Goose or Gander? I don't have a clue

[AllCoop'dUp]

I'm fairly new to geese and was wondering if anyone could tell what I have. They are about 6 months old
Buff Africians

American Blue and Lavendar Ice:


Tuffed Roman and Ebdem:

 

[shelleyd2008]

The only way you can tell with the Americans, Romans, and Embdens is by vent sexing or behavior. The Africans you should be able to tell by the size of their knob but the picture won't 'pop up' any bigger so I can't see it well.

 

[Amigo]

I don't see a Roman Tufted anyway.

 

[birdboy508]

2 and 3 are females and 1s a mail.

 

[AllCoop'dUp]

Posted a larger picture of the Africans. The Tuffed Roman is the little white one in the last picture with the grey wing feathers.

Does anyone know what to do about a dislocated hock joint? The little Lavender Ice has a bad leg that goes out to the side. Walks with a limp poor thing...I hate to eat her/him, but....

 

[shelleyd2008]

Quote:
You cannot tell by looking at most geese whether it is male or female.

The africans look like a male and female judging by the knobs.

 

[roboboy]

The africans appear to be a pair based on looks. The head on the one on the left doesn't look as smooth and refined as the other one. It also appears to be little larger in size and the more upright stance of a gander. (That last bit is just speculation as I don't know if they are standing calming in the picture or agitated).

The tufted roman is most likely a girl because it is common for young females to show gray in the wings and sides, but not young males. Because of that aspect the embden is probably a gander, but to be sure you would have to try and vent sex. Best guesses can also be made by sound, though it works best with adult birds. Ganders tend to be higher pitched, and females lower. Female africans especially are said to make a sound like "goink" while the gander is more like a trumpet sound, loud and usually longer. In appearance ganders tend to stand up higher, and be slightly larger in body, neck, and head most notably. As I said earlier ganders head are larger and less refined than females.

 

[shelleyd2008]

Quote:
I didn't realize Romans were also auto-sexing at hatch. I agree with roboboy that if they are young, the Embden is most likely male and the Roman (if pure) is female. Though there are some strains of Embden that have 'lost' their auto-sexing quality, so the Embden could be a girl.

 

[shelleyd2008]

I can't believe the size difference between the Roman and Embden! I knew that Romans were classified as 'small' and Embdens are classified as 'large', but it's funny to see them side by side

 

[pete55]

Your Buff Africans look like a pair to me unless the bird on the right is a younger gosling as the head's not so well developed. Lovely geese you have there

Pete