Do my Gray Pomeranian Geese Meat the APA Show Standard?

[Oregon Blues]

The single lobe is an important breed characteristic. The lobe does tend to be off-center, although on some birds it is centered. The single lobe is a very big deal, so you want to breed away from double lobed in your flock.

The "breed standard" on the international waterfowl page is worthless. That is not the breed standard, it is just their writer's best guess at a description, and you don't want to use that to set your breeding goals. Buy the Standard of Perfection and use that.

The head description in the SOP is quite complicated and a good Pomeranian has a head that consists of many changes in planes.

The picture of the goose in the IW site has good markings, but it is a regular looking goose with saddleback coloring. It just looks like a goose, not like a Pomeranian.

 

[nonsuch]

Hi Everyone, I'm glad this thread was started. I also am new to showing Poultry, but have shown horses and dogs for years. I have attended to watch quite a few shows, including the big "Crossroads" show last October, and now have entered my birds at two shows. I'm also entered at the IWBA western meet at the Mn Poultry Assoc Show the end of October. I'm attaching a photo of my Gray Saddleback Pomeranian Goose "Bertha". I purchased her from Holderreads this late spring (she is about 6 months of age) she was sold as "Supreme Show Quality". She does have some white tipping on the feathers on her back? Last week's judge made a comment on the coop card. So far she's been the only "Young Goose" Pom at the last few shows. She's gotten first, but not BB or RB. I do have the APA Standards (which I just received last week) and have been studying the breeds that I have. I could give her a more pinkish bill/feet, but feel she is of high quality. Do you think the white tipping on some of her saddle feathering will change?

 

[Oregon Blues]

Nonsuch, she is lovely, but I have no idea about the white feathers on the wings. That's not something I've had on my birds (yet). She is very young and she will fill out more as she matures.

OP, I forgot to mention, that wing feathers are required to cross over the back, I can see that in one of your photos, but the other photo is a little blurry on my monitor, so I can't tell. Something else to breed for, and do not allow anyone to tell you it is a fault. In some types of birds it is a fault, but the Pomeranian standard requires the crossed wing feathers.

OP, your birds are young and they will fill out more as they mature, also.

There are 2 types of "Pomeranian" goose in the USA. There are the imported bloodlines of purebred Pomeranian imported from Europe. Then there are regular geese who have had the saddleback markings bred onto them by some American breeders. Because there are no recorded pedigrees in show birds, the regular geese with saddleback markings are sold and bred as Pomeranians. They are quite common and I've even seen a poultry judge give a nice award to one of them.

The European goose is short, stout, thick necked, with a pronounced breast. The American Pomeranian looks like a regular goose with saddleback markings.

In my opinion, Saddleback markings do not make a goose a Pomeranian. In fact, in Europe, Pomeranians also come in white and gray. In the USA, there are several other breeds of goose that can be found with saddleback markings. Their markings do not turn them into a Pomeranian.

 

[flyinghenfarm]

I feed my birds Grower/Finisher. Does my gander picture, does he seem to have one or two lobes? Thank you so much for your help!!

 

[flyinghenfarm]

Would you mind sending me a good picture of one of your good pomeranians?