Sebastopol eggs...

[1lpoock]

I know there is multiple threads about them, but I was wondering, how many eggs do they lay in a season....also, how many babies should I expect to hatch. I really want to get a sportsman, but will geese eggs be alright in a hovabator genesis?

 

[ultasol]

The best recommendation that was ever made to me regarding geese was "get the book by Holderread." Getting "The Book of Geese" by Holderread was cheap (under $10 on amazon when I got it) and it has proven better than the other goose book I have. I refer to it all the time and I know the answer is in there... but it is late and I need to catch some ZZZzzzzs. I do believe it is under 25 eggs a season... although don't quote me at this time.

 

[The Sheriff]

That book isn't cheap anymore. Its over $70 on Amazon! I bought it at Countryside Publications for $18.95.

 

[Willowbrook]

Thank you Warden, for the referral site. I just ordered the book and it is still $18.95. I found it on some used book sites and the cheapest was $33.95!

 

[1lpoock]

If you order it from holderread himself it's only 18.95???

 

[banter]

If you remove the first few eggs they will continue to lay. It is wise to leave one egg in the nest to keep the female interested in laying. You can sneak in with a pencil and date the eggs and code them to the pair at the same time (when giving feed and water works). If you take the eggs you can expect 20-30 from a young goose, although last year my Seb Zeena, layed almost 50! The first couple and last 3 were not fertile. If you let the goose nest naturally the female will stop laying at the amount she feels she can cover (incubate), usually between 8-12 eggs. Expect a 70% hatch if under the goose. The parents which I allowed to incubate their own eggs, hatched 6-8 goslings out of 9-10 eggs-better than I did in an incubator! I have to add I took the first 2 eggs laid, figuring they were duds.

 

[rainplace]

Quote:
Yes, buy it straight from the source!

 

[1lpoock]

I dont think i will have very good hatches in a hovabator, do you think a sportsman will have good hatches....I'm wondering what Holderreads use?? Probably some big industrial ones or something?

 

[Willowbrook]

The American Livestock Breeds Conservancy did an article on Dave Holderread not long ago and they showed some pictures of him and one was in front of one of his incubators. I didn't pay attention as to the name, but it was taller than he was and looked like a small room. I do remember them saying that they turn all the duck and goose eggs by hand and do not use automatic turners.

 

[ultasol]

ok,.. from the book...

Sebastopols lay 25-35 eggs a year with a mothering ability of poor-fair.

Also, if you keep an eye on amazon and ebay you find good deals.

I just bought Holderread's duck book (Storey's I think) for about $5 plus shipping of $3 from amazon. If I don't find it on amazon, I start looking on other sites.