what are the different breeds of geese

Goose Breeds Varieties and Types

Goose Breed	Variety	Type
African	Brown, White	Heavy
American Buff	Buff	Medium
Canada	Eastern	Light
Chinese	Brown, White	Light

Sep 1 2022

Full Answer

Which geese are best as pets?

What is the Best Breed of Goose?

• African. With an unknown origin but thought to be related to Chinese geese, African geese are known for being calm, easy to confine, and the most talkative breed of goose.
• Pilgrim. ...
• American Buff. ...
• Chinese. ...
• Embden. ...
• Pomeranian. ...
• Sebastopol. ...
• Shetland. ...
• Toulouse. ...
• Roman. ...

What are the different types of domestic geese?

Geese breeds are generally broken down into three categories based on their weight: heavy, medium, and light. Other options for you to consider include Alsatian, Barnacle, Faroese, and Pomeranian – but there are dozens of other alternatives out there, too.

Are ducks or geese better pets?

My geese tend to be more friendly and aggressive with humans than ducks. However, both birds make good pets. You also need to remember that geese and ducks can never behave like cats or dogs but based on their individuality and personality, they can be more or less friendly and interactive.

What are the five characteristics of geese?

What are the five characteristics of geese? birds are bred for delicious meat; adult males weigh 5.35 kg,females 4.35 kg; start rushing at 9 months;

How many species of goose are there?

Canada gooseGreylag gooseSnow gooseSwan gooseBarnacle gooseGreater white‑front... gooseGoose/Representative species

What are the three breeds of geese?

The American Poultry Association separates geese into three classes for exhibition purposes: Heavy, Medium and Light. This article will focus on the heavy breeds: Embden, African and Toulouse. All three Heavy breeds have been in the Standard of Excellence since the first one was published in 1874.

What is the nicest breed of geese?

Buff geese are usually very friendly and they will fit in well on a family farm. Their lovely coloring makes them particularly striking in a large flock, gliding across a pond or enjoying the greens of a large field.

What are the two classes of goose?

Goose breeds are usually grouped into three weight classes: Heavy, Medium and Light. Most domestic geese are descended from the greylag goose (Anser anser). The Chinese and African Geese are the domestic breeds of the swan goose (A.

What is the largest breed of geese?

giant dewlap gooseThe largest breed of domestic goose is the African brown or giant dewlap goose. Mature ganders average 10 kg in weight, and stand taller than mature females, which average 8 kg.

Which are the quietest geese?

Some geese are louder than others. Chinese and African geese are especially loud, while Sebastopols and Embden geese are on the quieter end of the spectrum, and all other breeds fall somewhere in between.

Which goose is best for meat?

Embden geese are the most popular meat geese for a reason, they grow quickly and are easy to find. Embden geese will grow well and reach marketable (butchering) weight sooner than other breeds of geese. What is this? If you have the opportunity to by them, Embden cross geese would work well as a meat goose, too.

What type of goose do people eat?

The goose harvest was poor last year, and it is expected to be not much better this season. But of the geese, speckle-bellied and Canada geese are considered the best eating, though the snow goose is good too.

Do geese protect chickens?

Geese make great protectors of smaller flocks, such as chickens, ducks, and quail. They can also protect a building or your personal possessions. While they are excellent at sounding the alarm, be aware that they might succeed in chasing off only a few intruders.

What is a female goose called?

The term "goose" may refer to either a male or female bird, but when paired with "gander", refers specifically to a female one (the latter referring to a male).

Are snow geese and Canadian geese the same?

Snow Goose These birds are nearly as common a site as Canada geese. Snow geese are smaller than Canada geese, weighing in at about 8 pounds, with a wingspan of 1.5 feet. Snow geese have two phases--snow and blue.

What are small geese called?

The word gosling has Scandinavian roots — it comes from the Old Norse gæslingr, adding a diminutive suffix to gos, or "goose." So a gosling is essentially a "gooseling," like a duckling, a smaller and cuter version of an animal.

What is the difference between Canadian geese and regular geese?

The two are almost identical in plumage, but Cackling Geese are more delicate, with stubbier bills, steeper foreheads, shorter necks (strikingly apparent in flying birds), and usually more rounded heads. Their calls are higher in pitch than those of Canada Geese.

How many types of Canadian geese are there?

At least 11 subspecies of Canada Goose have been recognized, although only a couple are distinctive. In general, the geese get smaller as you move northward, and darker as you go westward. The four smallest forms are now considered a different species: the Cackling Goose.

What breed of geese are in the UK?

How to identify geese species found in the UKWhite-fronted goose. White-fronted goose, Anser albifrons/Credit: Getty. ... Barnacle goose. Barnacle goose, Branta leucopsis/Credit: Getty. ... Brent goose. Brent goose, Branta bernicla/Credit: Getty. ... Greylag goose. ... Canada goose. ... Bean goose. ... Pink-footed goose.

What is a female goose called?

The term "goose" may refer to either a male or female bird, but when paired with "gander", refers specifically to a female one (the latter referring to a male).

How many species of goose are there in the world?

