African goose despite its name, origin has nothing to do with the African continent. Although it has had a presence in Madagascar because the reality is that it comes from China. The African goose is a breed of domestic geese that are derived from the wild swan geese. Despite their name, they most likely originated in China like the related Chinese bear and live as those counterparts do around rice paddies or marshes just not on land but out at sea where it’s too deep for humans to reach them.
The African goose is a massive bird that looks like it could be the toughest guy in town. Its heavy body, thick neck, stout bill and jaunty posture give you this impression of strength and vitality when it’s really just for show! In fact, studies have shown that its name isn’t indicative of where these birds come from at all; It has been known by many names throughout history with origins attributed to multiple continents as well.
Characteristics of African Goose
The African goose has a dense plumage that conforms to the body of brownish-white and beige. The beak of the African goose is inserted in the upper part of the head, and in it, it has a curriculum. Which is an excrescence or bulging of the skin, the hemispherical shape, which runs along the entire top of the head satin black?
Which will grow as the African goose develops, horizontally and towards the tip of the beak? And after one year of age, these curricula will be surrounded by a ring of white feathers. To give the animal more eye-catching, although the peak of the goose is short, it is also very strong. You may also like to read Australian Spotted Duck.
Unlike other birds, the African goose has large bulging eyes, which are surrounded by a circle around its outline that is dark brown. What matches the iris that has the same color; focusing his gaze on the top of the peak and bottom of his knob. It also has a double chin with the same width as the head, which runs from the bottom of its beak to the top of its neck.
This chin can develop from the five or six months of life of the African goose. But sometimes it takes a little longer to grow, but it is normal to start at this age. And continue to grow as the goose grows, the jowls of these animals never stop growing. This bird has a magnificent appearance, thanks to its thick neck and a little arched. Which is slightly inclined forward; with wide shoulders and a back slightly tilted back. In addition, this gives an elegant curvature to your appearance.
The African goose has a very well-developed breast and is slightly elevated, while the belly or abdomen consists of a ventral bag. What is bulked during the laying period, but decreases in size again? This is also very well-formed in the back, and although it increases in size, it never touches the ground.
It has muscular legs, which are usually hidden between its dense plumage on the sides. While the tarsi, although short, are very powerful, and tough enough, to carry the weight of the African geese. These have an orange color and are a bit smudged or brownish, being more intense in the membranes that are between your fingers.
Food
African goose is usually herbivorous animals, so they feed by grazing grass shoots on the ground. They can also eat roots they have found when digging, and bulbs. But these animals also like water, where they take advantage of collecting plants and floating on them when they are in their natural habitat. There are some countries even, which train African geese as weevils of certain and certain crops.
Since there are some plants that do not like to eat, they take advantage of it. For what they have used the geese, which will only wipe out the weeds, leaving the crop intact. There have been cases in Europe, where the African goose is trained not to eat a certain plant. You may also like to read Shetland duck.
Usage
Anyone could think, that the only utility that this animal can have is its meat and the eggs. But they are very far from reality because geese have a wide variety of uses for humans. And for that reason, many people have chosen to raise them at home, not only for their consumption but also for their commercialization.
When these birds are raised in the yards of the house or on small farms, they turn out to be excellent guardians of the home. Since these birds emit high-sounding squawks when they perceive the presence of unknown people. That sometimes they usually do it long before the dogs; so the alarms are lit, before the possible intrusion of some marauder.
Special Feature
The females of African geese only make one nested per year, which takes place from the last days of March, until the first days of the month of June. It usually puts four to six eggs, which are white and almost elliptical in shape. These can weigh between one hundred forty and one hundred and fifty grams, and their peel is white.
In appearance, these eggs are similar to those of the hen but much larger. These birds are usually both diurnal and nocturnal, but if they are bothered a lot, they will only feed at night to avoid contact with the discomfort. They are usually migratory birds and are one of the last species to undertake migration once the winter season arrives.
In general, they have a confident character, and unlike other species, African geese are good incubators. But they do not have as developed the defensive instinct of the other species. The male of this species has a much more defensive instinct than the mother. In this sense, they can be truly aggressive, but more so with their kind, than with the people around them. You may also like to read Pomeranian Duck.
FAQ
Are African geese friendly?
African geese are known for being quite friendly and social creatures. They will typically greet people in their very distinctive honking sound, making them a popular pet option for many households. They have also been observed in the wild forming close family bonds and living peacefully with other birds around them.
What is the difference between Chinese goose and African goose?
The Chinese goose (Anser cygnoides domesticus) and the African goose (Centrocygnus melanoma) are two different species of geese. Though they have some similarities, there are distinct differences between them.
What are African geese good for?
African geese are incredibly versatile creatures, making them incredibly valuable for agriculturists and homeowners alike. As a species of waterfowl, African geese are renowned for their prowess in controlling aquatic vegetation and pests. The sheer size of these birds makes them capable of outperforming other waterfowl species in terms of the effectiveness with which they can eliminate aquatic plants from lakes and ponds.
Conclusion
This guide has hopefully been able to help you understand the African goose. Whether it’s for a new pet or just something interesting to read about, we hope our readers have found this article informative and useful! If there are any other questions that weren’t answered here, feel free to reach out via contact Support.
As a reference: Wikipedia
