Sexing waterfowl at hatch is fairly straightforward due to the males having a corkscrew phallus, but as they grow, sexing becomes more challenging until the geese are sexually mature the following spring. At that time, vent sexing is still one of the only ways to know the gender for sure.
Below are a few ways to help identify the gender of your goose, but keep in mind that vent sexing the following spring is the only conclusive way to confirm gender.
- Males tend to be larger.
- Males have longer, slimmer necks.
- Males have a louder, slower, high-pitch honk, while females have a quieter, lower-pitch honk.
By January of the year following their hatch, goslings are sexually mature and can be vent sexed. Turn your bird over and use your forefinger and thumb to pull open the vent to expose the reproductive organs. You can attempt for about 45 seconds. If unsuccessful, retry the next day, as they can clamp down, making it impossible. A male will have a spiral corkscrew phallus with a diameter similar to a pencil, and it is barbed.
It is also important to note that other than at hatch, vent sexing is not reliable until the spring following their hatch because their phallus is not mature and is about the size of a pencil lead, making it next to impossible to see.
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