There are quite a few living goose species worldwide – Anser contains 11 species, Branta contains 6 species (possibly as many as 8), and Chen contains 3 living species. Regardless of species, most geese become quite territorial and aggressive during the breeding season (particularly when they have goslings), but are more sociable in the winter when they travel in massive flocks with waterfowl of all types.

Where do cackling geese breed?

Caleb Putnam / CC BY-SA 2.0. Native to North America, cackling geese spend their summer breeding season in the cooler climes of northern Canada and Alaska.

What do Canada geese eat?

They, like their closely related cackling goose counterparts, are found in large open waters as well as wetlands and agricultural feeds, and can be found feeding readily on aquatic vegetation like pondweed and bulrushes, berries, grasses, algae, and grain crops. Occasionally, they have been known to eat small crustaceans and aquatic insects.

Why are red-breasted geese endangered?

These small geese are an endangered species, primarily due to habitat loss and poaching.

How old do geese mate?

1.3.11 11) Bean Goose (Anser fabalis/serrirostris) Regardless of the species, most geese mate for life once they reach 2 to 4 years of age and will raise multiple young together each year. Geese, contained within the family Anatidae along with swans and ducks, comprise three genera: Branta, or black geese; Anser, or grey geese; and Chen, ...

What color are the legs of a pink footed geese?

Many goose species can look similar, but pink-footed geese are most easily identified by their legs & feet that often have a pink-red hue.

What is a ruddy goose called?

A ruddy grey-brown colored bird with a white or lighter underside, this goose is sometimes also called the “specklebelly” goose due to its underside sometimes being a mottled or barred white and black/brown color. A wingspan of up to 5.5 feet, a length averaging 2 feet, and a weight of 4 to 7 pounds make this a small to medium-sized goose. It’s an easily identifiable species due to its size, coloration, and an orange beak with a white base that extends toward its face called a “facial blaze.”

What are the different types of goose breeds?

This is the official list of all goose breeds recognized by the American Poultry Association in US. Chinese Geese. Egyptian Goose. Sebastopol Goose. American Buff Goose. Pilgrim Goose. Pomeranian goose. African goose.

Where Do Domestic Breeds of Geese Come From?

All different domestic geese breeds, no matter what they are, will descend from one of two wild geese:

What is the purpose of a goose in France?

In France, geese are often raised for their livers (foie gras), and they are often used for their fat, which can be used for a multitude of different roasting purposes. Their bones can also be used to make poultry stock. Basically, nearly every single part of the goose can be used by somebody that knows how to work with it.

Why are domestic geese bred?

As we said right at the start; domestic geese are heavily bred. It is the only way to sustain their populations so they keep producing. Geese are also bred to become ‘better’. Breeders never rest. They are always trying to create new goose breeds, or at least trying to develop older ones to be better at their job.

Why do we have so many different goose breeds?

So, if they all have the same origins, why do we have so many different goose breeds? This is all down to selective breeding.

Which geese are best for meat?

The geese that are best for meat are the faster-growing breeds. However, do bear in mind that the faster-growing goose breeds are only for meat purposes.

Do geese care about humans?

They do not care that much whether their geese are friendly or not. When geese are farmed, they tend not to come into contact with humans all that often. Remember; goose breeding doesn’t stop. The geese breeds available a few decades now will likely be massively different to the geese that we have now.

What is the best geese for weeding?

Temperament. Chinese geese are the variety most commonly used for weeding tasks. They are high-energy, making them excellent foragers, and their long necks are able to reach in and pluck their favorite weeks from hard to reach spaces. Both African and Chinese geese are known to be quite vocal.

What is the difference between Chinese and African geese?

What’s the difference between African and Chinese geese? Their size. African geese are bigger, weighing up to 20 pounds, while the more petites Chinese geese average only 10 pounds. Both are most commonly found in the brown variety, with black bills, pink feet, and cream underbelly. White Chinese geese are solid white birds with orange bills and feet. For that matter, there is a white variety of African geese, but they are highly unusual.

How much does a dewlap goose weigh?

Adult Dewlap Toulouses can weigh upwards of 30 pounds, while production birds rarely top 20. Both are moderate layers, but Dewlaps lay eggs to match their massive girth, often considerably larger than other goose eggs.

What is an embden goose?

A large, full-bodied goose, Embdens were bred primarily for the dinner table and prized for their fast rate of growth. Above average egg layers, they became popular alongside Pilgrim geese as an all-around bird perfect for the family farm. Embden goose in closeup.

Why are African and Chinese geese called African and Chinese?

The actual continental origins of these two geographically named breeds are uncertain, but it is thought that they are called African and Chinese simply because they were introduced to Europe by those who had traveled to exotic locales.

How big do Sevastopol geese get?

Their check and back feathers are soft and light. These small birds only grow to 10 pounds. Their bright blue eyes are deep and thoughtful, and their beaks and feet are bright orange.

What are pilgrim geese?

Pilgrim geese, which likely descended from a variety of farmyard mix goslings, are prized for their unusual auto-sexing feathers which allow young male and female birds to be easily distinguished. A few European breeds also have this feature.

What are the different types of geese?

