Light Geese
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Tufted Roman
Much is unknown about the origins of the Tufted Roman Goose. It is most likely a mutation that occurred in the Roman geese of Italy. Also unknown is when they were first imported to the United States. What is known is Richard Gidley of Salem, Ohio imported some then bred and distributed them all over the country. They were admitted into the Standard of Perfection by the APA in 1977.
Roman Tufted are a small, rapidly maturing goose that produces a meaty carcass. The body is round and full, with a uniformly broad back. Roman Geese are pure white, although some strains have grey or buff feathers. They are a moderate egg layer. Geese will lay between 25-35 large, white eggs each year. They are good parents and will raise their own offspring. Mature ganders weigh around 12 pounds, mature geese weigh around 10 pounds.
Straight Run only: $35.00 per gosling
4 goslings minimum purchase
White Chinese
The Chinese belongs to the knob geese, which derive from the swan goose, and are characterized by a prominent basal knob on the upper side of the bill. Chinese geese appear in America in the late 1700’s. It is believed George Washington kept Chinese geese at Mount Vernon. They were included in the first printing of the APA Standard in 1874.
The Chinese goose has a small, tight but curvy body with a long, slender neck, much like that of a swan. Males mature at 12 pounds, females at 10 pounds. This breed of goose has no keel. They are the best layers of the geese breeds, with a yearly average of 50-60 but some have been known to lay up to 100 eggs. Their meat is also less greasy than other breeds of geese. They are good foragers. Their smaller size combined with their active grazing ability makes them a less expensive breed to keep. They are good guardians for the homestead being alert and very vocal. Chinese geese are a hardy breed that can do well in all kinds of weather. However, it is important to note their head knobs are prone to freezing in sustained temperatures below freezing.
Straight Run only: $12.50 per gosling
4 goslings minimum purchase
Limited sexing available. Additional charges apply
Brown Chinese
The Chinese belongs to the knob geese, which derive from the swan goose, and are characterized by a prominent basal knob on the upper side of the bill. Chinese geese appear in America in the late 1700’s. It is believed George Washington kept Chinese geese at Mount Vernon. They were included in the first printing of the APA Standard in 1874.
The Chinese goose has a small, tight but curvy body with a long, slender neck, much like that of a swan. Males mature at 12 pounds, females at 10 pounds. This breed of goose has no keel. They are the best layers of the geese breeds, with a yearly average of 50-60 but some have been known to lay up to 100 eggs. Their meat is also less greasy than other breeds of geese. They are good foragers. Their smaller size combined with their active grazing ability makes them a less expensive breed to keep. They are good guardians for the homestead being alert and very vocal. Chinese geese are a hardy breed that can do well in all kinds of weather. However, it is important to note their head knobs are prone to freezing in sustained temperatures below freezing.
Straight Run only: $15.00 per gosling
4 goslings minimum purchase.
Limited sexing available. Additional charges apply
Medium Goose
American Buff
The American Buff was developed in North America from imported European geese strains. Named for the apricot-fawn coloration of its feathers, the modern breed is the result of work done in the 1930s and 1940s by a breeder named Oscar Grow from Missouri. The American Buff was added to the Standard in 1947.
The American Buff is a dual-purpose breed. They lay 10-25 large eggs per year. They will brood their own eggs and are good at rearing their young. Their meat is dark and make a good roasting bird. They are calm and friendly and do well in most climates. They make an ideal small homestead goose. Males mature at 18 pounds, females at 16 pounds.
Straight Run only: $45.00 per gosling
4 gosling minimum purchase
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Pilgrim
The origins of the Pilgrim goose are not definitive. Regardless, waterfowl authorities agree that the breed was first documented by the name “Pilgrim” in 1935. Also, the Pilgrim is one of two American breeds of geese that are auto sexing: the males and females look different from hatch. The Pilgrim was added to the Standard in 1939.
The Pilgrim is a medium-sized roasting goose. Both males and females weigh around 13-14 pounds at maturity. The females will lay between 34-45 white eggs a year. They are a clam, quiet, docile goose that’s good at foraging and parenting. They are an excellent goose for the beginner or homesteader.
