Tufted buff geese

[twentynine]

Guys my wife had to have one. So when we were buying our black copper Marans, the breeder put one in the box.

Here's my question:

I have read You can tell the male and female apart by a top knot of down. The female having the top knot. At what age do they develope the top knot? Is it there at hatching?

The one we have in minus a top knot, I figure he/she's a couple weeks old at best. Realizing now we should have bought a pair, the breeder has another one available. So wanting a true "pair" is why I'm asking. We have been able to keep the little guy happy by brooding him with the chicks, and taking him for walks in the yard. So no damage to chicks or goose to report, I have notice that he/she eat the equivalent of 3 or 4 chicks worth of feed.

I'm not looking to breed or grow a flock, but I don't want a lonely goose either.

Thanks
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[8GeeseALaying]

Both genders have the tuft. They hatch with what looks like alot of fluff standing up on their heads. To someone who is new to having geese its not noticable but when compared to goslings of breeds who do not have tufts it is noticable. As they feather out you can see it better.
Here is my tufted gosling at 3 days old

And one of my gosling breeds that does not have a tuft. Also 3 days old

Getting yours a friend would be the best because geese do better in pairs and so on. As for knowing male or female you would have to vent sex it or wait until maturity and see which one lays or not.

 

[twentynine]

I am new to geese. But my guy has a flat top, definitely not like the ones you pictured. However the same yellow color.

I'm really not up to probing around in the lower unit of a goose.

 

[8GeeseALaying]

Could you put a pic on here? I dont vent sex mine either i like waiting it out.

 

[twentynine]

Here is a clear picture of his head, 1 week ago. Come daylight I'll see if I can get a better one.

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[twentynine]

Better picture of his/her head.

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[servpolice]

Well its a buff alright but not a tuffed buff

 

[twentynine]

So are these buff geese or tufted buff?

Not that it really matters to me, my wife is in love with the little guy.

 

[8GeeseALaying]

So are these buff geese or tufted buff?

Not that it really matters to me, my wife is in love with the little guy.

Those are tufted buffs, the tufts arent as big as most but they are still tufted. Your little guy may have a small tuft as well when older. I dont see one on him though, even with my smaller tufted geese as goslings they had fuzzy heads about half as fuzzy as the one i posted above.

 

[twentynine]

Thanks for the information. The flock pictured is were my little guy came from. So if they are tufted buffs so is my guy.
Where the tuft is? I got no idea.
Watched a you tube video that had a young lady describing and illustrating how to vent sex a goose. Based on that information I attempted to check my guy out. With only 1 goose I can't compare 1 to the other but I believe I have a goose.
We are prabably headed down to the breeder today to get another goslin. I had to seperate the chicks and goslin this morning. I noticed some of the chicks missing a few feathers and I caught the goslin in the act of pulling them out. She is a real unhappy girl by herself.