The cotton patch goose is particularly welladapted to the climate of the southeastern u. Cotton patch geese heritage chickens narragansett turkeys guinea fowl pastured turkey pastured eggs sheep. Dr tom walker collected and preserved the breed, which is now. However, these breeds are recent importations to north america, and have not played a role in the development of the cotton patch goose. Cotton patch geese they are basically a breed native to the south, well adapted to our climate, and they love to eat weeds. Otis yearling saddlebackpied gander from michelle 50% walker 50% mark see. In fact i never knew of anyone who did in our area and i had never heard of using geese in the cotton patch to eliminate weeds.
Used for their eggs, meat, grease, down, and weeding abilities, these early american geese were allowed to adapt to their local environments, thus creating the land race breed commonly referred to today as cotton patch geese. The cotton patch goose is known for its friendly, nonaggressive personality and. Well because we love our traditions in the south and the cotton patch goose has a long and colorful history here. Our breeding stock is partially from tom walker s flock and partially from mark sees flock. Cotton patch geese are a rare heritage goose that we raise and sell at the ranch. The breeds beginnings are not clear but it is thought to have descended from european stock brought to the u. Pitts cattle are a prized family heirloom and their lineage can be traced back over 150 years after 150 years the records are lost. Cotton patch basic our half pound, handmade angus burgers are served on a golden brioche bun with lettuce, tomato and onion with a tangy pickle spear on the side and french fries. Cotton patch geese an old, endangered heritage breed. Their name was derived from their use as weedeaters in cotton fields. However, they have been extremely rare in recent times.
Little published information has been available for enthusiasts to learn from, and it has become apparent over time that having consolidated information in a central location is of paramount. Hes doing a great job reclaiming these birds and focusing on their usefulness. Mar 19, 2011 cotton patch geese are a rare heritage goose that we raise and sell at the ranch. As the cotton fields became fewer and fewer so did the cotton patch geese almost to the point of extinction. Piney woods cattle, gulf coast sheep, spanish goats and cotton patch geese are all breeds that are unique to the united states, and are in danger of extinction.
Cotton patch geese are an extremely rare variety of. Approximately a decade ago, tom began a search to find some of these cotton patch geese he remembered from his youth. Cotton patch geese were originally bred in the south to eat the weeds in the cotton and corn fields. Apparently, this goose is the goose with the pink bill and feet that was brought to the american colonies by the english in the early 1600s. Apparently, this goose is the goose with the pink bill and feet that was brought to the.
We have always adored them and are completely taken in by the jubilee orpington. Cotton patch geese are remembered in the rural south for helping many farmers and their families survive the great depression by providing a regular source of meat, eggs, and grease. Walker s original gaggle of geese, which we are dedicated to preserving. I did notice that deborah capitalized the words, cotton patch goose so as to make it a proper name. Little published information has been available for enthusiasts to learn from, and it has become apparent over time that having consolidated information in a central location is of paramount importance. Top20 most beautiful poultry, rare breeds of chicken, geese, ducks, guinea fowl, pigeons film duration. Cotton patch geese are an extremely rare variety of geese, and usually you have to get a pair from another farmer.
The cotton patch goose society is a loose association of interested parties who became acquainted through the facebook group, cotton patch goose breeders. The cotton patch goose is the remaining relic of a little. Cotton patch geese geese breeds, goose, chickens backyard. Failure and success are relative 3 cotton patch is a huge success for us. Cotton patch geese were historically cheap labor for keeping cotton fields clean. Brought to the new world by european colonists, these sexually dimorphic geese were a staple on homesteads and farms. Home about contact us woodlawn farms blue andalusian chickens and cotton patch. They are a landrace breed, and there is some variability between strains. Sep 24, 2010 cotton patch geese were historically cheap labor for keeping cotton fields clean. Following the development of comercial herbicides in the 1950s, the breed declined in numbers. Walker travelled the south looking for the goose he remembered from his childhood. Tom walker and a handful of other foundation breeders such as mark see helped prevent the breed from going extinct. I have breeding pairs representing the best that i. Oct 06, 2015 tom walker went looking for cotton patch geese to guard his kennel.
