Taihu Goose

The Taihu goose, often called the Taihu white goose, comes from the Lake Tai region of Jiangsu and Zhejiang in China's lower Yangtze delta. It is a light domestic goose associated with rice-growing villages and waterside farms, where small geese could graze weeds, glean crop residues, and still lay well. The usual type is white, fine-boned, and fairly active, with orange bill and feet and a more delicate build than the heavy European meat breeds. It is best known in poultry-breeding circles for early maturity, high egg output, and good fertility.

Taihu geese are kept primarily as laying and breeding birds, though surplus young birds also provide meat. Their smaller frame suits rotational grazing and mixed farm systems, but they still need shade, predator protection, and enough water to clean their eyes and bills. In humid climates, dry night housing helps prevent foot and feather problems. Breeders selecting Taihu lines usually watch egg number, hatchability, livability of goslings, and body size, since pushing only for production can weaken the traits that made the breed useful. Buyers outside China should confirm whether the birds are true Taihu stock or simply general white Chinese-type geese.