Piebald goose - sexually ambiguous?

[quackenboss]

I have a beautiful 6 month old piebald gander. He is one of my largest birds, has a long neck, and can make an ear-splitting screech when annoyed or frightened. He has attempted to climb up on my back for some hoppity gaga if I was sitting low enough for him to try it.

What confuses me is that he also makes honking noises like a hen, and I’m pretty sure that I have seen our Pekin drake trying to mate him out in the water, but I have never seen him mount another bird. So what’s going on here - is he a goose or a gander?

His mama is an Embden goose and his daddy is either a white Chinese or Chinese/African cross. Mama has a pretty good screech on her too.

 

[sourland]

Given enough time his sex will become evident.

 

[The goose girl]

If he makes the deep honking sounds, he's probably a goose. I think the climbing on your back is more of a scare tactic move - my goose will do it with people she's not totally comfortable with. But if he's really trying to mate you, you should see his penis coming out. Drakes will mount anything.

 

[quackenboss]

Goose girl, it could be a scare tactic, he’s always hissing loudly at me. Strangely, though, he loves to be petted.

 

[Miss Lydia]

He/she sure is pretty what ever sex.

 

[quackenboss]

Thanks, Miss Lydia, I think so too. His feathers are so silky, I love to pet him. Makes me want to try to hatch more like him, if only I could afford the upkeep!

BTW, his sister looks pretty much like her Embden mama, but I’m sure her daddy was the white Chinese.

 

[123RedBeard]

You could always just have a look ...

https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/sexing-adult-geese-american-buffs.691000/

https://www.peelridgestud.com/how-to-vent-sex-geese/

 

[quackenboss]

Haha, RedBeard, I have never had the nerve to try it, and this is a big bird. There’s no way he’s gonna let me turn him upside down!