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Sebastopol geese are the curly-feathered geese, with long, ribbon-like plumes that drape over their backs and sides. They’re gentle, medium-size birds kept mostly for their looks, and a white Sebastopol waddling across the lawn turns heads on any homestead.
Table of Contents
- Notes from My Homestead
- What Are Sebastopol Geese?
- Sebastopol Goose Characteristics
- Sebastopol Goose Breed Standard
- Temperament
- Feather Care and Hardiness
- Egg Production
- Broodiness
- Raising Sebastopol Geese for Meat
- Grazing and Foraging
- Pros and Cons of Sebastopol Geese
- Tips for Raising Sebastopol Geese
- Sebastopol Geese FAQs
- More Goose Breed Guides
- Raising Geese
Sebastopols are a medium-weight breed, in the same American Poultry Association class as the American Buff, with mature ganders around 14 pounds and geese around 12. The Livestock Conservancy says they’re broody and good mothers, and they’ll even raise goslings of other breeds.
Those curly feathers come with a few trade-offs, though. They don’t keep a Sebastopol as warm or dry as a regular goose, and they keep it from flying.
If you’re new to geese, start with my beginner’s guide to raising geese, or compare the full list of goose breeds. For another small, friendly ornamental goose, look at the Tufted Roman.
Notes from My Homestead
My daughter is all about fluffy animals, and though she loves her pet Embden geese, she’s always wanted a lacy-looking Sebastopol goose.
Before we go down that road, I figured it’s a good idea to learn everything possible about this unique breed. We’ve always raised geese, but these little fluff buckets seem like a whole different ball game.
What Are Sebastopol Geese?
Sebastopol geese come from southeastern Europe, around the Black Sea and along the Danube River. They were developed from the wild greylag goose of Europe, unlike the Chinese and the African, which descend from the swan goose of Asia.
The breed carries the name of Sebastopol, the city in Crimea, but sources disagree on whether the birds came from there. Metzer Farms calls the name a mystery, and in England they were also known as Danubian geese.
Sebastopols probably reached England around 1859. The American Poultry Association added them to the Standard of Perfection in 1938.
Sebastopol Goose Characteristics
The long, soft, curling feathers drape from the wings, body, and tail. Backyard Poultry says they can grow as much as four times longer than normal feathers.
Under all that fluff, they’re a medium-size goose. They have bright blue eyes and an orange bill and feet.
- Breed type: Ornamental, also kept for eggs and meat
- Weight: Ganders about 12 to 14 pounds, and geese about 10 to 12
- Colors: Mostly white, plus gray and buff varieties
- Noise: Quiet
For eggs and goslings, this is what to expect.
- Eggs: 25 to 35 large white eggs a year
- Broodiness: Broody, and good mothers
- Flying: No, since the curled flight feathers keep them grounded
- Conservation status: Threatened, according to The Livestock Conservancy
Sebastopol Goose Breed Standard
American show birds should have curls right down the breast. Breeders avoid smooth breasts, since every feather on the breast should curl.
In Britain, breeders also keep a smooth-breasted form, with long, curled feathers on the back, thighs, and wings. In the United States, white is the only recognized color.
The long plumes can get in the way of breeding. The Livestock Conservancy says clipping the long back and tail plumes, and the feathers around the vent, can help with fertility problems.
Temperament
Sebastopols are calm, quiet geese. The Livestock Conservancy describes them as quiet and shy, and the University of Kentucky lists them as not aggressive.
That gentle nature can work against them in a mixed flock. Backyard Poultry advises keeping docile Sebastopols away from aggressive birds, so think twice before you pair them with a pushy gander. One year we had an aggressive Toulouse gander who attacked our Embden females, so he didn’t stay long.
Ganders of any breed can get protective in spring, so give a nesting pair some room. Spring behavior is one of the things to know before getting geese.
Feather Care and Hardiness
Those curls are the whole appeal, but they take some care. Loose, curly feathers don’t insulate as well as smooth ones, and they don’t shed water as well, either.
Sebastopols can live in cold climates, but the University of Kentucky says they need more protection in wet, cold, and windy weather. A dry shelter with clean bedding goes a long way.
