The Chinese goose is the laying breed among geese: well-managed flocks produce 40 to 100 large white eggs a year, more than any other goose, and so roughly twice as many goslings. Small, upright and elegant, it carries a large rounded knob on the forehead and holds its long neck high. It arrived in North America in colonial times — George Washington kept them at Mount Vernon — and entered the American Standard in 1874. Chinese are alert and very vocal, which makes them effective watchdogs and noisy neighbours, and they forage keenly enough to be used for weeding.
Beginner friendly
Good with kids
Cold hardy
Heat tolerant
Broody
Egg colorWhite
Egg production40–100 / year
TemperamentDocile
BroodinessOccasional
ClimateCold hardy, Heat tolerant
PurposeMeat And Eggs
Weight
Goose10 lb
Gander12 lb
How to spot it
Head
A large, rounded, upright knob where the bill meets the forehead; long, slender bill
Plumage
Brown variety with a dark stripe down the back of the neck, or pure white
Look for
A light, swan-necked goose that stands nearly upright, with a prominent knob and no dewlap
