Guessing genders of my African Geese

[Subaru07]

I'm just trying to figure out the genders of my geese? 2nd time owning geese but 1st time hatching them and raising them from eggs. I'm guessing as far as gender I have 2 male and a female, am I right? What are the pros and cons? Don't mind my voice in videos.

 

[Subaru07]

Some more pic.s of them this AM

 

[Xatra]

Is there a video link I'm missing? I just see pics. Based on the first pic showing all 3, I'm guessing 2 males 1 female, because in that pic it looks like two are larger with longer necks and one smaller with shorter neck. A video showing them all three walking around together interacting would be more helpful. Males tend to extend their necks forward more while females keep their necks upright more. I have two male and one female African geese and the males have larger knobs than the female, but I've read here that knob size is usually not a good indicator in this breed. Also females make a distinctly different noise, hard to describe, have to hear it and once you do that's a definite indicator I believe.

 

[Subaru07]

I had added more pic.s I hope they sent and the video was giving me trouble to add. Two are kind of taller but the small of the 2 and the smallest one of the bunch look like they have the saggy diaper look as a female would and the biggest one doesn't have that look. They are almost 3 months old.

 

[Xatra]

OK, but I have read here that contrary to what many people believe, there isn't a good way to determine gender in geese by appearance of bottom area. My males look like they have just as much or more "soggy diaper" appearance as my female.

Have you tried just vent sexing them? This is actually quite easy with geese as large as yours, did my own this year based on information and pics found online and I was right on 9 out of 9 (I kept the 3 I liked the most, sold the rest).

Hopefully more people will chime in.

 

[AGeese]

I would say if we're just guessing, female could have lower paunches, and males long necks. My geese make a sort of low chatter (bad description) vs my gander who sounds more like a horse.

 

[Xatra]

Also, when they walk around, males usually lead, with their longer necks stretched more forward, and females are generally behind at least one male, with shorter neck held more upright. My female absolutely never ever leads, only ever follows the males. If you sit and listen to them for long enough you will be able to hear the entirely different sounds females make as well. I may make a video (not today) of my geese, including the way they walk around males vs females and the different noises they make, as an aid for people in determining sex.

 

[Subaru07]

Also, when they walk around, males usually lead, with their longer necks stretched more forward, and females are generally behind at least one male, with shorter neck held more upright. My female absolutely never ever leads, only ever follows the males. If you sit and listen to them for long enough you will be able to hear the entirely different sounds females make as well. I may make a video (not today) of my geese, including the way they walk around males vs females and the different noises they make, as an aid for people in determining sex.

OK I'm listening to them when they honk, the saggy diaper ones that I'm guessing females have like a single honk, as when the biggest of them all guessing male honks it's like 2 of them in one. Is that what they mean the single syllable and double syllable?

 

[Xatra]

OK I'm listening to them when they honk, the saggy diaper ones that I'm guessing females have like a single honk, as when the biggest of them all guessing male honks it's like 2 of them in one. Is that what they mean the single syllable and double syllable?

It's not the syllables but the tone/pitch. Males make a high pitched, loud screech while females sound is much lower and quieter. This starts happening with Africans when they're about 3-4 months old.

 

[Xatra]

OK I made a couple videos that will hopefully help show the differences in appearance and sounds of male vs female African geese. In this first one, when video starts the female, Heather, is in front and shortly after that flaps her wings. She's smaller than the males with a shorter neck, not nearly as vocal in general and never as loud, and her voice is deeper and softer. This video shows a good amount of the loud shrieking of the two males, Bull and Scout (larger male is Bull, he is also Heather's chosen mate).