Embden goose
The Embden is the classic big white German goose. With the Toulouse, it was one of the first two geese in the British standard, in 1865.
The Embden is a pure-bred goose breed in the PCGB Heavy class. Its origin is given as East Frisia, Germany. It appears on the RBST Watchlist as a priority breed, so keepers of pure stock help conserve it.
It is kept in heavy form. Recognised colours: White. Typical adult weights: gander about 12–15 kg and goose about 10–13 kg.
Expect roughly 10–30 eggs a year, with white shells. It is mainly kept for the table.
Compiled from poultryclub.org, rbst.org.uk, domestic-waterfowl.co.uk, poultrykeeper.com, waterfowl.org.uk, en.wikipedia.org. See sources
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Identity
- Species
- Goose
- Type
- Pure breed
- PCGB class
- Heavy
- Origin
- East Frisia, Germany
- Kept for
- Table
History
It comes from the large white geese of East Frisia and takes its name from Emden in north-west Germany. Some early writers suggested Dutch roots. Sources disagree on its age: some go back to the 13th century, others give only about 200 years. America admitted it in 1874.
Appearance
Tall, upright and confident, with a broad rounded breast, a dual-lobed paunch, an orange bill and legs, and blue eyes. British exhibition ganders reach about 15.4 kg, heavier than German birds. The UK standard gives 28–34 lb for ganders, against about 26 lb in America.
Recognised colours
White
Size and weight
- Forms
- Heavy
- Gander
- 12–15 kg
- Goose
- 10–13 kg
Eggs
- Eggs a year
- 10–30
- Egg colour
- White
- Notes
- No reliable egg figure was found in the sources.
Temperament
- Keeping notes
- A heavy table goose that needs space.
Hardiness
Not recorded yet.
Broodiness
Not recorded yet.
Flying
Not recorded yet.
Suitability
- Good to know
- BWA warns that not every white goose is an Embden. Commercial white crosses are smaller.
Conservation status (RBST)
A priority breed on the Rare Breeds Survival Trust Watchlist.
Breed club
- The Goose Club, umbrella · Website
Sources
This page is compiled from:
Review
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