The pilgrim goose is a rare and critically endangered species according to the American Livestock Breeds Conservancy (ALBC) and was officially entered into the American Poultry Association’s Standard of Perfection in 1939. Generally, they can live for 15 to 25 years.

Pilgrims are a popular beginners bird, because the male and female differ in colour making it easy to tell the sex. They are a light energetic breed that can fly if they need to. They have a quiet temperament, but not as good layers as the Chinese geese.

Pilgrim geese are considered to be a medium-sized goose. They are just the right size for the average family. They are relatively easy to butcher and their meat is tender and juicy.

Geese can make excellent guardians for a flock of smaller birds, where their temperamental reputation comes in handy. Naturally territorial, geese fit easily into the role of watchdog and don’t need any training in how to protect.

Use: The Pilgrim is in the Medium Class of geese. Though not as large as geese from the Heavy Class, they still produce an excellent roasting carcass and are good mothers.

As goslings, the males are yellow and light gray with lighter colored bills whereas the females have a deeper gray-green down and a darker bill. Mature males are white with a touch of gray on their rump or wings and mature females are gray in color like a Toulouse but often with white on their heads.

Pilgrims are medium-sized geese, weighing 13 – 14 pounds at maturity, and roughly lay 35-45 white eggs annually. Pilgrims are rugged, quiet, docile, good foragers, excellent natural parents and make good medium-sized roasting birds.

Adult Pilgrim Geese are medium-sized geese with plump bodies. Adult males (ganders) have a mostly white plumage with some grey markings on the rump and the occasional traces of grey on other areas of their bodies, such as the wings and tail. Males have blue eyes.

Yes! Generally speaking, ducks, geese, and chickens (and most other types of fowl) get along really well with one another without too many issues, especially if they grow up together from the time they are very young and have plenty of space in their coop and exercise area.

Geese can be very selective of mates. Many large flocks use one gander to three to five females. You may run into fertility problems with a flock of two ganders and five to ten geese. It may be necessary to have several ganders available so that each female can select one that suits her.