Pilgrim goose
The Pilgrim is a quiet, light, autosexing goose. Ganders are white and geese grey, and you can tell the sexes apart at hatch.
The Pilgrim is a pure-bred goose breed in the PCGB Light class. Its origin is given as England/USA (disputed). It appears on the RBST Watchlist as a priority breed, so keepers of pure stock help conserve it.
It is kept in light form. Recognised colours: Ganders: White, a little grey, Geese: Light Grey. Typical adult weights: gander about 6.3–8.2 kg and goose about 5.4–7.3 kg.
Expect roughly 20–40 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
- Light
- Origin
- England/USA (disputed)
- Kept for
- Table
History
Many believe it began in England. It was documented and named in the 1930s by Oscar Grow in America, where it was standardised in 1939. The UK followed in 1982. In Australia it is called the Settler.
Appearance
Adult ganders are almost white with a little grey on the wings, back and tail, and geese are grey. Goslings differ in down and bill colour.
Recognised colours
Ganders: White, a little grey, Geese: Light Grey
Size and weight
- Forms
- Light
- Gander
- 6.3–8.2 kg
- Goose
- 5.4–7.3 kg
Eggs
- Eggs a year
- 20–40
- Egg colour
- White
- Notes
- Grown for eggs and meat in the USA. No figure was found.
Temperament
- In short
- Relatively quiet
- Keeping notes
- Poultrykeeper and Wikipedia describe it as relatively quiet and fairly fast-growing. Wikipedia says geese can live 15–25 years.
Hardiness
Not recorded yet.
Broodiness
Not recorded yet.
Flying
Not recorded yet.
Suitability
- Good to know
- BWA warns that true breeding stock is hard to find. 'White female Pilgrims' are suspect, and the spot gene has crept into some lines.
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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