by Tim Harry

Created on: April 07, 2010

The Chinese Goose is one of the oldest examples of domesticated geese, having been domesticated from the wild Swan Goose an estimated two thousand years ago by the Chinese. Occasionally referred to as the Chinese Swan Goose, the breed was developed to be larger than its wild forebears.

The Chinese Goose is normally about 45cm long, with the gander weighing between five and ten kilograms. The female goose is slightly smaller ranging from four to nine kilograms.

There are two recognized varieties of Chinese Goose, the brown variety, which is the norm, and also a white one. The brown variety of Chinese Goose is predominantly brown, with brown wings and back, and an obvious brown stripe running down its neck. Flanks are whiter in colour, as are the under parts of the bird. The Chinese Goose also has orange legs and feet.

One of the more obvious characteristics of the Chinese Goose is its basal knob, a knob which is present upon the upper side of the black bill. The male Chinese goose will have a more obvious basal knob than the female counterpart, and it is this feature that helps with the sexing of young birds after a couple of months. A further difference between the male and female Chinese Goose is ascertained by listening to their honk. The male’s is a high shrill compared to the deeper honk of the female.  

Chinese Geese are some of the best egg laying geese and it is not unknown for a young female to lay 100 eggs in the breeding season, although a more normal figure ranges between 50 and 60. The meat produced by the goose is also of good quality, low in fat, with a good amount of meat upon the bird.

The Chinese Goose is an ideal bid for many smallholdings. The Chinese Goose is a great bird for helping control weed levels in a property, as they will eat any grass and weeds available. They are though also a very tame breed of duck and will become a funny kind of nuisance, and will get under foot quite easily. They are also a very curious breed, something that makes them a good guard dog, and will become vocal when anything unusual occurs.

In some cases the Chinese Goose can also be an exhibition bird, and the graceful look of the goose certainly gains many plaudits.

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