Goose Breeds for Your Farm

Reader Contribution by Kirsten Lie-Nielsen
Published on November 6, 2015
1 / 4
2 / 4
3 / 4
4 / 4

There are twelve breeds of geese currently recognized by the American Poultry Association‘s Standard of Perfection, and many more are bred around the world.  Some varieties have been specifically developed for certain tasks, such as long necked breeds for weeding and extra heavy breeds for meat.  Others are, for all intents, decorative birds.

Between the various breeds there are many personality differences and selecting the right breed for your farm will make a big difference in your enjoyment of your geese.  Here are just a few of the types you can find on farms today.

Chinese

Long and lean, Chinese geese are one of two varieties that are easily recognizable by the sizable knob on the upper side of their bills.  They are one of the lightest weight goose breeds, and carry themselves in a distinct, upright posture.  Chinese geese are some of the best egg layers in the goose family, sometimes laying upwards of 100 eggs in a year.  Because of their long, slender necks and voracious appetites, Chinese geese are the breed most commonly used for weeding.  The adult male weighs about 12lbs and both males and females are notoriously noisy.  They will honk piercingly at the sight of strangers or unusual activity on the farm, and enjoy conversing with their owners and fellow geese in constant, guttural mutters.  Because of this they are ideal watch dogs, and they can be aggressive towards newcomers.  Chinese geese are one of the most practical breeds for a working farm, laying plenty of eggs and keeping crops weed-free as well as providing an alarm system.  Since they are one of the noisier varieties, they are not ideal for an urban homestead.

Comments (0) Join others in the discussion!
    Online Store Logo
    Need Help? Call 1-800-234-3368