Tufted Roman Geese

Critically endangered in the US, this is one of the oldest goose breeds in the world! In Roman mythology, they were the Goddess Juno’s sacred animal, and they are historically credited with saving the city during the invasion of the Gauls. They alerted the sleeping guards to the enemy as they tried to take the city by surprise. Jess was a Classics major, so she is geeking out and we are incredibly excited to have started our flock from APA Grand Master Exhibitor Nate Rynish!

Most poultry associations recognize both the tufted and untufted (aka classical) varieties, but the American Poultry Association only allows the Tufted version in their Breed Standards of Perfection.

Tufted Romans are supposed to be white with pink bills and feet, but some breeders are experimenting with other colors such as Buff.

For flaws, one of our females has a black spot near her tuft and an ingrown feather in her eyelid. After discussing with other breeders, it’s a pretty common issue with females of the breed. She is our best broody and was the only one to successfully hatch her goslings in 2023, so we are keeping her for now.

Quick Facts

Eggs
Tufted Romans lay about 35-45 eggs per year, from around March through June.
Weight
Tufted Romans are considered a small-sized goose. Females weigh around 10lbs, and males about 12lbs.
Cold Hardiness
These geese are very cold hardy and happily walk around in the snow.

Broodiness
Like most geese, Tufted Romans are VERY broody and can hatch their eggs much better than any incubator would.
Captivity Tolerance
Tufted Romans much prefer to free range and keep our grass pastures trimmed, but they do tolerate confinement.
Personality
During mating season about March through June, Romans can get hissy, but otherwise, they are generally docile. They aren't as curious as our Pilgrims are, but they also aren't as loud haha.