Day Old Buff Dewlap African Goslings
Hatching April to June.
The Buff Dewlap African is a beautiful variety of African Goose, maintaining all the majesty and stateliness of the traditional Brown, but with a lighter, smoky coloring.
These are large birds, heavy and massive in weight and style. Buff Dewlap African Geese are strong and well-muscled but with a trimness to their bearing and feathering, giving them a smooth and elegant appearance. They have large dewlaps which hang below their lower bill, head, and upper neck. They also feature what is called a knob, which is an extension of the bill attached to the front of the head, creating an impressive profile. The knob and dewlap can take some years to fully develop.
Production: Buff Dewlap African Geese are solid production birds. They are mainly raised for meat as they grow fast and produce high-quality, lean meat. They also produce a good number of eggs--between 20 to 40 eggs per year can be expected under good care. Eggs are white and weigh more than 5 ounces each! Buff Dewlap African Geese lay for many years and are long-lived in general. Males and females bond well; a single gander can be paired with two to six geese (females).
Most of the Buff Dewlap African Geese in this country are not raised for production purposes. They are quite hard to find and are raised for exhibition and beauty. These birds are magnificent additions to any backyard flock. They are also very good foragers.
Buff Dewlap African Geese are hardy in all areas of the U.S., but they should be provided with a winter shelter, as they are susceptible to frostbite on the knob.
Temperament: Buff Dewlap African Geese are proud and stately birds in the poultry yard. They have a calm demeanor and are generally very good-natured fowl. African Geese can be talkative and are a bit noisier than many other types of geese.
History: Although these geese are referred to as African, they originate from Southeast Asia, most likely China. Like the Brown, the Buff Dewlap African Goose is the result of selective breeding originating with the wild Swan Goose. African geese first appeared in the U.S. in the middle of the 19th century and have been favorites in eccentric poultry yards since then. Brown was admitted in 1874 to the APA Standard of Perfection. The Buff has not been recognized.
Colors: Buff Dewlap African Geese are very similarly patterned to the classic Brown African Goose. The brown coloring of the Buff is lighter and warmer, giving the bird a more gauzy look. Bills and knobs are black, legs and feet are orange, and eyes are large and dark brown.
Conservation Status: Watch.
Weight: Male/Gander 20 lbs; Female/Goose 18 lbs.
APA Class: Heavy Goose
Buff Dewlap African Geese will not ship to Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Kentucky, Mississippi, North Carolina, North Dakota, West Virginia, Washington, or Virginia.