These types of birds are greater than ducks. These waterfowls are divided into three subspecies: Canada Goose, Domesticated Geese, and Black Geese.

What are the physical characteristics of a geese?

The physical characteristics display a black bill, pale head, reddish legs coupled with black wings. Females are slightly short in comparison to the males. The chicks show a lighter plumage as compared to the adults. These types of geese hardly ever swim. They are the strong territorial birds.

How many eggs does a kelp goose have?

The clutch size comprises 2 – 7 eggs. Kelp goose use vegetation to hide their eggs.

What is the name of the blue-headed goose?

8 Blue-winged Goose. The Blue-winged Goose (Cyanochen cyanoptera) is a member of Cyanochen and is native to Ethopia. These types of geese are closely related to the Shelducks. Blue-headed goose is 70 cm (28 inches) long and it has a black bill and legs.

Why are domestic geese kept in captivity?

Domestic geese (Anser anser domesticus) are often kept under captivity in order to meet various purposes. These types of geese are widespread all throughout Africa, Asia, and Europe. Chinese geese are also referred to as domestic geese. These specie have been introduced in North America and Australia.

How big is an ashy head goose?

These types of geese also breed in the lowlands and woodlands. Ashy-headed goose is about 50 – 55 cm (20 – 22 inches) long . The clutch size consists of 4 – 6 eggs. The juveniles exhibit lighter plumage as compared to adults. Ruddyhead goose.

How long is an Orinoco goose?

The length of the orinoco goose measures around 61 – 76 cm (24 – 30 inches).

What is the most famous geese breed?

Roman geese are some of the most famous geese breeds from Italy. Mainly, it is used for ornamental and meat production. Roman geese breeds are very tame and friendly, thus making them excel in being good family pets. Often, the birds are purely white with grey variations. Furthermore, they have blue eyes and reddish-orange legs plus bills.

How much does a geese weigh?

Moreover, they are low-budget pets who mainly feed on weeds and grass. The breed is among the largest and weighs 16 to 18 pounds when fully grown. As a result, they are preferred for meat and egg production. If you are looking for geese species with excellent parental skills, look no further.

How many eggs do buff back goose have?

On a good year, a buff back goose can give you 20 to 40 eggs in a year. Luckily, the birds are calm and easy to train but can become overprotective if unfamiliar people enter the territory. A Buff goose can be grey, brown, or white with dark beaks.

How many pieces of eggs do African geese lay?

They start laying eggs at 25 weeks old and end up producing 20 to 40 pieces annually. The eggs weigh approximately 5 to 8 ounces. On average, adult African geese weigh up to 8-10 kg.

What is a greyback geese?

Greyback or Buff back are also referred to as Pied geese. The gene is prevalent in several countries neighboring the Baltic and the North Sea. They differ in shape and size but have similar color patterns.

How big is a Pomeranian goose?

It is a magnificent bird with saddleback, white, buff, or grey varieties. They are chatty and have a docile disposition. The average body size of a Pomeranian goose is between 8 to 12 kg. The birds produce 15 to 35 eggs annually with quality shells.

Where did the Embden geese originate?

This is a hearty breed of domestic geese that originated from Wales, UK . Studies indicate that the bird is a crossbreed between Embden and buff geese from several varieties. The species is considered dual purpose because of its good meat and egg production.

How many breeds of goose are there?

While these eight goose breeds are arguably the most popular – and the most common on small farms – the list of breeds to consider does not end there.

What is the largest breed of goose?

The classic French goose, Toulouse has a lightweight and heavyweight form. The heavyweight Toulouse , known as the Dewlap Toulouse, is the largest breed of domesticated geese. The smaller Toulouse, the French Toulouse, is much smaller.

What are Toulouse geese used for?

Both Toulouse varieties can be used for meat and eggs. The Dewlap Toulouse was developed particularly for the production of foie gras, while French Toulouse were developed as dual-purpose birds. They produce large white eggs during the spring and summer seasons. Both Dewlap and French Toulouse geese are known for being docile and calm, so they can also serve as farm pets.

What is the smallest goose in the world?

Often considered an ancient breed, the Roman Tufted goose is one of the smallest out of all of those on our list. It was once used to guard the ancient temples of Rome. Legend has it that Roman Tufted Geese were even able to stop an attempted Gaul ambush in 365 BC! Pretty impressive.

What is a Chinese goose?

Perfect as a weeder or guardian goose, this species has a unique appearance. Like the African goose, the Chinese goose has a prominent knob on its bill – a feature more prominent on males than on females. The bird is small and upright.

How much does a pilgrim geese weigh?

Pilgrim geese are not behemoths by any means, but they are still relatively large. Most weigh around 13 to 14 pounds at maturity. The bodies of this goose are plump and full with a smooth, keel-less breast.

What is a black goose?

These birds are characterized by prominent black knobs that sit at the top of their beaks (although some color variations of the breed have orange knobs). They are heavy-bodied geese with full abdomens and large dewlaps. An upright, loud goose, with a tendency to be aggressive.

Overview

Breeds[2]

Auto-sexing goose

Semi-domesticated goose species

External links