Pomeranian

This breed descended from the Eastern Graylag, which is why true Pomeranians have pinkish red beak, legs and feet. The Pomeranian is believed to have developed in the Pomorze region between the Rivers Odes and Vistula. It is an ancient breed that has stood the intrusion of foreign and modern breeds into its home turf and contributed to the development of numerous breeds and varieties, and proven itself competitive where ever tried. Today it is the dominant breed in Northern Germany, Poland, Slovokia and the Czech Republic. It is very popular in the rest of Germany and Austria and seems to be gaining elsewhere. More than thirty years ago I encountered representatives of the breed in Switzerland, the Low Countries and Britian, as well as its more typical range. Despite what Soames and other writers have said, when I was in Germany in the early 1970's I had the distinct impression it was the dominant working goose everywhere. Other geese may have been prominent in the southern shows, but the goose most commonly encountered in the German countryside was the Pomeranian.

Oscar Grow considered the Pomeranian "basically a commercial breed, as it has always been developed along practical and easily followed lines." Historically it is also a stylish medium sized breed that has become increasingly popular as a show bird.

The Pomeranian comes in a variety of colors and patterns. Historically the Grays were the most popular, but in the later 20th century the Saddleback (both Buff and Gray) became the more popular type. It has been suggested that this was a result of their dressing off better than solid gray birds. Since the White variety was also developed very early but did not show a similar surge in popularity, it is probable that most of the increased popularity for the Saddleback is due to an interest in the pattern. The Pomeranian or its group seems to be the original source of Buff in other breeds, but in Germany solid Buff geese are called Celler geese. Elsewhere they are usually called Buff Pomeranian. I have also seen Blue in Pomeranian flocks that has proper type and pinkish red extremities. I would think Blue has the potential to become popular both in the Saddleback and solid patterns. Blue Pomeranians may contain some Steinbacher genetics (another German breed with a different type and orange extremities). Most of the numerous Pomeranian varieties seem to have long histories, which is probably a function of the breed's ancient history. In Germany, and to a lesser extent elsewhere, working commercial flocks commonly have a variety of patterns and colors.

Pomeranian geese have a long American history dating to early German settlement. It was probably the 2nd most important North American breed after the Grays. Less than 40 years ago the Pomeranian was still common in rural areas that had been settled by Germans.

Country of Origin: North East Germany Also known as L'oie de Pome'ranie in France/Belgium

Breed Background: A hardy good foraging goose bred for the colder winters of Germany. Good strong goslings that need fresh greens from a very early age to thrive ... grass cuttings are excellent.

Appearance: Single Lobed / Blue eyed /reddish beak and legs /Nearly Horizontal carriage.

Available in Europe in Saddleback / Pure White /Solid Grey. The white is generally believed to be responsible in part for the Embden Breed .

Size: Gander, 17 pounds pounds ;Goose, 15 pounds

Meat Production:

Eggs Average about 30 per season

Broodiness: Incubation: 28 - 34 days/ good mother

Breed Hint ; Very keen to try almost any green plant ... the more expensive the better .Excellent at shredding / debarking trees ..Willow is their especial favouri

********If they have brown eyes they could be Grey Backs or overmarked with grey as when the body is more than 50% dark it will affect eye colour

Pilgrim

This is the only breed of goose that can be sexed by color: males are all white with blue eyes; females grey with some white on the head and brown eyes. Beaks and feet should be orange, not pinkish. Day-old male goslings are yellow or silvery with light bills and the females are greenish grey with dark beaks.

The Pilgrim Goose was developed in Missouri in about 1930 by Oscar Grow, a well-known waterfowl breeder. The breed was recognized by the American Poultry Association in 1939.

Pilgrims are fairly docile, quiet birds and good foragers. They are ideal for a home flock. The geese weigh 13 pounds and large ganders can reach 16 pounds.

African Brown

African Geese are one of the heavy breeds recognized by the APA's Standard. They were first recognized in 1874 and are presently accepted in Brown (or Gray) and White.

