Cotton Patch Geese

Cotton Patch geese are an old breed of geese that were once used to clear weeds from the cotton fields, and here in Florida, they were used to clear weeds from the strawberry fields.  They were nearly lost, but a few special people worked to bring them back from near extinction.  One can easily tell the sex of the goslings when they hatch, a real advantage for the breeder.  They also fly, as they are a smaller goose, but their wings can be trimmed to keep them on the ground.

Cotton Patch geese are a landrace breed which has not been accepted into the American Poultry Association yet, but standards are being developed.  There are both solid and pied varieties.

The geese in the photograph are my Cotton Patch geese, Eddie and Eva.  They are so different from my other geese, and quite the characters.  They are neighborhood celebrities, as the first time they were given the opportunity to graze, they flew over the fence and the entire neighborhood helped get them home.  There were cameras flashing everywhere, and traffic stopped as they walked down the street.