with characteristic long necks and flattened bills. They are typically grey, white, or black in color, and some have wingspans up to 6 feet!

Geese live in various habitats, though they always tend to live close to water, including wetlands, marshes, streams, and lakes, and they can be found on every continent except Antarctica. All geese, domesticated or wild, are highly social creatures, and goose pairs typically mate for life. Except during breeding season, geese tend to live in large flocks, where they spend most of their time foraging for food.

One of the biggest differences between geese and ducks is geese’s tendency for aggression. During the breeding season, males can be highly territorial and aggressive in the protection of their young. Geese are large, somewhat clumsy birds, and this is largely why they have this driven, territorial instinct.

Uses

Geese are multipurpose animals and useful birds to have around on small farms. They also make beautiful show birds. They are great foragers and can help keep your lawn trim and free from weeds. They are low-maintenance birds in general, certainly less so than ducks. Geese are notoriously loud and noisy birds, though, which does make them great guard animals because they’ll always alert you to any strange new sounds or visitors.

While geese are not great layers — they only produce around 60 eggs a year — their eggs are large, nutritious, and delicious, and most species of domestic geese produce tender, premium-quality meat.

Duck Overview

Characteristics & Appearance

Ducks are, like geese, a part of the family Anatidae but are the smallest member. There are many different duck species, but the most common in the United States include:

• Mallards
• Scaups
• Teals
• American Widgeon

Ducks are typically divided into several categories according to common characteristics. These include diving ducks, dabbling ducks, goldeneyes, and perching ducks, and there are various species within these categories.

A standard duck, no matter the species, has a characteristic rounded head, torpedo-shaped body, and a flattened, rounded bill. Most ducks also have long necks but still much shorter necks than swans or geese. Males are usually the most colorful, depending on the species, and females typically have dull brown feathers that make it easier for them to hide from predators.

Ducks tend to spend most of their time on the water and inhabit ponds, streams, rivers, and wetlands and can be found on every continent but Antarctica. Ducks are generally docile, social creatures and do not have the aggressive reputation of geese. They do best in small flocks and are known to become depressed if they live alone. While geese are known for pair-mating and bonding for life, ducks form seasonal bonds only, and new pair bonds are formed each season. Ducks, like geese, are omnivores and forage on grass, aquatic plants, insects, and even small crustaceans.

Uses

Ducks are highly useful animals that are used for meat, eggs, and feathers. Since ducks are expert foragers, they are great for keeping weeds at bay and are the ideal solution if you have a slug infestation — slugs are irresistible to ducks!

Besides their delicious meat, ducks are far more prolific layers than geese, and in captivity, they can lay an egg every day or two in the right conditions, making them ideal for small homesteads as an alternative to chickens.

Related Read: 32 Fascinating & Fun Duck Facts You Never Knew

What Are the Differences Between Geese and Ducks?

Geese are far larger than even the biggest duck species and have longer, more slender necks too. Geese can occasionally be found with colored feathers, but ducks are generally far more colorful than geese, especially males. Ducks have longer, wider bills than geese and are omnivores, while geese tend to be predominantly herbivorous — although some species do eat small fish and insects at times.

Geese form powerful pair bonds and mate for life, while ducks have short mating seasons and mate with a different partner every season. Geese also have a far longer lifespan than ducks, and most ducks have an average lifespan of 10 years, while geese can easily live up to 20 years in the right conditions. Lastly, most ducks do not migrate, while all species of geese migrate every year.

Which Breed Is Right for You?

If you’re looking for an animal that can provide you with abundant, nutritious eggs and healthy, tender meat, ducks are the best choice. Geese eggs are also nutritious and tasty, but they lay much less frequently than ducks.

If, however, you’re looking for a beautiful pet bird to have on your homestead, both ducks and geese are great choices. Geese are great alarm systems and will notify you of any strange animals or people. They are also hardier and longer-lived than ducks, so if you’re looking for a low-maintenance pet, geese will be the better option.

You may also want to read about:

• 8 Largest Duck Breeds (With Pictures)
• Toulouse Goose
• Male vs Female Canada Goose: What’re The Differences? (with Pictures)

Featured Image Credit: Top – Goose (Pixabay) | Bottom – Duck (Pixabay)

Breeding of geese and ducks. Whom to choose? Differences in the conditions of keeping, feeding and output when breeding geese and ducks

Often a novice poultry farmer cannot decide ducks or geese - which is better to breed? Geese or ducks are no more trouble than chickens. Just like for chickens, they need a special room , complete food, careful care for chickens and brood hens. In choosing a bird, one should be guided, first of all, by the size of the allotted area.