Africans can be differentiated from Chinese by their heavy bodies and thick necks. Mature birds have a large, forward-projecting knob above their beaks. The bill and knob are black in the Brown form and orange in the White African.

Africans are the leanest of the heavy breeds and are popular for this reason, as well as for their stately looks. An adult gander and goose should weigh in at 20 and 18 pounds, respectively.

Breed History....The African Goose hould be of about the same size and height as the Embden Goose . According to Oscar Grow the African Goose appears physically a cross between the Toulouse Goose , and the Brown Chinese Goose , with some of the size and dewlap of the Toulouse Goose , and some of the carriage and 'knob' of the Chinese Goose . Also Known as L'oie de Guine'e in France
The African Goose is said by some breeders to be a distinct breed imported from Africa, but the evidence a large genetic part of the Chinese is undisputable; see Tegetmeir 1873. They were known as a pure breed in the USA from the 1850's and although often crossed with the Toulouse as a commercial meat cross are a definte species descended from the Swan goose (Anser cygnoides) rasther than the greylag (Anser anser).

Names Also Known as L'oie de Guinee or L'oie Africaine in France ie Guinea Goose Country Of Origin;. . . China

Carriage; Reasonably upright 35 to 40 degrees above the horizontal rather than the Chinese geese which stand much more upright. Height 90 cm av Purpose;... ...Eggs.....Meat...Broody..

Egg Colour ; ......................white .... Egg Numbers .............10 / 20. In America, they appear to be more productive with 20 - 40 eggs in a season

Breed Defects. . . . . .Lack of dewlap;lack of knob; white patches amongst coloured plumage Info A very gentle breed that is much quieter than its skinny cousin. Available in white; brown (grey) and buff.

Breed Hints.... Kept as trio or pair .. will go broody and hatch Weights; 11 to 28 pounds

Breed Tip Some individuals don't get the dewlap until over 18 months old, whilst others might develop one at 6 months. The dewlap runs down from the bill into the neck. The knob should be oriented slightly forward. Paunch should not touch the ground.' Flying . . .normally too heavy

Tips for improving your flock......based on Dave Holderread's and Oscar Grow's books (taken from the Australian rare Breed Site)

Select the fastest growing goslings for future breeding.

Always look for massive features (even in their first year they should have large, coarse heads and thick necks) and carriage 30 to 40 degrees.

Head should be large and broad between the eyes

Knob should be as wide as the head

Older females especially when laying will often have low-hung paunches and show some indication of a keel. But all males and young females should be keel-less and only a moderately full abdomen. Selecting for this should maintain the breed's fame as a lean meat bird.

Africans with tails held in line with the back or lower often indicate physical weakness and infertility.

Avoid young geese of too refined type, otherwise the flock will eventually revert to the Chinese breed type (small and slender rather than massive and meaty).

Avoid young geese that have already developed a pronounced dewlap. Africans do not grow the dewlap as fast as Toulouse and it will not fully develop until aged about three years.

Embden

Egg Colour; .....................white *....*	Egg Numbers .............10 / 20
Country Of Origin;.......The Embden Goose breed is also known as ther Bremen and although a German name most historical sources place this as a northern Dutch breed that also migrated throughout Europe to Italy where it was imported from to cross with our native white breeds. Also known as L'oie d'Emden in France/Belgium	Purpose;..........Eggs.....Meat...Broody..
Breed Hints.... Kept as pair or flock.... can be over protective of their 'wives & young' in spring so not a beginners breed. Can alos be short fused with small dogs	Gander, 26 pound mature Goose, 20 pounds mature

Appearance: This variety is larger and taller than others Bright orange bill with flesh coloured bean ; and legs, blue eyes and pure white body feathers.

