Pilgrim geese - male or female???

[TarHeelBlue]

My guy has a lot more gray on him(?), but the feathers are now seeming to turn white. I do see dark blue eyes though. Maybe he just can't decide

 

[mitchell3006]

It's fairly easy to call the day a pilgrim is hatched but by 1 week they are much harder to tell apart. Once the real feathers start coming it gets easy again. You have a really nice young gander there. Hope the other is a goose for you. We started with pilgrims last year and were able to raise 5 this year under a goose. I messed up 18 eggs in the incubator and only hatched 1 that stuck in shell and died on day 2(couldn't keep the humidity right). We also lost 8 that were under a goose about three days from hatch. A yellow lab that someone threw out near the house broke up the nest and eggs. He didn't eat them and I was able to determine that 7 were good. Next year I think I will let the geese set some and may use muscovy hens on the others.

 

[birdboy508]

definite gander.

 

[TarHeelBlue]

Are all the ganders solid white?? or do I have a mixed breed and the guy that sold me the eggs didn't tell me??????

 

[shelleyd2008]

The ganders are mostly white with patches of grey.

 

[dawnwinds58]

Yup, but having gray isn't necessary. Some don't. The eyes are blue though. My Pilgrim male has no gray you notice, but has lovely nordic blue eyes. I contacted some hatcheries who sold Pilgrims and asked questions. They said according to the bloodlines, the gray varied from super heavy to near non-existent. To find any gray on mine, you have to look at the underside of his wings.

 

[TarHeelBlue]

My guy does have the dark blue eyes, very evident now. But he has lots of light gray on him too. I'm trying to figure out how to post a pic so you guys can see them.

 

[TarHeelBlue]

OK, hope this works. This is the best pic I could get of the two of them together. Any ideas?? Boy - girl?? The one sitting has the blue eyes.

 

[scratch'n'peck]

Yep the whiter one looks like a gander. My Pilgrim gander has blue eyes and my Lucy Goosey girl pilgrim has brown eyes. It looks like they have a wonderful place to graze.

 

[TarHeelBlue]

Yes, there are a few patches of green - over the lateral lines in our yard. At least they have green patches to graze on. They love it. And I love them - they are such sweet little guys!! Are all Pilgrims this nice? If so, I need to get another pair. They are wonderful.