Goose Egg vs Chicken Egg
There are several species of poultry that provide delicious and nutritious eggs for us to enjoy. As much as we love chicken eggs, there’s many other options to try! Here’s some information about a goose egg vs chicken egg.
On our little backyard farm here in Alaska, we raise chickens, ducks, and geese for eggs. Most people tend to start with chickens, like we did, because they are common and easy to care for. And everyone loves chicken eggs!
Ducks produce very nutritious and tasty eggs as well. Although they differ somewhat from raising chickens, they aren’t difficult and we really enjoy having them around. You can read all about duck eggs in this post.
There are even more options when it comes to different types of eggs! Quail eggs, turkey eggs, and guinea eggs are also popular.
Geese also lay eggs for eating but they don’t seem to be as common. We have a pair of french toulouse geese, a goose and her gander mate, and we love her eggs. I’ll tell you why we love this type of egg!
Geese are so plesant to have around as they just free range throughout the day to hunt and peck. We might look outside and see them napping in the yard or splashing around in their little pool.
We also appreciate the protection they provide for our smaller birds. They are very good at alerting us to strange activity or other animals. If you can, I highly suggest adding geese to your homestead!
Let’s compare a goose egg vs chicken egg and see the differences, the simmilarities, and why you should consider keeping a goose along with your chickens!
Raising Geese
Whether or not you currently have experience raising chickens, ducks, or other poultry, raising geese isn’t that much different! We brought our pair of geese home about five years ago and we still enjoy their presence around our property.
Every morning when we head down to open up the barn for the day, they begin to honk excitedly while we let them out. They spend their days wandering around the yard, laying down and napping from time to time, nibbling at the grass and plants, and just hanging out!
Here are a few tips for raising geese:
- Geese need access to clean, fresh water that they can dip their heads in. A basic chicken waterer will not work. A large livestock trough or plastic swimming pool is ideal. They like to climb in to bathe and splash around.
- Adult females do not lay eggs in a nesting box. Instead, they build a nest and bury their eggs. Keep an eye on where your goose is laying so that you know where to get the eggs!
- A female goose does not lay eggs year-round like chickens and ducks can. They only lay for a short time in the early spring, usually around 20 eggs depending on the age and breed.
- You can purchase special waterfowl feed at your local feed store but they spend most of their time nibbling on fresh grass and weeds. This is what makes their eggs have a rich flavor and be so nutritious!
- Geese can help provide protection for backyard flocks because they are so large. Many people are afraid of them too because of their larger size!
- There are a few different breeds of geese to choose from so research which one will fit your needs and flourish in your environment.
A Goose Egg vs Chicken Egg on the Outside
The size difference is obvious when you compare a goose egg vs chicken egg! And they are also much heavier, weighing between 5 and 6 ounces. Female geese lay beautiful eggs that you’ll enjoy displaying in your countertop egg basket.
- Geese eggs are always white eggs whereas chicken eggs come in a variety of colors.
- The average goose egg is about three times the size of an average chicken egg.
- Goose egg shells are much harder than chicken eggs and need greater force to crack.
- Store unwashed goose eggs at room temperature for about a week or wash them and store in the fridge where they will be fresh for up to six weeks.
- Even with a nest, goose eggs can get a little dirty if the goose has recently been in water. But they clean up just fine when you wash them.
Because geese are seasonal egg layers, they don’t have the same egg production as chickens. But you will enjoy the few that you do get and look forward to them each spring.
A Goose Egg vs Chicken Egg on the Inside
A goose egg vs chicken egg on the inside is similar, just multiplied because they’re larger eggs. However, there are a few areas where goose eggs provide more nutrition. These are the main differences:
- A goose egg has almost 20 grams of protein content compared to just over 6 grams in conventional chicken eggs.
- 272 calories are in one goose egg whereas a large chicken egg only has 72 calories.
- A goose egg contains higher amount of important vitamins including A, B, D, and E than chicken eggs.
- Goose eggs are high in calcium, iron, and selnium as well.
- Eggs are high in cholesterol so it’s no surpise that a goose egg contains well over the recommended daily allowance. However, one goose egg is enough for a few people to share so you don’t have to eat the entire egg yourself! I almost exclusively use ours for pasta and any baking recipe.
- The yolk of a goose egg makes up about a third of the total weight of the egg. They have deep orange yolks and have a richer flavor and are very thick.
Try one sometime and compare the taste of a goose egg to see what you think! Some say that goose eggs have an “eggier” taste but we enjoy them.
How to Use Goose Eggs
As with all eggs, look over each goose egg after collecting to make sure there are no cracks. They have thicker shells so it’s rare for them to be damaged in the nest.
If it is very dirty, which can happen with waterfowl eggs, you will want to wash and refridgerate it. Read this post for tips on washing eggs.
However, if you provide your goose with a nice straw or hay nesting area, she might keep her eggs clean for you! Always rinse an egg right before cracking if you’ve been keeping it at room temperature.
Goose eggs are rich and delicious and can be enjoyed in many ways, just like chicken eggs! Here are a few of our favorites:
- Pasta Recipes- Goose eggs make the most wonderful homemade pasta! Our family actually uses most of our goose’s eggs for pasta and we always get excited when she’s laying each spring. Homemade goose egg pasta is easy! Two cups of flour, a dash of salt, and one goose eggs is all you need!
- Omelets– One goose egg makes a generously-sized omelet. Just cook like a typical chicken egg omelet but you only need one goose egg!
- Quiche- One goose egg (or two if you have more people to feed) makes a tasty quiche (like this one here) once you add your favorite fillings.
- Baked Goods- Have a cookie, cake, or baking recipe that calls for three chicken eggs? Use one goose egg instead! They are excellent for baking with. They make amazing creme brulee!
- Hard-Boiled- One hard-boiled goose egg will be plenty to cut up into a salad or to make homemade egg salad sandwiches. Increase the boiling time to 15 minutes and then allow to sit in the ice water bath for 5 minutes.
Goose eggs are a nice addition to a heathy, homegrown diet and keeping geese is a rewarding experience.
If you aren’t able to have your own geese, check your local farmers’ markets, feed store, or even your local grocery store and see if there are any goose eggs for sale. They are typically more expensive than chicken eggs but worth the extra cost.
Once you try them, you’ll be glad you did and you might end up with a gaggle of geese of your own!
