Sebastopol geese and children?

chickschool

Songster
11 Years
Mar 5, 2011
469
30
199
Traverse City, MI
Can anyone tell me if this breed of will work well as a pet. I've heard horror stories about geese who were so sweet and cuddly and once they reached adulthood turned into little monsters. I've been reading a bit about this breed but would love some real information from real people who know. I currently have 4 hens and 2 ducks, that are being raised with the help of my classroom, and would love to add some geese if they would live side by side. Our 8 acre school houses children ranging in age from 8 weeks through 6th grade. I allow our flock to free range the majority of the summer and want to know if there would be any danger of the geese going after the children. It is a beautiful campus in Northern Michigan with extensive gardens and mature trees. Any honest advice would be greatly appreciated.

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Sorry, can't give any whole answer to you yet.
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Just got mine a few weeks ago. There the sweetest things right now, follow you around, come when i whistle, eat out of my hand, etc. Really hoping they stay this way. Seen and read some articles and threads and the majority seem to have positive feedback.
 
Sebastopols, Buffs, Pilgrim, and Roman Tufted Gees are definitely the best "pet" breeds in my eyes.

They will never be like the chickens however, your children probably won't be able to run up to them and pet them as adults. The kids will really have to learn how to treat the geese as they are very sensitive and intelligent. I've found that most geese are partial to one person. At least, my babies already are.

I just know the Sebastopol parents of my babies were super sweet. You could go right up to the gander and his "wife" to pet them... and I was a complete stranger!
 
No matter what breed of geese, you can never be completely sure they won't be aggressive as adults.

My advice would be to only get the goslings if you have an alternative home for them in case they turn out aggressive. I'm not saying it can't work, but it's always good to be prepared.

Geese are wonderful pets, but if just one child scares them they don't easily forget. And when an adult goose feels threatened, it may attack.
 
Not exactly like a dog, cat, rabbit, goat, etc...
Breeding season brings out instincts in geese to protect their mate, keep competition away from their mate and nest, protect the nest and eggs (potential or actual) from predation, and continue their genes. I've had or currently have several of the breeds considered to be the most docile- buff americans, dewlap toulouse, sebastopols- and speak from experience. In my experience the worst offenders are ganders who were 'hand raised' or raised as pets. They see you as competition and have no respect for your space. People often try to correct this over-taming by holding the kick, swatting the bird, kicking the bird to try to stop it from going after them or their kids. My opinion is that the horse is already out of the barn on that one.

One problem is that kids are more their height, and I believe this causes them to be more 'threatening'. Even my gentle dewlap toulouse aren't trustworthy on their home turf with kids during breeding season. At shows? They're great. In the fall? You could put them in the midst of a group of toddlers without concern.... BUT during breeding season all bets are off.

If you have a way to keep them to 'adult only' areas during breeding season you could give them a try. Also, trying two females instead of a pair might help.
 
Thank you all so much for your very helpful feedback. I have decided that as much as I'd like to give the children another experience it would just be way to dangerous unless we kept them penned up and to me that's just not an option. And, as much as we try to teach them to respect the animals there is always that one child who just can't help himself to do something a little "unkind".
 
Hi...need some help with my adult sebbies. I have two mated pairs. They share an 8 x 10 pen with ducks at night. During the day all birds...chickens ducks and geese ...are let out in the morning into a large fenced paddock to run around feed swim. Lately the geese have been fighting with the sweedish ducks and both the female and male turkeys. I know it's close to mating season for them. I think they think the brown girl turkey is a girl goose. There has been very aggressive fighting ...violent...which is new in the pen...with the turkeys and attacking the male sweedish duck. My thoughts are to put all four geese by themselves in the 8 x 10 pen with a swim bucket and good bowl and keep them There until breeding season is over. Part of me says to keep one pair inside for a bit. Another part says to let the birds work it out. Any thoughts on how to handle the situation without giving away more birds? I rehomed the sweedish created duck gander. Pleassee share you thoughts on this.
 

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