The lives of Geese

In Germany, Austria and Switzerland today for thousands of farmers worry about lead that flock of geese can be a carefree life - day after day, year after year.

Chicken Goose in portrait

Chickens geese, with the Latin name novaehollandiae Cereopsis live on the Australian continent and Tasmania and move there before the mostly uninhabited islands. They belong to the genus of ducks and geese are similar in appearance to the house. One major difference is the lack of partially webbed feet. Males and females differ little in appearance. Its skull is white, the rest of the head and neck pale gray. The plumage of the birds is also gray and the tips of the wings is black. The black beak nose reveals a pronounced yellow skin.

In this country, mostly chickens geese are kept and bred in zoos. The chicken is a goose-exclusive grazing animals, they prefer areas with short grasses and shrubs. They are afraid of water and seek it only when danger threatens. Up to 1960 chickens were not hunted geese on rare because they were viewed as competing with the sheep. 1965 was the population of geese only about 6,000 animals. Only since they have been placed under animal welfare, has again increased the number of birds. chickens geese spend the most time in their lives eating. During the summer months are almost 12 hours a day and in the winter months up to 7 hours per day. Especially in food intake during the breeding season and a very aggressive behavior between the animals was observed. Chickens geese are very aggressive when coming too close. They then threaten their own kind, by bending the neck sharply, neck ruffle feathers far and wide wing span of the body. In a fight they use their neck, beak, feet and wings to attack or defense. chickens geese breed mainly for the first time with 36 months away. The pairing on the other hand is already at an age of 12 months and is over the age of 24 months, mostly complete. The breeding season occurs during the Australian winter, so instead of the European summer months. Even the male during the breeding season is very helpful.

It cares for example, the construction of the nest. This is covered with downy feathers, and defended against enemies to the utmost. For the breeding itself, however, is solely responsible for the female. It lays between four to seven creamy white eggs and is for up to two days. The eggs hatch after about 35 days and the chicks fledge in the following spring months. To the enemies of chickens geese, especially the eggs and juveniles, including Thick-billed gulls and Tasmankrähen.