Chinese

The Chinese goose is a breed of domesticated goose descended from the wild swan goose. Chinese geese differ from the wild birds in much larger size (up to 5–10 kg in males, 4–9 kg in females), and in having a strongly developed basal knob on the upper side of the bill. The knob at the top of the beak is more prominent on males than females. It takes several months for the knob to become pronounced enough that it can be used for determining gender. Chinese geese are a close cousin of the African goose, a heavier breed also descended from the swan goose.

Chinese geese appear in two varieties: a brown, similar to the wild swan goose, and white.

GENERAL CHARACTERISTICS

SHAPE OF GANDER AND GOOSE

CARRIAGE : Upright and active

HEAD : Of medium size, with large knob at base of bill.

KNOB : Round, large, the larger the better.

BILL : Of medium length, stout at base.

EYES: Large.

NECK: Long, gracefully arched, carried very upright.

WINGS: Large, strong, closely folded against sides, and carried high.

BACK: Rather short, of medium width, sloping from neck to tail.

BREAST: Well rounded, full, carried well up.

BODY: Compact, rather short, round, plump;

LEGS AND TOES: Lower thighs, short, stout; shanks, of medium length; toes, straight, connected by web.

COLOUR

BROWN CHINESE GEESE

COLOR OF GANDER AND GOOSE

HEAD: Dark russet brown on top; face, grayish fawn, extending just above eye, forming a distinct line of demarkation.

KNOB: Dark slate.

BILL: Black or dark slate.

EYES: Dark brown.

NECK: Fawn, with a distinct, dark, russet brown stripe down the center of the back of neck and running its entire length; front of neck under mandible, light grayish fawn.

WINGS: Bows, medium russet brown, slightly edged with a lighter shade; coverts, russet brown, distinctly edged with a lighter shade approaching white; primaries, russet brown; pri mary coverts, russet brown.

BACK: Russet brown.

TAIL: Dark russet brown, heavily edged with a shade approaching white; tail-coverts, very light grayish fawn approaching white.

BREAST: Grayish fawn, shading to a lighter color under the body.

BODY AND FLUFF: Body, a lighter shade of grayish fawn than the breast, gradually getting lighter as it approaches the fluff, which is so light as to approach white.

LEGS AND TOES: Lower thighs, russet brown, edged with a lighter shade approaching white; shanks and toes, orange.

WHITE CHINESE GEESE

COLOR OF GANDER AND GOOSE

KNOB: Orange.

BILL: Orange.

EYES: Light blue.

SHANKS AND TOES: Orange-yellow.

PLUMAGE: Pure white.

WEIGHTS

Adult Gander - 12 lbs. Adult Goose - 10 lbs. Young Gander - 10 lbs. Young Goose - 8 lbs.

SCALE OF POINTS

Goose Points from the American Standard of Perfection referenced below.

SERIOUS DEFECTS

• Absence of knob

Serious Defects in the Brown:

• Absence of knob; bill or knob other than dark slate or black;

• White feathers in primaries or secondaries.

Serious Defects in the White:

• Feathers other than pure white in any part of plumage.

See Disqualifications

Drawing of Trio of White Chinese by Franklane Sewell

White Chinese Gander with young.

SOURCES

• The American standard of perfection, illustrated. A complete description of recognized varieties of fowls, as revised by [the Association at its 62d-67th annual meetings, 1937-42.] Public Domain accessed from: https://catalog.hathitrust.org/Record/009169004

• The Poultry club standards, containing a complete description of all the recognised varieties of fowls, ducks, geese and turkeys, ed. by William W. Broomhead. https://catalog.hathitrust.org/Record/009202629

• Australian Poultry Standards 2nd edition

• https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chinese_goose