When we think of farming poultry, it’s common to think of chickens and maybe ducks, but you might be surprised to learn that geese have actually been extremely popular as livestock for ages. Though they don’t lay as many eggs as chickens or ducks, they do lay larger ones and since these birds are so big themselves, they can produce a lot of meat, too. Meat and egg production varies a lot by breed, though, so choose wisely!
But whatever intentions you have for a flock on your homestead, if you love the look of pure, shining white feathers you’ll be happy to know that there are many breeds of wild and domestic geese that are all white in color, or very nearly so. Or perhaps you’re just looking for some interesting specimens when you’re out bird-watching by the lake.
Whatever the case, I’ll be bringing you a list of white (or partially white) goose breeds to know and telling you a little bit about each of them.
| Breed | Latin name | Conservation status |
|---|---|---|
| Chinese Goose | Anser cygnoides domesticus | Watch |
| Czech Goose | Anser anser domesticus | Nothing found |
| African Goose | Anser cygnoides domesticus | Watch |
| Embden Goose | Anser anser domesticus | Priority Breed |
| West of England Goose | Anser anser domesticus | Priority Breed |
| Sebastopol Goose | Anser anser domesticus | Threatened |
| Pomeranian Goose | Anser anser domesticus | Critical |
| Snow Goose | Anser caerulescens | Least Concern |
| Roman Tufted Goose | Anser anser domesticus | Critical |
| American Buff Goose | Anser anser domesticus | Watch |
| Ross’s Goose | Anser rossii | Least Concern |
All-White Goose Breeds
The following breeds of geese are pure white except for their feet, their bills and their eyes. Although they might have the slightest shading on their feathers at various parts of their body, it does nothing to disrupt the impression that all of these geese are as white as snow.
Slovak White
A legacy, or heritage breed of goose, that hails from Slovakia, as the name suggests, these geese are distinguished by their bright or slightly off-white feathers that have a ruffled, almost downy appearance. The Slovak White is a medium goose that will reach between 13 and 16 pounds (6 to 7 kilograms), with males being larger as is typical.
Long raised for meat and also for their livers, it is actually those fluffy feathers that are the chief commodity owing to their excellent softness and insulating properties. Regrettably, this is one domestic goose that’s endangered, and there are only thought to be a few hundred left…
Chinese (Anser cygnoides domesticus)
There are a few color morphs of the Chinese goose, and they can be brown, grey, or a pure, dazzling white. Of course, we are talking about the white version today! Whatever color feathers these specimens stand out because of their really obvious protruding orange knob on their forehead (located just above the base of the beak).
Compared to other breeds of goose kept domestically, these are among the very best egg layers, and it’s not uncommon for females from certain lines to lay up to 80 eggs every year. That’s not a lot by chicken standards, but that’s a ton by goose standards! If eggs are what you want from your geese, you won’t beat a Chinese.
Czech (Anser anser domesticus)
Domestic geese that are known for being superb foragers, which means they can provide themselves with a very diverse diet. Also quite noisy, the Czech is a smaller breed of goose with pure white feathers from tip to tail.
Typically raised for meat, these birds are not great egg layers, with females topping out at a maximum of around 30 per year. Also, interestingly, these geese have a sub-variety that has a crest if you prefer geese that have a cool haircut!
Czech geese are favored by more experienced keepers who don’t mind the noise because they tend to be very friendly and energetic. They’re always happy to see you, and watching their antics as they go about their day is worth the price of admission.
African (Anser cygnoides domesticus)
The African goose is another breed that comes in one of several colors, but naturally it is on this list because they have an all-white variety. Other than the fact that the African is huge, it’s also notable for looking very similar to the Chinese goose featured above (orange bills, knobs and legs), and they even has a similar protrusion at the base of its bill.
But the African is quite popular as a meat bird as opposed to egg-laying, since it grows even larger than Chinese and is nowhere nearly as prolific a layer: Most females max out at around 35 eggs per year. But if you want large and hardy geese that are easier to handle, white Africans might be just the ticket.
Embden (Anser anser domesticus)
Certainly the one of the largest of the common domestic breeds, an Embden goose can be 3 feet (90 cm) tall from foot to crown (and up to one meter), with several spectacular male specimens have stood even a bit taller than that. And with great height comes great heft, as these beefy birds can weigh anywhere from 20 to 31 pounds!
