reasonably priced sebastopol goslings?

[bock]

Does such a thing exist? I have been considering getting pair for breeding next year, but they are all somewhere between $50-$75 and sometimes $100 each. I f you know of any or have any for sale, please let me know. thanks!

 

[crazy goose lover]

You might try going to sebastopolsfreeforums.org look under the classified section.

 

[Cottage Rose]

If you can get breeding stock for $50. - $75. each thats cheap!
I would say the average price for pet stock is $75. - $100.
$100. and up for better quality.
Day old gosling's use to average $40. each now the last few years average around $50. each.
Feed prices go up, so do gosling prices.
I've paid up to $300. a piece plus shipping for some of my breeding stock.
You can find anything from free on up into the hundreds.
Just keep your eyes open but keep in mind, you get what you pay for.

As for why so expensive...
I would say because waterfowl is much harder to hatch out than chickens
(only 30 - 50% hatch rates) plus with Sebastopols you are getting a special breed of geese.
You can buy day old Americans or whatever from any given hatchery for under $10. each.
Good luck!
I hope you find what you are looking for.

 

[Olive Hill]

The only thing "special" about Sebbies is that they're very trendy pets right now. And as with any trendy pet if you want one at the height of the trend, you're going to have to pay for it. If you don't want to pay a premium be patient. The prices will come back down once the market hype dissipates.

 

[bock]

Thanks everyone. Maybe I will see if the prices go down in a few years. I love their curly feathers, but there is a lot more to a goose than just their feathers I suppose.

 

[Jenifer Kraus]

Bock, Are you interested in goslings or young adults ? I don't sell goslings as I am always keeping for improvement but young adult pet quality goes out for FREE accept for the box fee which I have them for 23.00 and shipping. I did post a video of my geese on the Sebastopol forum listed below and it is posted on the topic Pics of my sebbies. I don't ship until it is cold here as they ship better that way. I just want them to have great homes. There are some pictures of some of my breeder birds on my work in progress website.

 

[spectrumranch]

I totally agree with Cottage Rose.


Quote:
I don't agree with Olive Hill that they are just trendy pets. That might have been the case- 20 some years ago when they were bringing $1500 to $2000 pair at auction. But that was a breeders market because they were not readily available in the USA.

Sebastopol production isn't close to the same as the many thousands of $10 geese produced in a year.

I think you will be waiting a long time for $10 sebastopols, but you can find a deal every once in awhile.

 

[Olive Hill]

Quote:
I don't agree with Olive Hill that they are just trendy pets. That might have been the case- 20 some years ago when they were bringing $1500 to $2000 pair at auction. But that was a breeders market because they were not readily available in the USA.

Sebastopol production isn't close to the same as the many thousands of $10 geese produced in a year.

I think you will be waiting a long time for $10 sebastopols, but you can find a deal every once in awhile.

Answer me this, what desirable trait other than being pretty makes Sebbies "special"? They do not outperform other geese in anything. They're not more prolific, they don't have better fertility, they're not better weeders, they're not better mothers, they do not have better down quality, they don't have superior meat quality, they're not quieter. There is NOTHING special about a Sebbie other than it's appearance. Which isn't a bad thing. I bought a Sebby for a pet yesterday. I think he's beautiful. But he's not special for anything but looks. Trying to justify prices because they're "special" is dishonest. The prices are as they are because right now there is a strong market for them in the pet and ornamental sectors. Not because they possess anything "special" other than that. Just be honest. There is nothing wrong with saying they're pretty pets. They are. People who want to buy Sebbies want pretty pets, it's not going to hurt sales any to just be honest.

And yes, they are trendy right now among "common" pet markets. You have to keep in mind not everyone is in the industry you are in, the auctions and sales you see when, as per your example, these birds (and other animals) go for much higher prices are the sales and auctions that often precede the pet trend. As you said, that's the breeders market, and I don't believe for a second you don't know exactly what I'm talking about. There was a time when Asian Heirloom Hogs went for a first-born-child too now there are "potbelly pigs" at every other small animal swap in the country for fifty bucks or best offer. Are they all excellent quality? Absolutely not and there are still some breeders out there trying to keep good quality hogs on the ground and sell them for a premium, but you can't argue those hogs were never a trendy pet or that the market hasn't changed significantly for them. Maybe not next year or the year after, but I'd bet a real pretty penny Sebbies will end up the same in time -- and probably less time than sebby breeders would like to think.

 

[DaveK]

Spectrum, can you provide some concrete backing for your statement about auction prices? Sorry, that sounds argumentative and that's not my intention. Just that your statement surprises me. I have had good quality Sebastopols since September of 1972. I was very much around 20 years ago and have never heard even wild rumours of such prices through any venue, public or private. Sebastopols have not been, even in the past, all that hard to find. Quality is another matter but that situation still exists today. At any rate back during the time you refer to the late Ruth Book had no trouble gathering foundation Sebastopol stock for her various projects. LOTS of different breeders and lots of different kinds of Sebastopols. [email protected]

 

[DaveK]

It might not be what folks want to hear but Olive Hill has hit the nail on the head. In several ways. Let's get past this ridiculous and insulting notion that Sebastopols are "so very special". They are to those of us who love them but breeders/keepers of any other breed can and will say the same thing. And rightfully so. Anyone that has seen the Krebs boys holding and hugging their Steinbacjhers would have to admit that those are pretty special birds. Our Cacklers and NeNe have been every bit as special to us as the Sebastopols and the tiny little Lesser Whitefronts are wonderful. Take a pretty little goose that loves people, loves each other and where each pair will take on a hatch of 10-12 Sebastopols and nanny them and how can it be suggested that they are not special? We all have our favorites and what we love is special to us but that goes for everyone. As far as the notion of high end pets I have mentioned this myself on the original Sebastopol Forums. If we as Sebastopol fanciers are actually in touch with the larger waterfowl community we are told flat out that what is perceived is a lot of seller's hype and commercialism. The original poster seems to have run into this. This is, in my nearly 40 years with this fascinating breed, a very recent development. No one internet presence, no matter how vigorous, should be construed as representing the breeders/keepers/lovers and their business practices or mindsets as a whole and that very much includes myself. I may report but my opinion is only that -my own opinion. I will say that it does seem absolutely ridiculous to blatantly market a goose as a high $$$ pet. They are a form of domestic farmstock. They can and usually do have very individual, charming and maddening personalities are are great pets and fun to have around. But come on folks; it's a GOOSE. Pot bellied pigs have been mentioned. It was Emus before that. The list goes on. If someone in this present economy can afford to breed because they find it fun and interesting to work towards a Standard and overall quality the stock needed for that kind of project might be pricey, especially if the individual isn't part of a network of like minded breeders who will help each other out. Quality backed up by quality genetics and breeding (and not just a name) can cost some money. But even those birds produce culls. Those $40-$50 goslings can still grow up to be ugly at worst or pretty but still useless for breed improvement. They make very pretty lawn ornaments and great outside companions but the reality of charging a bundle because they "they are so very special" is just getting everything out of them while it's possible. Let's see how very special some folk's Sebastopols would be if there simply were no high $$$ venues for selling of the year's annual "crop". [email protected]