American Buff Geese ?

[poultry09]

Well from now ill keep my mouth shut I said I wanted some American Buffs and I go out today and my brown African gander is dead. I have had him about 15 years.

I am sorry to hear that,

you must have raised him right for him to live a long and happy 15 years.

My american buffs have been laying for about 2 1/2 - 3 weeks now, and they have 17 eggs in thier nest!!!

 

[nivtup]

We are still patiently waiting for our first buff eggs.

They are only year old birds, so hopefully they get it all figured out.

 

[larkflying]

I'd heard that geese don't really lay till their second year --- however, at least one of my Buff Geese is laying -- I found her all settled into a nest area yesterday. Mine were hatched in April, so they aren't that much older than yours. Hopefully at least one of them will lay this year . . .

 

[nivtup]

I am being optimistic on the odds of getting eggs before the season is over.

They are practicing, so I would think that is a good sign. Hopefully.

 

[erijn5]

It is easier for them to get the job done in water..I have kiddie pools in their pens and out in the yard for when they are freeranging.

I don't know how fertile the first eggs would be with them being so young..but probably after a few they should be good to go as long as they are breeding..

My geese are laying tons of eggs picking up a few every day!!

 

[rarely bored]

My lone American Buff is laying, and she is a year old. How many eggs can I expect? She is ganderless so there is no reason to encourage broodiness, so hoping she doesn't want to try it. Debating on finding a gander for her.

 

[Oregon Blues]

Probably some where between 30-60 eggs. Usually, geese lay one egg every other day.

Not all geese read the book, though, so you will have to wait and learn what your goose is going to do.

I think geese eggs are the best tasting eggs of all, so don't let those go to waste.

 

[rarely bored]

30 to 60!!!! I was thinking 15 to 20. Wow! And, yes she is laying every other day, we have collected 3 eggs so far.

Really, they taste different? Was going to try one in a cheesecake, may be doing a lot of baking in the days to come!

 

[D'Angelo N Va.]

Ok, I was visiting a friend that has geese last week. I asked her what kind she had and she said, mostly mules. She had found out that like muscovies, some geese can't mate others or it will happen. Is this true? What kinds can't cross? I really want some American Buffs but maybe some Embdens also. Can't decide. Thanks for all replies.

 

[AquaEyes]

Ok, I was visiting a friend that has geese last week. I asked her what kind she had and she said, mostly mules. She had found out that like muscovies, some geese can't mate others or it will happen. Is this true? What kinds can't cross? I really want some American Buffs but maybe some Embdens also. Can't decide. Thanks for all replies.

The two breeds you mentioned both descend from the same species -- the European greylag goose. Chinese and African geese descend from a different, but closely related, species -- the swan goose. They can all interbreed and produce fertile offspring. The Steinbecker geese derive from crosses between these two groups of domesticated breeds. The only geese that would result in "mules" are those belonging to other genera -- Egyptians, Canadians, etc. If they hybridize with any of the domesticated geese, the offspring will be sterile.

Similarly, with domesticated ducks, two different wild species are ancestors -- the mallard (all breeds except the muscovy) and the wild muscovy. However, these two species are not closely related, and hybrid offspring between them will result in (almost always) sterile offspring.