Geese
1. Shetland
The Shetland goose is a breed of domestic geese originating in the Shetland Islands in Scotland. It descends from the Greylag Goose. Like the other livestock breeds native to the islands, the Shetland goose is small in stature, generally weighing between 12 and 14 pounds (5 and 6 kilos). They are very hardy and exceptionally good foragers, and are able to largely sustain themselves through grazing.
History
The Shetland goose has been used by crofters to graze pastures. This was to rid the grass of parasites, such as the liver fluke, to prepare it for grazing by sheep.
Characteristics
Like a few other goose breeds, including the Pilgrim and Cotton Patch, Shetlands are sexually dimorphic at hatch (auto-sexing), and can be differentiated on appearance alone. Ganders will hatch a golden shade, and grow to be white. The female goose hatches gray and gold. Their legs, feet and bill should be a fleshy pink colour. The Shetland goose has a shorter bill, due to its natural ability to forage. Both sexes have blue eyes. Ganders have entirely white plumage, while geese have a head, neck, and upper body with gray highlights and a white underbody. Geese in their first year have a predominantly gray head that lightens over their first three years until at 3 years of age they have a white head with the signature gray spot on their neck just below the head. They generally mate for life, and are good parents. Shetland geese lay around 15-30 eggs a year that are white in colour.
Shetlands were first exported to the United States in 1997, by a farm in New York and have since been worked with extensively and preserved by Holderreads Waterfowl Farm and Preservation Center. Holderreads have since retired this breed from their farm. They have not yet been recognized or admitted to the American Standard of Perfection. The breed is currently being studied by the American Livestock Breeds Conservancy, which considers populations in North America to potentially be too low to maintain sufficient genetic diversity (in North America).Possible indications of this are reported fertility issues, although diet, obesity and breeding conditions can play a significant role in reproductive success. This breed is considered to be critically endangered worldwide.
The Shetland goose has a broad back and a well-rounded, keel-less breast. The abdomen is relatively flat with a single-lobed paunch. The wings are powerful, allowing full ability of flight, and on some farms it may be necessary to clip the feathers of one wing to keep them at home.
When selecting breeders choose vigorous, strong-legged birds free of physical deformities. Shetland geese in North America descend from a small genetic pool. As a result, special care must be taken to avoid genetic defects, including crooked toes, wry tails, kinked necks, and lack of vigor. Consider growth rate, egg production, and foraging ability for utility birds. Historically they have been considered very good for meat production given their quick growth rate and tremendous ability to finish on little more than grazing.
Shetland geese typically form very strong bonds with their mates. Females often go broody after laying 12-18 eggs and are successful setters and mothers. They retain many other natural instincts, and will flock during the non-breeding seasons, and band together to ward off predators.
The Shetland breed may be one of the quietest breeds of goose one can keep. They are not very vocal and generally are well behaved within a larger flock although ganders can prove to be tougher than their size suggests with other ganders during breeding season. They have a quiet personality that makes them an excellent selection for anyone wishing to own a pleasurable, easy to handle and keep breed.
History
The Shetland goose has been used by crofters to graze pastures. This was to rid the grass of parasites, such as the liver fluke, to prepare it for grazing by sheep.
Characteristics
Like a few other goose breeds, including the Pilgrim and Cotton Patch, Shetlands are sexually dimorphic at hatch (auto-sexing), and can be differentiated on appearance alone. Ganders will hatch a golden shade, and grow to be white. The female goose hatches gray and gold. Their legs, feet and bill should be a fleshy pink colour. The Shetland goose has a shorter bill, due to its natural ability to forage. Both sexes have blue eyes. Ganders have entirely white plumage, while geese have a head, neck, and upper body with gray highlights and a white underbody. Geese in their first year have a predominantly gray head that lightens over their first three years until at 3 years of age they have a white head with the signature gray spot on their neck just below the head. They generally mate for life, and are good parents. Shetland geese lay around 15-30 eggs a year that are white in colour.