Straight Run only: $45.00 per gosling
4 gosling minimum purchase
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Gray Pomeranian Saddleback
Originating from northern Pomeranian region of Germany and Poland, this breed is named for its colored patch of feathers – or “saddle” – on a predominantly white body. It is one of the oldest domesticated breeds of geese. The Saddleback is most common in North America. They have been in the United States since 1912 and were finally added to the Standard of Perfection in 1977. The APA currently recognizes the Grey and Buff varieties.
The Pomeranian Saddleback is a medium-sized goose known for its distinctive look, hearty nature, and use as a meat bird. They also make very good “watch birds”. It is a heavy-set, robust, and rounded bird with a single-lobed paunch. They are moderate egg layers. A goose can lay up to 70 large, white eggs per season. Ganders can weigh up to 17 pounds and geese can weigh up to 15 pounds.
Pomeranians are a good, all-around breed for a homestead flock. While the pattern of color is fairly fixed on a genetic level, producing the properly marked bird is considerably challenging.
Straight Run only: $45.00 per gosling
4 goslings minimum purchase
Heavy Geese
Exhibition Brown African
The African goose is believed to be a descendant of the Asia’s wild Swan goose. It was imported to Europe in the 1700’s and came to America in the 1800’s. It was accepted by the APA in 1974.
Much like the Brown and White China, the African has been selectively bred for its trait and type. It is a massive built bird. It has a large knob on its head. A smooth, crescent-shaped dewlap hangs from its lower jaw and upper neck.
Its body is nearly as wide as it is long. It is keelless and has a smooth, rounded abdomen with little or no fatty lobe development. As one of the heaviest goose breeds, Exhibition African ganders can reach 22 pounds or more.
Straight Run only: $50.00 per gosling
4 goslings minimum purchase
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Exhibition Buff African
The African goose is believed to be a descendant of the Asia’s wild Swan goose. It was imported to Europe in the 1700’s and came to America in the 1800’s. It was accepted by the APA in 1974.
Much like the Brown and White China, the African has been selectively bred for its trait and type. It is a massive built bird. It has a large knob on its head. A smooth, crescent-shaped dewlap hangs from its lower jaw and upper neck.
Its body is nearly as wide as it is long. It is keelless and has a smooth, rounded abdomen with little or no fatty lobe development. As one of the heaviest goose breeds, Exhibition African ganders can reach 22 pounds or more.
Straight Run only: $50.00 per gosling
4 goslings minimum purchase
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Exhibition Dewlap Gray Toulouse
The Toulouse is a large breed of goose from the region of France of the same name. The breed is an old one with history traceable back to 1555. Birds were imported to the UK in the 1800s where their size was increased. This version was then imported to America in the later 1800s. The breed was accepted into the Standard in 1874.
The Dewlap Toulouse is a massive bird. Ganders averaging 26 pounds; the goose averages 20 pounds. The Toulouse has a heavy, folded dewlap that is suspended from the lower bill and upper neck and increases in size and fullness with age. They are a long, deep, and broad bodied bird with a rounded breast, and often exhibit a wide keel. Their double-lobed abdomen often brushes the ground.
They are moderate egg-layers of 20-35 eggs. They do not lay consistently until they are two or even three years old. The Dewlap Toulouse can be very challenging to raise because of the difficulties their size can bring to breeding and setting of eggs.
Toulouse are docile, friendly birds. They are a relatively quiet breed. They are ideal for meat. They do need proper shelter during heavily rainy seasons. They don’t do well being housed with aggressive breeds.
Straight Run only: $100.00 per gosling
4 goslings minimum purchase
Exhibition Embden
The Embden is the oldest goose known to come from the area that is now Germany with writings and art going back to the 13thcentury. The modern version of the breed was solidified in the late 19th century. It is also the heaviest breed of goose in Germany. They were first brought to the United States in the early 1800s and were added to the Standard in 1874.
Exhibition quality Embden are large, white, and hardy breed of goose. They have bright blue eyes and orange bills and feet. They are generally calm and friendly. Their large size and fast growth have made them ideal for meat production. Geese can lay up to 60 large, white eggs a season. They will brood their eggs. Males mature at 20 pounds, females at 15 pounds.
Straight Run only: $60.00 per gosling
4 goslings minimum purchase