Grazing and housing conditions for geese and ducks

Before you decide to breed geese or ducks, you should know that geese need extensive pastures - real meadows. All day long, the goose walks by itself and feeds on meadow grasses, eating more than 2 kilograms per day. In this case, it should be borne in mind that geese can pluck grass only when the herbage is low, so the meadows must be constantly mowed. So figure out if you can provide walking for a whole herd of geese.

Ducks do not need a lot of space, but they are very fond of swimming and feeding in ponds. Do you have a pond near the house - feel free to take ducks. In industrial farms, ducks are grown without water, but this has its own difficulties. The fact is that ducks have very caustic secretions, and the grass under them burns out. In the summer, the duck provides itself with food, collecting it either from pastures or from reservoirs.

Feeding geese and ducks. Difference in feed rations

In the autumn-winter period, both geese and ducks need to be fed with grain and a wet mash of succulent fodder (potatoes, beets, carrots, rutabaga) adding minerals and vitamins. Ducks are less picky about food, they can also eat kitchen waste. Geese, in addition to traditional food, definitely need hay.

If we compare a goose and a duck in terms of the amount of feed spent on weight gain, then ducks are more voracious. But if you want to get meat faster, get ducks. A well-fed duck, weighing 2.5-3 kilograms, you can get in a month and a half. The goose is slaughtered on average after 60-80 days. But he also weighs by that time, depending on the feed, 4-6 kilograms.

For what purpose are ducks and geese bred - meat or down?

Duck meat is fatter. Although recently the musk breed has become very popular, which has very tender, lean meat. They mistakenly think that duck meat is tough. If, before slaughtering a duck, do not let it into the pond for some time, the meat will become soft.

The goose has a considerable advantage - its valuable down. In terms of its properties - lightness and heat retention - this down is second only to eiderdown. You can pinch down from geese twice a year.

But ducks are remarkable not only for their meat. Now few people know how tasty and nutritious duck eggs are. However, they need to be eaten hot. Cooling, duck protein turns blue and becomes hard, like rubber.

For those who want to get a duck: for a small farm, the Peking or Musk breed is best.

Beijing breed - one of the best early maturing breeds, hardy. An adult drake weighs 3.5-4 kilograms, a duck 3-3.5. Egg production 80-120 eggs.

Popular among hobby poultry farmers Muscovy ducks accumulate some fat (only 22-26 percent). And an adult musk drake weighs as much as 6 kilograms, while a duck 3. Muscovy ducks lay 80-120 eggs.

Goose breeds recommended for breeding in private farms

Goose breeds:

• Kholmogory,
• Large grey,
• Gorky,
• Romensky,
• Toulouse,
• Kuban.

Kholmogory geese - the oldest domestic breed. Strong and hardy, these geese weigh an average of 7-8 kilograms, but with good fattening they can reach 10-12. They lay 30-40 eggs.

Large gray geese adapt well to any climatic conditions, Gorky are distinguished by high egg production, Romen are good for tender and fatty meat. Toulouse geese give a lot of fat, and Kuban geese are distinguished by their strong build.

Choose for yourself which bird to breed: geese or ducks!

Read online “Geese and ducks. Maintenance, breeding and care”, Lyubov Strelnikova – LitRes

Introduction

The countryside is ideal for poultry farming, which has always been one of the main sources of income for the population. Here, the breeding of geese and ducks for personal use has long become commonplace, it is one of the most ancient types of housekeeping. Geese and ducks are bred almost everywhere in agricultural regions.

Poultry in suburban and especially rural areas is kept in almost every yard. Poultry farming attracts many farmers with the simplicity of maintenance and the availability of feed. Birds eat all types of crops, as well as some plants, vegetables, and fruits. Their maintenance does not require special premises, any outbuilding, sometimes not even heated, will do. After all, nature endowed birds with excellent protective properties from the cold in the form of a cover of feathers that fit tightly to each other. Feather cover is complemented by fluff and fatty layer under the skin, creating the effect of complete thermal insulation. Therefore, geese can freely walk in the snow in winter, and ducks can swim in an icy pond.

