Considering Sebastopol Geese

[ekofke201]

I have my first flock of birds this year and I am loving every minute of it! (7 chickens, no two are the same, 1 buff/white runner, and two chocolate runners)
I am already looking forward to diversifying over the coming years. Now, I am a major planner, so I do have some questions

I would be looking to add Sebastopol geese (2 or 3) to the flock primarily as "yard art." Much like some do with peacocks. I think they are amazing looking!! My understanding is that they do not lay many eggs, which I am fine with. Thrilled actually. And that they can be very friendly.

Questions:

1. Is there a reason that people are selling them primarily as a pair? I would prefer only females for some noise control (I have read they are quieter then the males) and gosling avoidance.

2. Will they need more than a baby pool to splash around in? We will eventually add a proper pond to the area. But I do not see that in the very near future. My husband is still recovering from building the existing coops. They just kept getting bigger as I discovered more incredible breeds. I just told him that this meant he would only have to do it once. I hope I can keep my word!

3. Can they live alongside my existing flock? I would have separate housing from the chickens. I would love it is they could share housing with the ducks.

4. Are they going to be much louder than my ducks? I have a tenant that lives above my barn. I really dont' want to push my luck there.

Any thoughts or corrections to my information would be welcome! Thanks so much, in advance!!

*edited for more questions

 

[Iain Utah]

1. Personally, if I were to get a same-sex pair, I'd go with ganders as they are generally more social & friendly. Ganders may sound an alarm faster than a goose, but I'd be hard pressed to say ganders are much louder than geese.

2. Baby pools are fine.

3. Geese integrate well other animals. I don't have chickens, but I have ducks... and my geese live nicely with them. My geese also get along well with my horses, dogs and cats.

4. A goose's voice can carry farther than ducks, although my ducks can be quite vocal when it is feeding time.

 

[CelticOaksFarm]

Sebastopols are sold as pairs and single ganders so no one is stuck with all the extra boys. Just as ducks and chickens are sold straight run for similar reasons.

If you don't want goslings, don't let the eggs be incubated, it is just that simple.

Baby pools work very well for Sebbies, the water should be changed daily to keep them looking their best.

Two ganders live just as well together as a gander and goose do. If no goose is present, the ganders generally have no reason to fight.

Geese are louder than ducks, if noise is a concern, don't get geese at all. They don't make noise all day, but will talk. We have a young goose who is much louder than the boys and talks first thing every morning demanding to be let out for the day.

 

[ekofke201]

Hmm... So, I guess I am looking for a couple of boys then. Could I also expect that they would take the "male role" in the flock and watch over my girls? I do not have a rooster and I THINK all of my ducks are female. One is terribly quiet

. It is a wait and see for that one.

I am so looking forward to these beautiful creatures! It is going to be torture waiting for the additional enclosures to be finished...

 

[CelticOaksFarm]

geese wont protect anything other than themselves and a nesting site. They will honk and alert to what they deem an invader, but they wont defend ducks or chickens

 

[Baybrio]

Not sure if my sebbie gander thought he was protecting his mate or the ducks but he ran across the yard to chase a small hawk. The hawk, a Cooper's or Sharpshank was trying to get a sparrow, the gander ran over and basically honked and hissed while batting around with his wings until the hawk took off. I believe he makes it a lot of trouble for hawks to visit my yard as I have lost no poultry to even the Red Tailed hawks since the geese matured.

Unfortunately this spring a Bald Eagle came and took a few of my ducks - I'd never seen one here before. The gander did not feel he should take on the eagle (thank goodness)!!!

I don't think the geese exactly protect the ducks, but they sure don't like the hawks!