A massive grey French goose famed for the heavy dewlap and keel of the exhibition type, traditionally raised for meat and foie gras. Calm and slow-moving, it is a docile heavyweight farm goose.
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Very large French breed (especially exhibition 'dewlap' type): ~12 sq ft of dry shelter per bird, 100 sq ft of pasture, and a head-submersible bathing pool. Heavy build = soft footing and good drainage to protect feet/legs.
Rotated pasture and a small pond (8 × 10 ft) deep enough for the heavy Toulouse to swim and mate (mating happens best on water). Predator-proof night shelter; dewlap Toulouse cannot really fly.
Lshros / Public Domain (Wikimedia Commons)
Photo coming soon
Ideal
Pasture rotation + natural pond
Locked night shelter + rotated pasture + natural pond
Multiple rotated pasture paddocks with a natural pond, shade trees, and a fully predator-proof night house. Heavy Toulouse thrive in low-density, water-rich, soft-ground setups.
Life & growth stages
How this animal changes through its life — each stage often has its own care, diet and space needs.
Photo coming soon
Egg
Birds develop inside a hard-shelled egg incubated by the parent(s). Egg size, shell color, and clutch size vary by species; the embryo develops over days to weeks before hatching.
Photo coming soon
Hatchling / Chick
Hatchlings are either altricial — naked, blind, and dependent on parents (typical of parrots and songbirds) — or precocial — downy, mobile, and self-feeding soon after hatching (typical of poultry and waterfowl). Down gives way to the first feathers.
Photo coming soon
Juvenile / Fledgling
Fledglings grow in their juvenile plumage and begin to fly and feed themselves, though they may still beg from parents at first. Juvenile feathering is often duller than the adult and is replaced as the bird matures.
Adult
Adults attain full body size and mature plumage, and are capable of breeding. Many species show distinct adult coloration, and in sexually dimorphic birds males and females differ in plumage, size, or markings.
(c) rokcestnik, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC) via iNaturalist — https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/39091643
Color & pattern variants
Natural variants occur in the wild; selectively bred (man-made) variants were developed in captivity.
Provide pasture with grazing plus a simple draft-free, predator-proof shelter; a deep-litter shed or sturdy house works well. Access to a pond or large water tub for bathing and mating is beneficial, especially for the heavy Dewlap type whose fertility improves with deep water. Allow ample ground space; heavy birds tire easily and need shade, as they are heat-sensitive.
Diet
Primarily a grazer; good pasture is the foundation of the diet. Supplement with waterfowl/poultry pellets, mixed grains, and greens, plus oyster shell for laying females and insoluble grit. Provide constant fresh water deep enough to submerge the bill. Avoid over-conditioning in exhibition birds, though this breed naturally carries heavy fat and keel.
Behavior & temperament
Calm, placid, and relatively sedentary, the gentlest of the heavy geese; primarily a meat and foie-gras breed and a show bird. Poor fliers due to bulk. Hens lay roughly 20-40 large eggs per season but are often unreliable, clumsy sitters; eggs are commonly incubated artificially or under other broodies. Not strongly territorial, making them easy to handle.
Health
The exhibition Dewlap type's exaggerated dewlap, keel, and abdominal pouch predispose it to obesity, heat stress, and reduced fertility, and the low-hanging keel/dewlap can become soiled or injured. Heavy weight stresses legs and feet (bumblefoot, leg strain). Poor natural broodiness is common. The lighter utility/production strain is hardier and more fertile.
Tips, DIY & hacks
Distinguish the heavy Dewlap exhibition type from the lighter production type before buying; their care and fertility differ greatly. Provide deep bathing water to aid natural mating in big ganders. Offer shade and cool water in summer. Plan for artificial incubation or foster broodies given unreliable sitting. Keep bedding dry and clean to protect the dewlap and keel.
