Turkish Goose

Turkish goose usually refers to native or locally bred domestic geese from Turkey rather than to one tightly standardized international breed. Village flocks are especially associated with eastern Anatolia, including the cold Kars and Ardahan region, but geese are kept in many rural areas. They are practical farm birds, commonly white, gray, pied, or mixed in color, selected by household keepers for survival, meat, eggs, and sometimes down. Local type can vary by district because breeding has often been based on available flock birds rather than a written standard.

A flock kept under the Turkish goose label should be judged by its origin and usefulness, not just by a name on an advert. These geese are usually managed on grazing during the green season, with grain, hay, or household farm feed during winter and breeding. Cold-hardy lines still need dry night housing and fresh water; in hotter lowland areas, shade and ventilation are important. Buyers seeking conservation stock should ask where the birds or hatching eggs came from and avoid mixing different local types without a plan.

Colors: Blue, Brown, Brown and White, Buff, Buff and White, Gray, Gray and White, Grey, Lavender, Pied, Saddleback, Splash, Tufted, White