How long do geese live in domestic and wild conditions

Geese are considered long-lived birds. The life expectancy of domestic and wild representatives of waterfowl, first of all, will depend on their breed. However, the living conditions of birds, the mode and usefulness of nutrition, and the availability of proper care play an important role in this. How long do geese live on average and how to properly provide them with suitable living conditions, let’s figure it out.

How many years do geese live on average

Geese are birds that boast a fairly long lifespan. However, despite the unpretentiousness in nutrition and care, these two factors have a direct impact on the life cycle of birds.

At home

Of course, in a private household, a domestic goose rarely lives for more than five years. And on farms where birds are grown by conveyors, this period is reduced by 1,5–2 times. However, the unnatural interruption of the lifespan of birds has nothing to do with their natural lifespan.

The life cycle period of a domestic waterfowl will be determined by several main factors:

  • breed;
  • food quality;
  • living conditions;
  • presence/absence of enemies.

For household owners, with proper care and a balanced diet, a bird can live from 15 to 20 years, and in some cases up to 25 years.

Negative factors that can affect the duration of the life cycle of geese are:

  • various viral and infectious diseases;
  • bad water, which regularly stagnates in drinkers;
  • low-quality food;
  • unsanitary conditions in the room where the birds are kept;
  • the accumulation of a large amount of dirt on the walking area, in which various parasites are born and multiply: mites, fungus.

Important! Geese have the longest life expectancy, which have regular access to free pastures and to water bodies.

In wild nature

There are more than a dozen breeds of wild geese in the world. Their average lifespan is 18-20 years. However, despite the large number of poultry, hunting for wild birds is often practiced, in particular, in the states of America and Europe. In Asian countries, work is also underway to collect down from wild geese.
How long do geese live
Due to such factors, the life cycle of birds is significantly reduced, moreover, the populations of some species are significantly reduced and require protection.

Wild geese are attractive prey not only for people, but also for many predators. Birds often become victims of eagles, golden eagles, peregrine falcons, etc. Chicks turn into food for foxes, wild boars, and arctic foxes.

Did you know? Geese are quite intelligent birds and are very easy to tame. The legend that these gray eiders saved Rome may well be justified. The thing is that geese in the dark period of time are able to make noise when they hear other people’s steps.

What determines life expectancy

As mentioned above, the life expectancy of domestic representatives of waterfowl depends on a complex of factors that positively or negatively affect this indicator. Let’s take a closer look at each of them.

Proper nutrition

One of the main fundamental factors for a long and healthy existence of birds is a complete, high-quality diet. The best health and longest life cycle in birds that can freely graze and live near water bodies. In such cases, even a seventy-year period will not be a boundary for them.

Feed has an important influence on how long waterfowl live. It is better to avoid the use of store-bought feeds; the best option for poultry will be food prepared in a private household. The basis of the diet should be plant foods, including aquatic vegetation.
How long do geese live
In summer, the need for vitamins and minerals will help to satisfy the nettle, clover and meadow grasses. In winter, it is recommended to use hay and silage as feed. Indispensable at any time of the year will be cereals – oats, wheat, rye, vegetables – potatoes, carrots, beets.

It is also necessary to give birds daily salt, at the rate of at least 2 g of salt per individual, chalk, sand, fine gravel, which contribute to the digestion process.

The diet of geese should be composed taking into account the correct combination of proteins, fats, carbohydrates and fiber. You can feed the birds with ready-made food. For intensive growth and development of birds, vitamins such as A, E, B2 are necessary.

They should be given during all periods of the life of geese, but the most sensitive to the deficiency of biologically active substances is the young.

Conditions of detention

How long geese can live in modern farms or private farms will also depend on the conditions in which the birds are kept. They are quite hardy and able to adapt to almost any climate: heat or frost. Nevertheless, it is still necessary to adhere to certain rules when keeping waterfowl.

The main requirements for keeping geese at home are:

  • spacious room. The minimum area per individual should be 1 sq. m;
  • shine. Birds should be provided with good lighting, as a lack of light can lead to a decrease in immunity and a drop in livestock productivity;
  • good ventilation. By their nature, geese evaporate a large amount of liquid, which leads to high humidity in the room. In order for the air not to stagnate, it is necessary to organize a high-quality ventilation system;
  • dry pad. Despite the fact that birds, due to their good fat layer, tolerate cold well, their paws and beak remain sensitive to low temperatures. In order to protect the limbs from frost in winter, a clay or wooden floor should be installed in the room, necessarily covered with bedding material: straw, sawdust, hay.

How long do geese live
In winter, the optimal temperature indicator in the house is 0 degrees. If the walls and ceiling of the goose house are insulated with mineral wool or other heat-insulating materials, then additional heating of the room is not required.

It is strictly forbidden to keep geese:

  • in a cramped, dark and damp roomsince it is highly likely that birds will be subject to various ailments, including colds;
  • in unsanitary conditions, dirt, as this can lead to bird diseases, reduced productivity, weight loss;
  • indoors without beddingbecause in winter they can freeze their paws and beak.

In order for the birds to feel comfortable, it is recommended to regularly disinfect the goose coop, prevent a large accumulation of dirt and severe contamination of the bedding material, and avoid the formation of dampness and drafts.

Breed

How long a goose lives is directly influenced by its breed. There are breeds of long-lived birds for which the age of 20 years is not the limit.

Did you know? Wild breeds of geese at home live no more than 20 years. But in natural conditions, the world record for the duration of the life cycle was 80 years. It belongs to the representative of gray geese.

Among them are the following:

  1. Vladimir geese. On average, birds of the Vladimir breed are able to live from 25 to 30 years. Their good health and long life cycle are due to the strong structure of the body, a special wide bone and excellent resistance to various external factors.
  2. Vladimir

  3. Javakhetian. Representatives of this breed are able to perfectly adapt to various living conditions, including they can perfectly exist in mountainous areas, in hot regions. Adult individuals have excellent immunity, able to withstand various ailments, easily tolerate the harmful effects of parasites, and poor climatic conditions. Their life expectancy is the same as Vladimir’s.
  4. Javakheti

  5. Kholmogory. Kholmogory are characterized by a strong physique, a massive, muscular body, a beautiful straight back, good health and strong immunity. They are able to live on average 16-18 years.
  6. Kholmogory

The goal of poultry farmers

And, of course, the life span of domestic birds in most cases is limited by the goals of poultry farmers. The age of geese has a direct impact on their productive qualities, in particular, egg production, reproduction, and meat properties.

The peak of oviposition of geese occurs at the age of two to three years. After that, the egg indicators are significantly reduced, and the maintenance of the bird becomes impractical.

Representatives of meat breeds are slaughtered immediately after they reach a certain weight, or even earlier, in cases where a significant increase in weight has to be expected for a long time.

Important! In the household and farmlands, geese live as long as the owners need them. Average life expectancy is 3 to 5 years.

Among all representatives of waterfowl, geese are real centenarians. Some of the individuals are able to live 70-80 years. However, in 80% of cases, the life cycle of birds is determined by the main goals of poultry farmers and lasts no more than 3–5 years.

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Anna Evans

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