Cultivation and breeding of poultry in home gardens, farms and other households is allowed in unlimited quantities, so this occupation is a reliable help to the family budget. It is most common among owners of private houses and household plots, who prefer breeding chickens that are unpretentious in terms of conditions and feed, but very productive in terms of laying eggs. Most private farms raise chickens in order to obtain the maximum number of dietary eggs. Meat breeds of broilers are grown somewhat less frequently.

The poultry meat industry includes the cultivation of ducks and geese. Breeding these birds at home is one of the most important reserves of meat production. For the most part, ducks and geese have a comparative unpretentiousness to the conditions of detention, their breeding and cultivation is easy to carry out in any climatic zone. The only obstacle that complicates the problem may be the lack of a reservoir, since geese and ducks are waterfowl. Assuming their breeding, it is imperative to equip a relatively small pond, the presence of which allows you to somewhat reduce feed costs. Although the absence of a pond cannot be an excuse for refusing to breed geese and ducks. Adults and juveniles require a minimum amount of grain forage in the presence of good grazing.

Poultry farming, in particular the breeding of geese and ducks, is rightfully considered the most economically profitable branch of animal husbandry. With a serious and competent approach to business, with proper housekeeping and a reasonable choice of breeds, the production of goose and duck meat in a homestead or farm is very profitable, it can bring good profits at minimal cost. Growing geese and ducks on a farm does not cause any particular difficulties and is a good help in providing the family with high-grade food. It often becomes a family business, being almost the main source of income due to the sale of surplus eggs and poultry meat on the market. Among the population, the demand for goose and duck meat, goose liver, down and feather is actively growing. In addition, relatively low competition and high profitability make this poultry industry very attractive. Growing geese and ducks has its own specifics and nuances, depending on the breed of poultry grown and the direction of productivity. Therefore, before you start breeding waterfowl at home, you should carefully prepare for this lesson. There are some basic points that you should pay attention to and study before starting this activity. At first, there will certainly be expenses for the construction of a poultry house, the purchase of the necessary equipment for watering and feeding the birds, as well as the acquisition of young animals. The best time to start a business is in the spring, as an abundance of green grass will significantly reduce feed costs.

Beginning farmers are best off learning new things with fewer birds.

Geese

Zoologists refer geese to the family of ducks, in which they form an order of anseriformes, in total there are 28 varieties of these birds. Actually the term "Anseriformes" comes from the Latin word meaning "to live and swim in water bodies." The domestication of geese happened a very long time ago, it is believed that they were the first to be tamed among all domestic birds. Their domestication took place in different parts of the world: in China and India, in Greece and Ancient Rome. In Europe, the ancestors of domestic birds were various wild and gray geese. Despite their long history of domestication, modern geese have retained many of the characteristics of their wild relatives.

Physiological features of geese

All geese have their own distinctive exterior features that characterize the external forms of physique, the typicality of the breed and the harmonious composition of the whole organism. There is a clear relationship between the constitution and the hereditary characteristics of the bird. However, a hereditary predisposition to a certain type of constitution can be realized only with the maximum compliance of environmental conditions. Geese can have four types of constitution: tender, rough, dense, loose.

Geese differ from other types of poultry in their longevity, they live up to 20-25 years. Individuals with deficiencies in physique and weakness of the constitution are usually short-lived and unproductive.

These birds are ideal for breeding and rearing in the backyard and farm. They are unpretentious to the ambient temperature, have exceptional endurance in various climatic zones, give a lot of meat and fat, excellent quality down and feather. There is some doubt about the presence or absence of a reservoir on a personal plot, because geese are waterfowl, they swim in the water with great pleasure.

A distinctive feature of these birds is their ability to consume green and succulent food in large quantities. Eating grass and all kinds of plant foods, they quickly and completely digest them. They are also good at digesting dietary fiber. The assimilation of fiber by geese reaches 45–55%, this figure is much higher than that of other types of poultry.

This ability is due to some biological features of bird digestion. They lack a true goiter, instead having a simple dilatation of the esophagus or a false goiter that ends in an annular obturator muscle. The digestive tract of geese is 11 times the length of the body. The muscular stomach has a large pressure force, it easily performs mechanical grinding of a large amount of food.

Well-developed blind processes of the intestines, allow them to digest the fiber of some feeds without much difficulty. This is facilitated by the activity of various microorganisms that inhabit the caecum. As a result, parts of plants rich in fiber are split.

A group of geese with one or another type of constitution must pass on to their offspring the same type of constitution. Based on the appearance and body shape of a bird, it is possible to determine the nature of physiological activity and the type of its productivity.

