Alternative Names (Synonyms)

Names for newly-hatched

Names for non-breeding males or other colour-phases

References

Species Author

Major References

Aviculture references:
B7, B29, B30, B31, B40, B94, B95, B96, B97, B108, B128.w1, B129
D1, D8

Other References

TAXA Group (where information has been collated for an entire group on a modular basis)

Parent Group

• Waterfowl
• Geese
• Northern (True) Geese
• Grey Geese
• Snow Geese

Specific Needs Group referenced in Management Techniques

• Grazing Waterfowl (D1)

Aviculture Information

Notes

• Northern (True) Geese are generally hardy and easy to manage. They are usually gregarious and many species may be kept in flocks, however they tend to be territorial and aggressive in the breeding season and some may need to be maintained in separate pens. It is often possible to keep small ducks with pairs of geese, unless the individual goose pair is particularly pugnacious. They should always be provided with adequate water for swimming.
• For a single pair of geese a total pen area of 300m˛ (or 200m˛  for smaller species, e.g. Branta ruficollis - Red-breasted goose), with at least 20% of this area water is suggested, although more water should be provided if possible in a larger pen (D1).
• Geese are grazers and should have access to good short grass (less than 3 inches, 7.5cm long) for grazing. When grass is scarce, it may be supplemented with greenfood such as cabbage, lettuce etc.; alfalfa pellets have also been used for this purpose. Additional grain and pellets should be given, with a change to breeder pellets in the breeding season, at which time less or no grain may be fed. Breeding success may be decreased if these species are allowed to become too fat and this can be problematic particularly for the species which normally breed in the high Arctic.
• Goslings may be parent hatched and reared, although being mainly terrestrial they are more vulnerable to predation than are cygnets. Whether parent or hand-reared, goslings should be provided with unlimited grazing and other green food such as chopped lettuce, as well as starter crumbs.
• Geese species may hybridise with one another, but this is not usually a problem if they are well paired before being mixed with other birds.

(B7, B29, B30, B40, B94, B95, B108, B128.w1, B129, D1)

Species-specific information:

• Snow geese are hardy and easy to manage. The aggression level appears to vary between sub-species: Anser caerulescens caerulescens - lesser snow goose is generally unaggressive and usually mix well with other waterfowl, while Anser caerulescens atlanticus - greater snow goose may be more aggressive and maintenance in a separate enclosure is suggested. Good grazing provides most of their food requirement, with wheat, pellets, greenfood, and bread as additional food; plenty of green food should be available.
• These geese are commonly bred in captivity. They will use nest boxes or lay on ground in open cover; they may use pre-prepared hollow (80 by 80cm and 15 cm deep suggested, filled with grass). Lay mainly mid-April to early May (B31) or end of May (B29). May be left to be parent incubated and reared if conditions allow, also easily artificially incubated and hand-reared. 
• These geese readily hybridise with Anser spp. and Branta spp.; fertile hybrids reported with Anser species, but sterile hybrids from crosses with Branta canadensis - Canada goose, Branta bernicla - Brent goose, Alopochen aegyptiacus - Egyptian goose; should be kept apart from other geese species until paired.

(B29, B31, B94, B96, B97, B108, D1)

Aviornis UK Ringing Scheme suggested average closed ring size: R 16.0mm (some males 18.0mm) (D8).

Management Techniques

Measurement & Weight

Anser caerulescens atlanticus average 3310g (B3); mean 7.9 lbs. (B8)

Anser caerulescens atlanticus average 2812g (B3); mean 7.9 lbs. (B8).

Head

Legs

Plumage

Blue phase juveniles lack white on head.

Newly-hatched Characteristics

Nest placement and structure

Egg clutches

Incubation

Hatching

Fledging

Sexual Maturity

Feeding Behaviour

Parental Behaviour

Remain with parents until the following breeding season.

Social Behaviour

Sexual Behaviour

Predation in Wild

Activity Patterns

Adults

Newly-hatched

Distribution and Movement (Migration etc.)

Anser caerulescens atlanticus North-west Greenland, islands in northern Baffin Bay.

Migratory, to Atlantic and Gulf coasts of USA, in south-western states and northern Mexico.

Irregularly to Hawaii and to eastern Asia.

Vagrant to north-west Europe.

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Habitat

Intraspecific variation

Conservation Status

Numerous. Adapting to use agricultural lands (B1, B8).

Captive Populations

Trade