They also need clean water to keep those feathers looking good. The Livestock Conservancy recommends clean swimming water, and Metzer Farms suggests at least a bucket for washing and a yard without mud.
Egg Production
Sebastopols are moderate layers, with 25 to 35 large white eggs a year, according to The Livestock Conservancy. Some flocks lay fewer, and Metzer Farms reports lower than normal egg production in theirs.
Goose eggs have a bigger, richer yolk than chicken eggs, so here’s how a goose egg is different from a chicken egg, plus a list of goose egg recipes to use them up.
Broodiness
Sebastopol geese are broody, and The Livestock Conservancy says they’re good mothers. They’ll even adopt goslings of other breeds, so a broody Sebastopol can raise a clutch for the rest of the flock.
Goose eggs need more moisture than chicken eggs to hatch, so an incubator takes a different routine than hatching chicken eggs. The Modern Homesteader’s Guide to Keeping Geese walks through it.
Raising Sebastopol Geese for Meat
Sebastopols aren’t really a meat breed, but The Livestock Conservancy says they fatten easily. The market weight is about 10 to 12 pounds, so they make a medium-size roast.
Goose meat is dark and rich, and to me it tastes more like beef than chicken. Here’s how to roast a goose if you do raise a few for the table.
Grazing and Foraging
The Livestock Conservancy calls Sebastopols excellent foragers, and Metzer Farms rates them good weeders. Keep them off muddy ground, though, or those white curls won’t stay white for long.
In the growing season, grass and weeds cover a lot of a goose’s diet, and they’ll work through the lawn weeds, too. We also start trays of microgreens for our own geese every week.
Pros and Cons of Sebastopol Geese
Sebastopols are a good pick if you want a gentle, eye-catching goose for a family flock. They take more care than a standard goose.
Pros:
- Gentle and easy to handle
- Curly feathers that stand out in any flock
- Broody, good mothers that will adopt other goslings
- Medium size that’s easy to manage
Cons:
- Feathers need dry shelter and clean water
- Fertility can run low
- Harder to find than common breeds
- Fewer eggs and less meat than utility breeds
Tips for Raising Sebastopol Geese
Keep their bedding dry. Curly feathers shed water less well than smooth ones, so a dry shelter with clean bedding matters even more for a Sebastopol.
Give them clean water. A small kiddie pool kept clean is enough to splash in. Muddy water and muddy ground show up fast on white feathers.
Lock them up at night. Geese have very poor night vision, and I’ve seen geese hold their own against weasels and raccoons, but we’ve lost them to coyotes, bears, and foxes. A secure shelter after dark matters for every breed.
Sebastopol Geese FAQs
These are the questions readers ask most about Sebastopols, including whether they can stand up to a fox.
Yes. They’re calm, quiet, and not aggressive, which makes them a good fit for a family flock. Hand-raised geese treat you as part of the flock.
No. Their curled flight feathers keep them from flying, so you won’t need to clip their wings.
Most lay 25 to 35 large white eggs a year. Some flocks lay fewer, so don’t count on them for eggs.
They don’t need a pond, but they do need clean water. A kiddie pool or a bucket deep enough to wash in keeps their feathers clean, along with a yard that isn’t muddy.
Don’t count on it. I’ve seen geese hold their own against weasels and raccoons, but we’ve lost them to coyotes, bears, and foxes. It depends on the goose and the fox, so if you have a lot of fox pressure, you’ll need a secure place to keep them.
More Goose Breed Guides
A few more breeds to consider for your flock.
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Raising Geese
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What are they like against foxes? Will they hold thier own.I’ve heard many breeds will repel a fox. Is this the case with these guys?
I have seen geese hold their own against weasels and raccoons, but we have lost them to coyotes, bears and foxes in the past. Depends on the goose, and depends on the fox, as personality of both really play into it, but either way, if you have lots of fox pressure you’ll need a secure place to keep them.
Thankyou. We do have a problem with foxes.often taking our baby goats. I was hoping the geese would act as a deterant. Guess i’ll have to come up with another idea.as my Great pyranese has been responsible for a number of losses.including chickens.