The Embden is typically kept for its meat, though it’s also raised for its feathers. They are a natural white color all over, although the chests, flanks and underside may have a dusty tan or gray tint to them.
Sebastopol (Anser anser domesticus)
An older domestic breed that has been known since at least the mid-19th century in Europe (in the Black Sea region), Sebastopols are most notable for their unique “curlicue” feathers that cover their bodies behind the breast and neck.
This gives them a puffy almost theatrical appearance, but these birds are also surprisingly decent layers and occasionally raised for meat (although today they persist mostly as a curiosity or showbird).
These unique geese are pure white all over except for their eyes, beaks and feet. The ruffled appearance sometimes makes them look faintly bluish or gray depending on the lighting, but they are in actuality white all over.
Roman Tufted (Anser anser domesticus)
A multi-purpose domestic breed originating from Italy, the Roman Tufted is small and delicate but a goose that matures very quickly.
Considering they produce an ample amount of high-quality meat and can also lay anywhere between 20 and 35 eggs every year (depending on the source), this makes them a pretty good choice for homesteaders and farmers.
This is also a breed notable for being mostly white and sometimes all white, although it’s more common to find them with buff, fawn or gray patches. They also have a distinct crown of feathers on their heads, hence the name.
Mostly or Part-White Geese
The goose breeds on the second half of our list are distinguished by being mostly white all over with patches, accents or other markings of varying colors.
If you want a sparkling white goose with a little bit of character, one of these breeds might serve.
Pomeranian (Anser anser domesticus)
A chunky domestic breed that is typically reared for meat, Pomeranians are known for being extremely vocal, heavy for their size, and also decent egg layers with females cranking out between 15 to 35 eggs each and every year.
The most common variety is mostly white all over, but their heads, necks, thighs and backs are covered by steel gray to brown-gray feathers giving them a sporty, alert appearance.
Be careful if you are a first-time keeper, because some Pomeranian males have a reputation for aggressiveness towards people!
Snow Goose (Anser caerulescens)
One of the most plentiful geese breeds out there, and found mostly in N. America with a name like snow geese you know these guys have got to be all white, right? Surprisingly, no, as snow geese have thin, black wingtips. It sort of looks like a spoiler!
Also, snow geese are most notable for migrating and living in absolutely immense flocks, and it’s not uncommon to see them wipe out edible plant matter in an area where they settle down for a while.
American Buff (Anser anser domesticus)
A relatively recent domestic breed first acknowledged by the American poultry association in 1947, the American Buff is typically kept for the production of meat and eggs. However, this is becoming less and less common as they are rarely encountered anymore on homesteads.
That is a shame because these geese are extremely good-natured, quite large and very beautiful, with pure white undersides and lower breasts that are topped by a variety of other colors ranging from off-white and buff to tan or even speckled brown.
Ross’s Goose (Anser rossii)
Ross’s Goose, or I guess Ross’s Geese, are a wild breed that is sometimes mistaken for snow geese, that it often associates with.
As you might have guessed from that comparison, this is another blinding white goose that has small black wingtips, giving it a dramatic appearance. It does have a pretty rare blue and dark morph, though…
This breed is especially common in Canada and the Arctic Circle, you will sometimes see it in the U.S. where it likes to migrate.
West of England (Anser anser domesticus)
The West of England, as you might have guessed, originates from England, around Denvon and Cornwall. A utility breed that’s typically raised as a meat bird but also for eggs since highly productive females can lay anywhere between 30 and 50 a year.
These geese are also notable for being one of the very few autosexing domestic goose breeds, as males and females have distinct coloration: males are pure white with orange beaks, while females are mostly white with large tan-gray patches and beaks that are more pinkish in color.
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Tom has lived and worked on farms and homesteads from the Carolinas to Kentucky and beyond. He is passionate about helping people prepare for tough times by embracing lifestyles of self-sufficiency.
Thank you. Can you tell me how I would tell male/ female in Roman Tufted. I got 3vas babies. They are close to a year now. I thought 1 was male, 2 were females. However, they seem to all try and mate with eachother. Thanks