The Chinese is a lightweight [[Geese|goose]] breed derived from the wild swan goose (Anser cygnoides) of Asia. The breed is distinguished by its slender neck, prominent head knob, and upright carriage. Chinese geese are the most productive egg-laying goose breed, the most vocal, and are widely kept as weeders in agricultural systems, as watch animals, and for egg and meat production on small farms.
The Chinese goose is a direct descendant of the wild swan goose of East Asia, which ranges from Mongolia and eastern Russia through China and into eastern Siberia. The species was domesticated in China at least 3,000 years ago. Chinese geese are among the oldest domesticated goose breeds. The breed was introduced to Europe and North America in the 18th century and was admitted to the American Poultry Association's Standard of Perfection in 1874.
The Chinese goose has been used in agriculture as a natural weeding tool, particularly in cotton, strawberry, and orchard crops, where geese will eat grasses and weeds without damaging the crop plants. The breed's small size, foraging ability, and constant vocalization make it well-suited to this role.
Chinese geese are smaller and more upright than European goose breeds. The body is pear-shaped and carried at a 45-degree angle. The neck is long and slender, and the head carries a prominent, rounded knob at the base of the bill. The knob grows larger in males and may droop slightly with age. The breed occurs in two color varieties: Brown (grayish-brown body with dark brown stripes on the neck and a black bill) and White (pure white with an orange bill). Ganders weigh 10 to 14 pounds (4.5 to 6.5 kilograms), and geese weigh 8 to 12 pounds (3.6 to 5.5 kilograms).
Chinese geese are the most vocal of the goose breeds, with a shrill, penetrating call that sounds distinct from the honk of European breeds. They are excellent foragers and can subsist almost entirely on pasture and kitchen scraps. A Chinese goose lays 40 to 80 eggs per year, significantly more than European breeds, making them the most productive goose for egg production.
Chinese geese are kept for egg production, weed control, and as watch animals on homesteads. Their small size and foraging efficiency make them economical to keep. The eggs are large and flavorful. The breed's loud alarm call provides effective predator detection, though the constant vocalization may be objectionable in close quarters.
The meat is lean and flavorful, though the carcass is smaller than the European breeds. Chinese geese are active, alert, and fly well, requiring wing clipping or enclosed pens for containment. They are hardy in a wide range of climates.