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Uses: Utility - eggs, meat and as a good broody. A good 'guard dog'
Eggs: 40 to 80 per year.
Weight: Gander: 4.5-5.5 Kg, Goose: 3.5-4.5 Kg.
Colours: Grey, White
Useful to know: At 8 weeks of age, the size of the basal knob can be used to sex goslings. Chinese can be very noisy!
Photo: A Grey Chinese Goose.
Chinese Geese are known as Höckergänse in Germany and Oies de Chine in France. The Chinese Goose is a descendent of the wild Swan Goose. They come in two colour varieties, grey and white. The grey Chinese Geese look similar to African Geese who are also descendents of the wild Swan Goose however they are a much lighter build.
There are two distinct types of Chinese in the UK, an elegant exhibition strain that was introduced during the 1970's from America and a heavier English dual purpose utility type of bird.
Chinese Geese are quite a popular breed for their looks as well as their suitability as ‘guard dogs'. They are very alert and curious and can be rather noisy when strangers are about.
The temperament of Chinese Geese can be quite different between strains although, as with other geese, their upbringing has a lot to do with their temperament. Care should be taken with ganders if the goose is sitting on eggs as they have been known to take a strong disliking to visitors at this time! Geese are known to go broody easily as well as being good layers of eggs.
The number of eggs a Chinese will lay is again dependent on the strain. They are reasonably good layers and a reasonable strain will lay around 50 white eggs per year although some have been know to lay more than 80 eggs.
By about 8 weeks of age, the size of the basal knob can be used to sex goslings. The knob is smaller in the goose than it is in the gander.
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Domestic Goose Breeds