Heavy
Geese
Medium
Geese
Light
Geese
Heavy
Ducks
Light
Ducks
Call
Ducks
Indian
Runners
Bantam
Ducks
 
 
 
Domestic Geese recognized
by the British Waterfowl Association Standards

Geese have always had the reputation of being guardians of the farmyard but, for breeders and waterfowl keepers, they have a wider use as pure breeds for exhibition, 'lawn mowers' and pets. Well reared, geese are responsive, intelligent birds and deserve a better reputation than they are often given.

Breeds in the UK
There are fourteen breeds recognized in the UK at present. They range from the heavy white Embden (up to 34 lbs) down to the diminutive white Roman at only 10-14lbs. As well as these white birds, there are the beautiful American and Brecon Buff and the grey Toulouse. Geese also come in 'pied' varieties - the Grey Back and Buff Back - as well as the 'frizzle' Sebastopol.

Sebastopol   Roman   Brecon Buff

Ancestors
All of the above breeds are descended from the wild European goose, the greylag. However, in the Far East, the Chinese people developed two types of domestic geese from the wild swan goose. These are now recognized as the familiar Chinese goose (in white and in the grey wild pattern) plus the majestic 'African' goose which originates in fact from SE China.

 

 

 

   Although the ancestors of the domestic geese are supposed to be two distinct species, the domestic geese related to the greylag and the swan goose do interbreed. These crosses have produced the different breeds of Russian geese such as the Tula, Asamas and Kholmogory, plus the beautiful blue Steinbacher goose recently imported into the UK from Germany. Out of the 14 breeds standardized breeds, only three - the Brecon Buff and arguably the Pilgrim and West of England - are indigenous to the UK.

Geese have a great deal more variety in colour, size and temperament than many people realise and are a neglected source of eggs, utility in the garden, and fun when the birds are reared well and are tame. Given simple guidelines on feeding, grit for the gizzard and worming, and protection from fox and badger, adults are easy to keep. Goslings (as all young birds) require more care and protection.

For exhibition purposes, the goose breeds are divided into:

Heavy geese:
African American Buff
Emden
Toulouse

Medium Geese:
Brecon Buff
Buff Back
Grey Back
Pomeranian
West of England

Light Geese:
Chinese
Pilgrim
Roman
Sebastopol
Steinbacher