Defects; plumage other than white; Uneven lobes; Keel;

Meat Production: The true Embden Goose suffers like the Aylesbury in that most of the public think all white geese are Embden's whereas few of them are actually pure bred stock. The height of this breed will normally be the giveaway as they are considerably taller than their cross bred cousins.

**Used historically as a meat cross either with the utility Toulouse ( darker drier meat) or another large framed breed..... can run to fat so used to be killed off at Michlemas.

Toulouse

The Toulouse Goose is one of the larger goose breeds. In its exhibition or "dewlap" form, the Toulouse Goose may weight 25 pounds and have its body skimming the ground. The "utility" Toulouse Goose is smaller and lacks the dewlap being basically a cross bred grey Heinz with no value other than for the table.

Country of Origin: France . The Toulouse Goose was bred in southern France (near the city of Toulouse) originally for pate de Fois Gras now considered a superior meat bird in Europe. The breeding work to finalize the points and breed true was done in England with a great number being exported to America and Canada prior to the 1950's . At the moment the Club has been importing a number back from the USA as the gene pool in Britain has become too narrow making a number of males virtually infertile.Also known as L'oie Grise des Landes and L'oie du Toulouse in France/Belgium the name alteration appears to be area ?

Breed Background: A heavy breed which does well in confinement since their size restricts foraging and although their goslings tend to grow slower than other geese. The progeny of a Toulouse goose crossed with an Emden gander grow rapidly.

Egg Colour; .....................white *....*	Egg Numbers .......Average about 35 per season Best known 60+ per Goose.First layers about 10
Country Of Origin;........France	Purpose;..........Eggs.....Meat...Broody..
**As a breed succeptible to flystrike (maggots) on open cuts or scratches which are disguised by the open feathering.	wieghts; Gander, 12 kg / 26 poundsGoose, 9 kg / 20 pounds

Appearance: Grey feathers laced with white, brown eyes with a long deep body with a prominent breast bone. Better show birds have a pronounced front as in the picture and double muscled folds when seen from the front. Better breeding birds often have less front or their 'equipment' does not reach to mate successfully

Meat Production: The supreme meat cross which tends to pass on the placid (dumb) temperamernt to the off spring. As a pure breed it often resembles a large tub of lard with feet .....so unless a very poor specimen not worth the plucking...... better for the breeding pen for X breds.

Broodiness: Incubation: 28 - 34 days/ good mother but clumsy due to size need a large hay covereed tray for the eggs to prevent cruching as they pip. Otherwise hatch very well under Muscovies

Indian Peafowl

Indian Peafowl

An Indian Peacock displaying.

An Indian Peacock displaying.

Scientific classification

Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Aves
Order:	Galliformes
Family:	Phasianidae
Genus:	Pavo
Species:	P. cristatus

Pavo cristatus
Linnaeus, 1758

The Indian Peafowl, Pavo cristatus, is a species of bird in the peafowl genus Pavo of the pheasant family, Phasianidae. The Indian Peafowl is a resident breeder in India and Sri Lanka.

The species is found in dry semi-desert grasslands, scrub and deciduous forests. It forages on the ground and nests on the ground but roosts on top of trees. It eats mainly seeds, but also some insects, fruits and reptiles.

The male is called a peacock, the female a peahen. The Indian Peacock has beautiful iridescent blue-green plumage. The upper tail coverts are enormously elongated and ornate with an eye at the end of each feather. The female plumage is a mixture of dull green, grey and iridescent blue, with the greenish-grey predominating. In the breeding season, females can be told apart from the lack of the long 'tail' also known as the train. Peahens can be distinguished from males in the non-breeding season by the green colour of the neck as opposed to the blue on the males.

Peafowl are most notable for the male's extravagant tail also known as a train, a result of sexual selection, which it displays as part of courtship. This train is in reality not the tail but the enormously elongated upper tail coverts. The tail itself is brown and short as in the peahen.

They lay a clutch of 4-8 eggs which take 12 days to hatch. Parent birds are known to carry their young on their back when flying to their roosts on top of trees.