They much more closely resemble the wild forebears of domestic geese, the greylag goose. The cotton patch goose was developed in the southern united states. Cotton patch geese possess many qualities that are common in sexlinked european breeds such as the west of england, shetland, and normandy geese. Tom walker restored this great breed of geese to what we have of the breed today and set the breed standards. Soon we will be dividing them into pairs, as the breeding season will be starting up soon. Cotton patch goslings backyard chickens learn how to. Testimonials frequently asked questions the ecofarm the farmers tours. He hopes to do the same with what were commonly called cotton patch geese when he was growing up. The breeds beginnings are not clear but it is thought to have descended from european. Powered by create your own unique website with customizable templates. May 09, 2012 if i was raising geese for a hatchery, 3 cotton patch goslings would be an utter failure. The american south is where they were used on homesteads and farms as multipurpose poultry for weeding, meat, eggs, down, and grease. Cotton patch geese tom walker wrote about his cotton patch geese in mother earth news. Dec 30, 20 the geese have been divided into two groups.
The owner of the cotton patch geese, tom walker, once said. Forget big goat propaganda, geese are better at mowing. Cotton patch goose info, history and origin, pictures. Cotton patch are sexually dimorphic as other sexlinked goose breeds, but differ by having pink or orangepink bills, light weight bodies, and the. How i rescued these historic weeder geese happy homesteader mother earth news see more. My grandfather raised cotton but didnt use weeder geese in his cotton patch. They much more closely resemble the wild forebears of. Cotton patch geese developed as a landrace breed of the american south, used for garden and field weeding. The cotton patch goose is the remaining relic of a little known american breed of goose with parent stock that probably shares common ancestors with the above mentioned sexlinked geese breeds. Flip flop ranch is known for its collection of cotton patch geese. Also cotton patch geese unlike most domesticated geese can fly.
Fall of 2014, we sold all, but one, of our 100% tom walker birds, and kept back a few walker see mixes because they are pied. Forget big goat propaganda, geese are better at mowing and. All of my poultry are heritage breeds, and some, like the buckeye and the cotton patch, are critically endangered. There are very few of these geese now and even fewer devoted breeders. He shows dogs, and in texas, he found copperhead snakes were too common and kept biting his dogs. My husband and i moved to cool, texas, in 20 and discovered a love for the beautiful, useful and. We are now the proud parents of a pair of rare cotton patch geese. Also, a fairly docile breed that is good at parenting perfect again. Mark took photos for and put together information for the albc on cotton patch geese. They are also slimmer in body than most domestic geese, and retain a relatively good flying ability into adulthood. All animals range widely and eat all or most of their food from our spacious pastures. Tom walker in texas are in one group, the birds from david james in alabama in another. Cotton patch geese is a very rare breed known for their excellent temperament as well being sex linked.
Images search results for cotton patch goose from dogpile. Quick information physical characteristics very similar to the pilgrim geese by appearance, sleek body, light. End of 2009, we drove to mississippi and picked up an adult pair of cotton patch geese from mark see. The cotton patch goose society dedicated to preserving. The cotton patch 12831285 stratford road, hall green.
We got our first egg in february last year, so expect the same this year. If i was raising geese for a hatchery, 3 cotton patch goslings would be an utter failure. Tom walker went looking for cotton patch geese to guard his kennel. The cotton patch goose is known for its friendly, nonaggressive personality and its ability to thrive under hot, humid conditions. Whether deep mahogany color or the more copper color of the diamond jubilee, it is the beautiful spangled patterns that make these birds a.
Over a period of three or so years i traveled more than 10,000 miles to louisiana, arkansas, mississippi, and tennessee trying to find as pure as possible some cotton patch geese. The cotton patch is a sleek goose that resembles greylag geese from which all european geese descend. Orpington chickens are very calm and friendly birds that lay beautiful cream colored eggs. Tom walker has selected and maintained these historic weeder geese. Cotton patch backyard chickens learn how to raise chickens. Cotton fields were typically referred to as cotton patches. In the photo below the gander is in the back while the goose is in the front. Cotton patch geese are listed as critically endangered by the american livestock breeds conservancy. Once common throughout the south and eastern united states, the cotton patch goose is now critically endangered, with perhaps fewer than 100 breeding pairs alive. Of course, his flock originally came from tom s, but they have been removed for quite some time and could be considered a separate, though similar line. Tom walker, the man credited with saving the breed.
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