Shetlands were first exported to the United States in 1997, by a farm in New York and have since been worked with extensively and preserved by Holderreads Waterfowl Farm and Preservation Center. Holderreads have since retired this breed from their farm. They have not yet been recognized or admitted to the American Standard of Perfection. The breed is currently being studied by the American Livestock Breeds Conservancy, which considers populations in North America to potentially be too low to maintain sufficient genetic diversity (in North America).Possible indications of this are reported fertility issues, although diet, obesity and breeding conditions can play a significant role in reproductive success. This breed is considered to be critically endangered worldwide.
The Shetland goose has a broad back and a well-rounded, keel-less breast. The abdomen is relatively flat with a single-lobed paunch. The wings are powerful, allowing full ability of flight, and on some farms it may be necessary to clip the feathers of one wing to keep them at home.
When selecting breeders choose vigorous, strong-legged birds free of physical deformities. Shetland geese in North America descend from a small genetic pool. As a result, special care must be taken to avoid genetic defects, including crooked toes, wry tails, kinked necks, and lack of vigor. Consider growth rate, egg production, and foraging ability for utility birds. Historically they have been considered very good for meat production given their quick growth rate and tremendous ability to finish on little more than grazing.
Shetland geese typically form very strong bonds with their mates. Females often go broody after laying 12-18 eggs and are successful setters and mothers. They retain many other natural instincts, and will flock during the non-breeding seasons, and band together to ward off predators.
The Shetland breed may be one of the quietest breeds of goose one can keep. They are not very vocal and generally are well behaved within a larger flock although ganders can prove to be tougher than their size suggests with other ganders during breeding season. They have a quiet personality that makes them an excellent selection for anyone wishing to own a pleasurable, easy to handle and keep breed.
2. Toulouse
The Toulouse breed is very old, having originated directly from the Western greylag in Southern France as a farmyard bird. The Toulouse was first imported to England during the late years of the eighteenth century. They went through major changes as they were developed to produce exhibition-type birds, which are extremely large and have dewlaps. The exhibition type was imported to North America around the middle of the nineteenth century.
3. American Buff
American Buffs are quite docile and make excellent parents. The goose goes broody easily, both mom and dad dote on their goslings once hatched. They are the largest of the medium-sized geese, making fine roasting birds. The American Buff was first admitted to the APA in 1947.
4. Embden
The Embden is a very old breed of goose. It was first imported to the US in 1820 from Germany, followed by imports from England. Embdens are the tallest geese, and thanks to their heavy weight and all-white plumage, they have always been popular for meat production. Although some embed ganders can be aggressive, especially during breeding season, overall the breed is fairly gentle. The Embden was first admitted to the APA in 1874.
5. Pilgrim
Pilgrim geese are auto-sexing. Males are primarily white with a small amount of grey in the rump, flanks and wings. Females are pale grey with some white on the face, neck and rump; the amount of white increases with age. Pilgrims are excellent backyard and barnyard birds. While hardy, active foragers, they are also very easy going with a quiet disposition. They are excellent parents. The Pilgrim was first admitted to the APA in 1939.
6. Pomeranian Saddleback
It is suspected that Pomeranians are descended from the Eastern Greylag, a subspecies with a little more pink shading in its bill and legs than the Western subspecies. The Pomeranian is a practical breed for meat production. Individual temperaments run from docile to fairly aggressive. They tend to be quite talkative. The Pomeranian was first admitted to the APA in 1977.
7. Roman Tufted
Developed in Rome over two thousand years ago. The Roman is a small but plump bird with a good meat ratio. The breed is known for it’s charming and friendly disposition. Females are good layers and good mothers, making them an ideal choice for a backyard goose.
8. African
The African goose derives from the swan goos of Southeast Asia. The African is considered by some people to be one of the gentlest breeds of domestic geese. It talks a lot, though it is not extremely loud. It is cold hardy, though its knobs can be subject to frostbite. The African is also known for producing a good carcass with tasty, lean meat. The African was first admitted to the APA in 1874.