Re: ID goose


<magnolia15@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote in message
news:1190543156.313484.273540@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
On Sep 23, 3:54 am, "David Hare-Scott" <comp...@xxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:
I have just been given a goose/gander, the previous owner isn't sure
what
sort. It is said to be a gander, it is 3 years old. It is a large
bird,
about 25in high and 40in around. It is mostly white but grey/brown on
the
head and upper neck and the wings. The bill is orange and the eyes
blue.

Searching for internet images it looks most like a Normandy Goose. The
gender is confusing as one site says males are all white and females
white
and grey. Another site says the reverse.

I would like to get some companions for him/her and end up with a gander
and
say 3 geese.

Can anybody help me identify this bird.

David

Hi, David!
Everything Jill says is right-on.
As someone who has kept geese for a long time, I have noticed some
slight differences in adult birds that may also be of help.
In a GOOSE of three years, there may be a formation of the underbody
feathers into a sort-of defined keel right down the center of her true
keel. In other words, her center is a bit pinched along that center
line.
Most GANDERS, on the other hand, either totally lack this sharpness on
the keel or actually have a pouchy area to one side that puffs against
one leg at body.
Mixed breed birds are still a pleasure, so don't get bent out of shape
if this is the case. If you want offspring or to add certain
charactaristics to your flock, then just add that to your criteria
when you obtain his/her companions.
Hope you get hooked like I have. Geese are beautiful.

Kathleen
Straw Barry Fields Farm
Beefalo
Kentucky, USA


Thankyou both. I wasn't aiming for racial purity just to keep him/her happy
and maybe breed some if we were lucky.

David


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