The ability to feed on green pasture grass allows you to almost halve the cost of concentrated feed per unit of growth.

Very sharp eyesight allows birds to eat food even in the dark. They see a bunch of grains of corn at a distance of 8 m. At night, and especially at dawn, the birds consume more food than during the daytime. Therefore, goose breeders leave food in the feeders at night, which is of great importance during the breeding season.

Due to the ability of geese to feed well, during summer breeding, by autumn, more than 60 kg of inexpensive and tasty meat can be obtained from each adult goose with offspring. The expenses invested in the maintenance of one goose will be justified even if only five chicks are raised from it.

The profitability of goose breeding is explained by such factors as the high growth rate and meat precocity of goslings. According to these indicators, the young growth of geese is significantly ahead of the young growth of other bird species. The live weight of goslings grows by 60–100 g per day. Newly hatched, they weigh only 90–105 g. Usually, their fattening for meat lasts 60–70 days, i.e., no more than 10 weeks. During this time, they gain weight of about 4.0–4.5 kg, i.e., their live weight increases by 40–45 times.

A high growth rate of chicks with minimal feed costs per unit of growth is observed during the first 3 weeks. During this period, feed consumption is 2.3 kg, and protein - 380 g per 1 kg of live weight. With an increase in the volume of live weight, maturing goslings consume more feed, so its payment is noticeably reduced. Feed consumption after 5 weeks of life increases, respectively, to 4. 2 kg and protein to 720 g.

Young geese are brood chicks. Newly hatched chicks are covered with thick down. Having dried, they are able to eat food on their own in a few hours. At 3 weeks of age, they begin to replace the down with the primary feather. At the age of 4 months, young geese are already completely covered with the feather of an adult bird. At the age of 10 weeks, they begin their juvenile molt. Throughout the rest of their lives, young and old birds molt twice a year - in summer and autumn.

Geese are relatively late maturing compared to other farm birds. They reach puberty at about the age of 240–270 days for ganders and 240–300 for geese. At this age, the growth and development of the bird ends.

Therefore, it is important, when raising young animals for meat production, not to keep them fattening until the start of egg production. For this reason, the parent flock should be replenished with young geese of the May-June hatching dates.

When planning to grow geese, it should be taken into account that, unlike other agricultural birds, they are characterized by low reproductive qualities and seasonal laying. A typical feature of most breeds is their low fecundity: no more than 30–40 chicks can be obtained from a pair of geese per year. The breeding period of oviposition in geese is the shortest compared to other types of poultry. The intensive productive period begins in February-March and lasts 3.5–9 months. Confidence that high productivity will be obtained from geese can only be with proper and complete feeding in winter. The egg production of one laying geese does not exceed 40-60 pieces per productive season, in many respects it depends on the breed. Low egg production is somewhat offset by the fact that it increases with age in most breeds. If in the first year of life of geese of heavy breeds, the lowest sexual activity of ganders and the egg-laying of geese are noted, then in subsequent years these parameters gradually increase. The highest fertility rate is observed at the age of 2-4 years. An exception to this rule are the geese of the Chinese and Kuban breeds, their egg production decreases every year by about 8-10% compared to their productivity in the previous year.

Attention should be paid to the fact that the egg production of heavy breed geese depends on the size of the bird: the larger it is, the lower its egg production. The goose of the Kholmogory breed will give no more than 20-30 eggs during the productive season, the Toulouse breed for the same time - up to 30-40 eggs. No more than 35-45 eggs can be obtained from the goose of the Large Gray breed per season, and up to 40-50 eggs from the Lindovskaya breed.

In addition to low egg production, the fertilization rate of goose eggs is only 80-85%. It mostly depends on the season of the year and is associated with seasonal changes in the sexual activity of ganders. In addition, during the breeding period, there is a time limit of 1–2 weeks between the onset of spermatogenesis in ganders and the onset of egg production in geese.

The physiology of ganders is arranged in such a way that they are somewhat late with the onset of spermatogenesis. For this reason, the first eggs laid by geese at the beginning of the breeding period remain unfertilized. The degree of fertilization of eggs is also affected by the sex ratio in the herd. In group matings in a herd consisting of several individuals of different sexes, the degree of egg fertilization is almost always higher than in cases where there is one gander among the geese in the herd.

