We all know them – the white and fluffy, feathered water chickens. You might want to get a few for your pond or even start a farm!
Have you ever wondered how much a goose costs? How about the additional costs to feed and house them?
On average, an adult goose costs $40 on the low end and $90 on the high end of the spectrum. Goslings can be bought for much cheaper and will cost you around $20.
The price you are going to pay depends on several factors, such as the breed. When it comes to showing quality geese, the prices will vary slightly.
If you’re interested in raising geese, we will break down the full cost you can expect to pay when buying and looking after a goose or several geese. Let’s find out!
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Different Geese, Different Prices
With all the different geese breeds, you may find yourself confused when deciding which breed you want. There are several things to be considered, such as fertility and egg production, and foraging and flying abilities.
Let’s take a look at the most common breeds and what you can expect to pay.
1. American Lavender and American Blue Geese
The American Lavender and American blue geese are, as their name suggests, American in origin. A good breeder will cost you $55 to $85. Show quality geese of these breeds will be closer to $100 and $150.
Many people enjoy seeing these beautiful geese walking and swimming in their public ponds and having them as backyard or farm pets. People may also breed these geese, creating a potential income or extra hobby.
2. Embden White Geese
Breeder quality price for these geese is around $60, while show quality can be up to $250.
3. American Buff Geese
American buff geese are one of the most sought-after breeds. They are typically more expensive than other goose breeds, with the adult breeder quality costing around $75. The show quality geese of this breed average about $175 to $300.
4. Mini Sebastopol Geese
The Mini Sebastopol is very similar to the Sebastopol goose, just smaller. This goose is around $70 for a breeder and $90 to as high as $250 for show-quality birds.
5. Toulouse Grey Geese
This extremely popular breed of goose goes for $75 for breeders and between $175 and $300 for show-quality animals.
6. Oregon Mini Geese
You can probably tell by the name that Oregon Mini geese are a small goose breed native to Oregon. This beautiful breed of goose will cost you $60 for breeder quality, and show breeder quality ranges from $85-$250.
Buying Goslings
If you are looking for a more economical choice, as well as a simple and effective way to brighten up your day, you can choose to buy goslings. Goslings are much lower in price, and you get to raise them yourself!
Not only are goslings cheaper in terms of their price, but their upkeep costs are lower as well. The average price for goslings starts at about $7 and can go up to $30 or more depending on their breed, health, and bloodline.
Another good option to consider is buying goose eggs and hatching them yourself. Some farmers prefer buying goose eggs and hatching them because it’s the most cost-effective option. You can buy a dozen eggs at the lowest price possible.
You will not get a more economical option than this, even though the pricing of goose eggs can differ. Some sellers will sell a dozen goose eggs for between $6 and $8. The price will again vary on the breed rarity as well.
The Upkeep Costs of Geese
It is important to plan how you are going to pay for your new pets’ habitat and feeding. Knowing what costs to plan for can eliminate a lot of stress down the road and allow you to just enjoy your new geese.
You will be happy to hear that the upkeep costs for geese are not as high as some bigger farm animals, and they even cost less than cats or dogs!
- Feeding expense. For a flock of free-range geese, it only costs about $23 to feed each goose for a full year. If you decide to raise goslings, you can expect their feeding costs to be more or less $13 in the first 12 weeks.
- Housing expense. Just like humans, geese are much happier when there is plenty of space to move around, friends to visit, with a green field to graze on. Geese are creatures of habit and will regularly roam in the same areas and enjoy coming back to the habitat you have for them to sleep in.
It would be beneficial to both you and your geese if you have a fenced backyard to keep your geese contained and stop them from visiting your neighbors’ yards. You will also need a shed that can protect them from any cold or rough weather conditions that may occur. - Medical expense. Geese are pretty hardy, and you will rarely need to worry about them getting sick. However, if they do catch a viral disease or need to get vaccinated, a quick visit to the vet can’t hurt. It will benefit you to set aside a few dollars in case one of your geese needs some medical help.
Geese are the easiest farm animals to raise, and caring for them doesn’t take much time or money.
Are Geese Profitable?
When considering everything and adding it all up together, raising geese is seen as a profitable hobby if it is taken up as a business venture. You will be able to find plenty of ways you can cut down on costs, such as buying goslings or goose eggs.
Raising geese is not only fun and rewarding but also affordable and simple. The profits you make from your geese will primarily depend on how you decide to sell them. Overall, having geese is a hobby for more people than it is a profitable side business.
You can choose to raise your geese to sell or sell their eggs as hatching eggs or even to eat. It’s all up to you. The market for these items is ripe for the picking.
Conclusion
When it comes to asking the simple question, “how much do geese cost” the answer will always vary. There are many additional costs with owning geese, such as feeding, housing, and possible vet bills. Their breed, fertility, and egg production also have an impact on their costs.
Always educate yourself before starting a hobby or purchasing animals, and learn how to care for them correctly! Animals are very similar to humans, and they can become our friends if we treat and care for them properly.