These are a mated pair of our Pilgrim geese, her name is Flor his is, Ethelred the Unready. He was definitely not ready, he picked fights and always lost, was socially a misfit, and yet he managed to attract the only female. It always seems to work that way doesn't it? He has now matured, knows how to court a female, and has attracted two other wives, though he still prefers Flor.
Our flock is probably not purebred, down here geese are geese, but our latest hatchlings seem to be more color true than before. Pilgrim geese have a sex-link color gene, the males are predominantly white possibly with some grey, have slender long graceful necks and the appropriate equipment. The females are a beautiful soft grey and their necks are shorter and thicker. Pilgrims are the only true recognized breed of American domestic geese. They mate for life and pine should their mate die. They are protective, intelligent, and long-lived. Their favorite time for mating is Christmas and Valentines Day during the cool winter. They grow to size maturity in 3-4 months but sexual maturity comes much later. We do not like them to breed much before 8 months, even then their eggs often fail to produce. We have a large-ish deep goose pond for floating and breeding, as they do not breed well on land. We love our geese and they serve as the guardians of the corral, letting us know when an intruder is present. When our Solitary eagles soar overhead they run for cover, hissing and honking their warnings. Goose is not a bird eaten often in Mexico, we hope to change that in the future.