The physiological state of birds is significantly affected by the duration of daylight hours, as well as the order of the change of day and night. Light has a stimulating effect on their growth and development, on plumage molting, and on sexual behavior. It also accelerates the onset of puberty, thereby affecting the timing of the start and end of egg production. In conditions of long daylight hours, puberty of the bird occurs faster. At the same time, a long daylight hours does not have the best effect on the quality of the shell and the weight of the eggs. If the length of daylight is sharply reduced, then the laying season ends and premature molting occurs.

Experimentally, goose breeders have determined the optimal light regime, which can have a positive effect on the egg production of geese.

The best option is a day length of 14-15 hours. There should be at least 5 W of lighting per 1 m ² of the house floor. Of particular importance for the behavior of geese, their physiological state is air temperature. Birds are characterized by a body temperature in the range of 40-41 ° C, its relative constancy is kept on the thermal balance. In other words, it is supported by the equality of heat, which is formed in the body and which is released into the environment. The body temperature of a goose remains constant when the total heat production of the body is equal to the heat loss.

The body temperature of birds is determined by many factors, including ambient temperature and humidity, age, time of day and quality of feeding. When geese move or eat food, their body temperature invariably rises. At night, when they rest, it always goes down. Also, the temperature drops if the geese are starving, or malnourished due to an incorrectly formulated diet or poor quality of low-nutrient feed.

Dense plumage and thick down protect birds from the cold. Therefore, geese quite easily tolerate a short-term decrease in air temperature to -35 ° C, if it lasts no more than one day. It is much more difficult for them to endure a significant increase in air temperature, since there are no sweat glands in their skin. For this reason, the removal of excess heat from the body is carried out through its radiation, as well as the evaporation of moisture from the surface of the respiratory organs. If the air temperature rises above 32–34 ° C, then the geese experience a state of thermal shortness of breath. They breathe heavily with their beaks wide open. Therefore, at high air temperatures, birds should be sheltered from direct sunlight, air ventilation in the room should be carried out.

During hot weather, geese are best released into any safe swimming pool. Staying in cool water keeps them from overheating by relieving birds of excess heat.

Young chicks, unlike adults, cannot independently maintain body temperature at a constant level, they have not yet formed a mechanism for thermoregulation. At this age, the body temperature of goslings is entirely dependent on the ambient temperature. Heat transfer in a day old chick exceeds heat generation in terms of volume. Additional heating is required for goslings up to 24 days of age, this is due to the physiology of their development. Therefore, the goose incubates the eggs, and then heats the little goslings until they are covered with a juvenile feather, until they form a thermoregulation mechanism. These mechanisms are fully developed in chicks at the stage of the final formation of the main feather, which directly affects the development of thermoregulation.

Given the gradual formation of thermoregulation mechanisms in young animals, the optimal level of air temperature for goslings should be differentiated according to their age. The nature of the violation of the temperature regime is easy to determine by their behavior.

The strength of a bird, in particular geese, can be determined by the development of individual organs, tissues and individual parts of the body: bones, muscles, skin, chest, etc. The exterior is studied visually, by measuring and photographing.

Goslings are calm, energetic and active (eat food) when the temperature and humidity of the air meet the needs of their body. They evenly occupy the entire floor area of ​​the house or cage. If the temperature is significantly increased, then the chicks disperse at sufficiently large distances from the heating devices. They are attached closer to the drinkers and drink a lot of water. Overheating of goslings at elevated temperatures inhibits their development and inhibits growth. As temperatures drop, chicks crowd around heaters, which can lead to suffocation. Therefore, at night, a stable temperature regime should be strictly observed - at this time of the day, the young stop moving. The body temperature of the goslings drops, they begin to feel chilly.

By the time of the formation of the feather cover, the growth rate of the chicks noticeably decreases, and the feed consumption per unit of growth increases. The rudiments of new feathers, the so-called "hemp", which are formed on the body of a bird, are very difficult to remove during the processing of the carcass. For this reason, it is desirable to slaughter goslings for meat before the start of the juvenile molt or after its completion.

The intensity of metabolism in geese depends on their age, it is especially intensive in chicks during the first two months of life. High growth rate, along with intensive metabolism, is accompanied by high gas exchange. All oxidation and reduction processes in their body occur in close connection with environmental conditions, in particular with the gas composition of the air. For this reason, geese need a large volume of fresh air with sufficient oxygen content. For every kilogram of live weight, geese spend 4–5 times more fresh air than mammals. If the air of the poultry house contains gases in large volumes, but at the same time there is a lack of oxygen, then such an environment of gas exchange significantly worsens the health of the geese, reducing their productivity.

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