The Cotton Patch Goose
A wild and contrarian bird
Compared to chickens and ducks, there aren't many documented goose breeds. The different breeds are organized by size: light to heavy.
Of course, there are lots of differences between breeds, such as temperament, foraging ability, flying ability, and fertility.
The Cotton Patch Goose (CPG), is a light goose and was the goose of our area. Used for its instinct to forage, they kept cotton and corn fields free of weeds.
We picked the CPG for their local heritage status, heat tolerance and sexual dimorphism (male and females look different). This is helpful as the CPGs are our breeding flock.
To get the sex of most geese involves peeking into their “vent.” This process is complicated by violent unwillingness and a thick layer of feathers.
There are two traits that belong to our CPGs that I haven't encountered in my research. First, their use of water is less than half of our other goose breeds (American Buff, Embden, Toulouse, African and Chinese). Geese love water and water makes a mess.
Second, they don't behave like the other geese. They contradict the flock in almost everything they do. The CPGs seem confused by my role in their existence. They are indifferent to grain feed and treats. They are reluctant to use their shelter. For the most part they stand apart from the rest of the flock.
Except, in their latest contradiction, three have fallen for the Toulouse. The Toulouse are a day away from slaughter.
We're calling for rain Tuesday.
