Questions about Sebastopols

[Pinx]

I have been wanting a couple of Sebastopols for a while, my husband on the other hand is terrified of birds. It took a while for him to get used to my chickens and ducks but still keeps his distance. He doesn't want geese cause they are "mean". I understand the variables of individuals, how they were raised etc. Just as an overall, from what I have read they are a docile breed... just wanted to get BYCs opinions.

Also what are the housing requirements. Can they go in the coop with my chickens and ducks, or will I need to build them their own pen. We are extending the run for the chickens and ducks even though they free range our 2 acres most of the day. I also had a horse trough buried in my back yard for my ducks lol, they have full time water in their run that they can get in but I wanted something that they could actually get in and play in with plenty of room to splash around and act like fools. What is the smallest pen you would feel comfortable housing 2 sebbies in. I don't want to build the smallest pen, but want to make sure my pen is big enough... if that makes sense haha.

I assume ducks would be ok since they are also waterfowl but the size difference makes me want to ask just to make sure.

Also any information you can add that would help me make a decision on whether I should get some sebbies would be appreciated. I don't want to get in over my head and then wonder what I was thinking.

Thanks!

 

[TheDuckWoman]

I can't speak for sebbies (I'd love some too) but my embden and chinese are far from mean, in fact they come over for cuddles if I'm sitting in the garden. It sounds horrible but I actually prefer my geese to my ducks, just because they are so affectionate. I've put a nappy on my chinese and lay in bed with her on numerous occasions!

About the sleeping area (I have no idea what you mean by pen etc, I don't know farming lingo hahah), the general idea I went with is just enough room to move around a bit and stretch. Be warned, a goose could probaby fill half a mug with one poop. So bigger is probably better! My geese get along beautifully with my ducks (with the exception of the broody mummy duck). In the beginning when they are small they will probably get pecked so best not to leave them alone together until you can see they've been accepted into the flock.
For a run ( or an outside area but contained by a fence?) Uhm I can't tell you measuremers but if you have ducks and chickens it's probably big anyway and you're extending that so I guess it's fine but you probably have a better judgement of that

You should DEFINATELY get some sebbies! Geese are wonderful with the right upbringing, I assure you, you won't regret it

Good luck!

 

[CelticOaksFarm]

You won't to house the, with the others. Once a goose goes broody she and her mate will defend the location and the others won't be going near or inside. Build them a goose house that you can lock them to be safe for over night. 4'h x 4'd x 5'w for a pair is good for a pair.

Once grown they will be fine to free range during the day. Ours pretty much ignore the chickens completely, tolerate the ducks, but tend to ignore them for the most part too.

 

[Pinx]

Thanks guys. We have a building on our property that used to be a BBQ joint, we turned the kitchen into the chicken coop. So it is pretty big, I also have an area in there that I partitioned off for young chickens/ducks I didn't want with the flock yet, broodie hens, time out for my rooster etc. It is at least double the dimensions above so maybe I can lock them in that part of the coop at night and if one goes broodie I can just keep the door shut to keep the chickens and ducks out of that area. If that doesn't work I'll build them their own coop.

It also has concrete floors, with lots of bedding in their nest boxes and the ducks favorite sleeping place. Its not slick concrete, and my son and I sweep and scrape the coop floor daily because of the ducks. I haven't had any problems with my ducks on the concrete, would it be a problem for the geese to be on concrete? It is just in the coop, the run is obviously dirt and they only go in to sleep and lay eggs generally (I don't know about how much time geese would spend inside). I can put sand in their part of the coop if being on concrete will hurt them, DH may want to kill me lol, but I will if I need to.