White geese are a waterfowl genus that belongs to the true swan and geese subfamily. These species typically reproduce in any wet and open habitat in the cool Northern Hemisphere regions, having numerous breeds with distinct characteristics.
Here are some of the white geese breeds:
1. American Buff Geese
2. Embden Geese
3. Roman Geese
4. Snow Geese
5. Sebastopol Geese
6. White Pomeranian Geese
7. White Chinese Geese
In this article, you’ll get to know more of the white geese breeds, their characteristics, origin, and more! On top of that, you’ll also get to know the rarity and aggressiveness of the different white geese breeds.
White Geese Breeds
American Buff Geese
As the name suggests, the American Buff geese originate from the United States of America. Moreover, this species was acknowledged by the American Poultry Association way back in 1947.
This particular breed is primarily grown for eggs and meat. They are also rare and are continually in danger of disappearance.
Although the small and medium-sized American Buff geese can fly, this stops at age two due to their heavyweight, reaching up to 18 pounds.
- Appearance: These buff geese are extremely rare species with stunning apricot fawns. You can recognize these medium-sized birds with their brown eyes, reddish-orange feet, buff creamy-edged feathers, and pale pink nails. On top of that, they have light brownish yellow feathers at their back and almost pure white bellies.
- Size: 18 pounds in weight, 45 inches in height.
- Place of Origin: United States of America
- Characteristics: These geese species are pretty docile and friendly.
Embden geese are named after a town in Germany and are the oldest domestic geese breed. They are also often called swan geese.
Just like American Buff geese, this breed is kept for their lean meat and eggs. They’re deemed good egg layers, laying up to sixty eggs per year. Furthermore, they grow much quicker than their fellow geese breeds.
- Appearance: This breed is a pure white bird having a golden yellow to orange bill with a white tip and orange legs and feet. They have a prominent long curved neck. Their heads are smaller than other breeds because they lack the knob on the forehead. Moreover, they also have short tails and clear blue eyes that spice their look.
- Size: It’s considered the tallest and biggest breed at around 3.3 feet tall and 41 pounds, along with the Toulouse goose.
- Place of Origin: Germany
- Characteristics: These geese are relatively calm and gentle.
Roman geese are another breed of all-white geese that originates in Italy. They’re often found in various wetland habitats and backyard ponds.
They’re moderate egg-layers with around thirty to thirty-five eggs delivered per year. Also, they’re mostly grown and kept due to their rapid maturity and lean meat. On top of that, they’re typically fine-boned and small, weighing only 12 pounds on average.
- Appearance: Roman geese have long necks and legs, making them look like large ducks. They have pinkish to reddish-orange bills and legs and blue eyes. They also possess a small compact body, broad back, plump breast, and well-rounded abdomen, with dual lobes paunch, adding more magnificence to their well-rounded body. Moreover, they have strong wings and short tails.
- Size: 10 pounds in weight, 45 inches in height.
- Place of Origin: Italy
- Characteristics: Roman geese are calm yet can be noisy, curious, alert, and active. These domestic geese can get connected to people within just days.
Snow geese are waterfowl species with a large population globally, and they are native to North America. They nest and live in colonies—preferably on high ground that fits their small home. These geese typically reproduce in the arctic and subarctic regions of Russia and North America.
They usually spend their breeding season in their nests, migrating between colder and warmer regions after that season.
- Appearance: The snow geese have white colors on their bodies with a black color on their orange-pink bill’s edges, making them look like they are smiling!
- Size: 6 pounds in weight, 25 to 33 inches in length.
- Place of Origin: North America
- Characteristics: Snow geese mostly do everything in big groups, such as removing massive amounts of edible plant matter together using their bills.
Sebastopol geese are deemed to be the most attractive and unique geese breed due to their dramatic, milky white appearance.
They’re usually kept and raised for meat and eggs. However, these geese aren’t as bulky and full, so they require excellent shelter to survive winter.
Appearance: Sebastopol geese have orange bills and legs. They have notable blue eyes, keelless breasts, slightly arched smooth grayish-brown necks, and large, round heads. Furthermore, they possess frizzled and heavy, curvy feathers, making it difficult for them to fly.
Size: Medium-sized, weighing 12 to 14 pounds when mature, and 43 inches in length.
Place of Origin: Southeastern Europe
Characteristics: They are not aggressive and can be good pets.
White Pomeranian Geese
Pomeranian geese are heavy, medium-sized European breeds that can deliver fifteen to thirty-five eggs per year. This breed is relatively noisy and is raised mainly for meaty breasts.
The White Pomeranian geese breed is incredibly popular as a “market geese breed” in Poland, Europe, the Baltic regions, and Germany.
- Appearance: The adult Pomeranian Geese are primarily white in color with feathers at the base of their bills but with solid-colored heads and blue eyes.
These geese have flattened heads, thick necks, rounded bodies, and prominent breasts. Their legs and feet are reddish-orange with a pinkish-red bill. Moreover, newborns are usually yellow with dark grey backs and heads.
- Size: 17 pounds in weight, 40 inches in length.
- Place of Origin: Northern Germany
- Characteristics: They can also make good watch birds as they’re noisy enough when greeting visitors. According to a study, some White Pomeranians are naturally social and chatty, while others are particularly rude and aggressive towards humans and other domestic birds.
White Chinese Geese
White Chinese geese are another pure all-white geese breeds. They’re considered good egg layers as they can produce at least fifty to sixty eggs per year.
Furthermore, this breed can’t live without water, so you have to ensure that water is readily available at your place or on the farm.
Appearance: They’re bigger than most geese breeds and are recognized by their unique orange basal knob most of the time. It’s best to note that the knob protrudes more in males than females.
White Chinese geese possess white feathers, long arched creamy necks, and attractive blue eyes. Furthermore, pure Chinese geese have short, compact bodies with prominent breasts and orange bills and legs.
Size: 20 pounds in weight, 43 inches in length.
Place of Origin: China
Characteristics: They can be considered as watch animals because they are one of the noisy breeds.
Frequently Asked Questions
Are White Geese Rare?
Some of the extremely rare white geese breeds are the American Buff geese. Other white geese breeds, particularly the snow geese, became rare in 1916—which has been banned from hunting due to its declining numbers. However, they thrive in the present moment and can be seen in large numbers.
Do White Geese Fly?
Most white geese species can fly, but not too high due to their large size.
Which Geese Breed Is Rude and Aggressive?
Some geese breeds tend to be rude and aggressive, including the Chinese geese, White Pomeranian geese, and Roman geese.
What Is the Difference Between a White Goose and a White Duck?
One of the primary differences between the two is their size. Generally, geese are much larger than ducks with their long necks, legs, and elongated bodies.
Meanwhile, ducks have short legs, stout bodies and are smaller in structure than geese.
White geese are beautiful and striking waterfowl species; some of its breeds are already rare, and some became rare at some point, resulting in a hunting ban. Furthermore, these geese are typically raised for their lean meat and provide farmers with several eggs per year.
If you’re planning to raise one for yourself, you may refer to the list of species above and choose the one that’s suited to your preference.
List of Sources
Breeds of Livestock – Pomeranian Goose. Oklahoma State University.
Snow Goose (2021). Pennsylvania Game Commission.
Final Environmental Impact Statement on Light Goose Management: Questions and Answers. U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.
Snow Goose. Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency.