Geese can have somewhat odd names at times. Take the African Goose, for example. The name suggests that this breed comes from the continent of Africa, right? Well, no. This is actually an Asian bird. However, we will discuss more about that throughout this page. We will discuss about the African Goose eggs, meat and temperament. We will also provide you with links to a couple of reputable hatcheries where you can find the African geese for sale. Bear with us!
The Origins of the African Goose
Now we will not lie here. We know that we said that the African Goose is an Asian goose. In fact, it likely came from China. However, we do not know 100% where the breed originated from, except that it was somewhere in the Southeast Asia.
Every indication is China because the goose is very similar to other breeds from that area, but we can never say 100%.
Many goose enthusiasts believe that it originates from the Swan goose, others will say that this is a cross between the Chinese geese and Toulouse geese.
However, based on evidence that researchers have available to them, the chances of this bird coming from anywhere but China is likely very slim. It almost certainly did not come from Africa.
This breed has been officially recognized as a distinct breed of bird since the 19th Century, although it existed for a long while prior to that. It was brought over to the United States at roughly the same time. Officially it was admitted to the APA in 1874.
The Look of the Goose
The African Goose has quite a distinctive look. In fact, it is perhaps one of the more recognizable breeds out there. However, do bear in mind that it does not grow anywhere near as big as some of the other goose breeds. The maximum weight is around 24 lb (11 kg).
This bird is characterized by a long, thick neck. In fact, the neck of this bird is a lot thicker than other geese. Underneath the bill, there is a small flap known as the dewlap. The dewlap will likely disappear, or not be as prominent when the bird ages a little bit.
However, this is mostly down to age and the fact that the dewlap is likely to be putting up with quite a bit of exposure.
The most prominent feature of the African Goose, but one most people will never see, is a small black bump on their forehead. The reason why most people do not ever see the bump on the forehead of the African Goose is the fact that it takes an exceedingly long time to develop. Years, in fact.
The goose is not born with it. This means that if the African Goose is being slaughtered for meat, it will never have the opportunity to develop this small bump. This is why you will see many pictures of this goose without there being a bump in place.
There are several colors for the African Goose. The white version is perhaps the most difficult one to find in the United States. The brown, buff, and gray versions are dead simple to find. However, by APA only two varieties are recognized: brown and white.
There is one major difference with the white version, though. Remember that bump we talked about? Well, in the white version of this breed, the bump is going to be orange instead of black. This creates an even more prominent look.
As a Show Bird
There are various African Goose shows, and there are some people that will raise this breed purely as a show breed. You can do this if you wish, but it isn’t really the sole purpose of the breed. Although, of course, due to the distinctive look of this bird, it does do incredibly well on the show circuit.
That being said, if you want a bird that looks fantastic to roam around your yard, while also being fairly productive, then the African Goose is just the ticket.
There are very few geese out there that look like this one. If you allow it to grow to the point where nit can start to develop the bump on its head, then you will be owning a goose that catches the attention of just about everybody that feasts their eyes upon it.
The African Goose Eggs and Egg-Laying
This goose should be able to lay around 20-30 eggs each year. Of course, these eggs will only be produced during the breeding season, which is confined to just a few months.
This is a goose that tends to do well when it is bred. In fact, this is probably one of the main aims of those that own this breed. A male can deal with several different female geese, and you can start a decent breeding program up. With a good breeding stock, you can produce dozens of this bird each year.
This breed can be quite broody, and their eggs fertilize well.
Of course, if you are there purely to eat the eggs, then the African Goose does have some decently sized, well-tasting eggs.
Raising this Goose for Meat Production
The African Goose is a decent meat goose. While we doubt that there are many people out there raising them purely for meat, they can produce some tasty meat if you wish.
The reason why we believe that very few people raise these for meat is due to their smaller size in comparison to other geese, and the fact that they will take a little bit of extra ‘looking after’.
Of course, if you do have excess birds, and a lot of people will due to how easy they are to breed, then you should be fine slaughtering them. They do make a tasty dish.
See also:
– Sebastopol goose
– American Buff goose
The African Goose Temperament and Care
The African goose temperament is what they are known for. They talk a lot, however they are not extremely laud and they are considered by many people as one of the friendliest domestic geese.
Although, there are some owners who report that the males can be aggressive at times. If the females are not raising offspring, then they should be fine.
So, if you are not planning on breeding the goose, then do not get any males. Just get females and they should be pretty friendly, although you still want to take a few precautions.
The main issue you will have with this bird is that they do not do well in colder climates. This is due to the bump on their head. During the colder parts of the year, you will want to keep them in a warm location, otherwise they will end up suffering from frostbite.
African Geese for Sale
If you are lucky enough to live near a local hatchery where you can find African geese for sale, that is great. If, however, you are among the unfortunates that are unable to do so, consider the following hatcheries as good options where you can find African geese for sale.
Keep in mind that on average the African geese price will range from $15 for males and $30 for females.
