Sebastopol geese - selecting breeding stock, color genetics, and color improvement

[kimberly35042]

Thank you both for the responses! Jenifer you must have laid hands on some REALLY nice birds to get those lovelies out of them first generation. Please keep me in mind if you should find that you need to relieve yourself of one of those beauties!

Walt, I am SO picky and learning more every day. I so enjoy watching these babies grow up. I've already rehomed any minimal feathered babies and my beautiful Blue American geese (boy I miss them!), but it will make the breeding season much simpler just to concentrate on the sebbies. I have the space and will probably leave a gander group out on the front pond and put the breeding pairs in large grass pens in a side yard. VERY excited and so many wonderful people I've met because of these wonderful creatures.

I'll try to get some current pics on the ones I"m thinking of breeding. I have a pair of really stocky buff saddleback girls with nice head and body, but they are smoothbreasted so I guess I have to decide there to try for curl vs. color. Hard to find a good buff gander.

I also have some nice grey saddlebacks, but they need work on getting rounder heads and shorter "substance" necks. Fun project!

 

[Goose and Fig]

I got a really pretty curly saddleback gander from Kim that has an awesome neck. Right now he's a little goofy looking though- like he's wearing a boa

I won't be able to part with my toulouse, but I have sold off 80% of my chickens, so I have lots of space and little houses for pairs/trios come breeding season. We're getting there!

 

[kimberly35042]

Ok I may get slaughtered here, but heregoes...
This is really my first year with the small flock I bought in January. I hatched Henri last year and she turned out very nice, but could stand more substance in her head and neck. If personality counts, well she is about perfect. And in my book, that means a lot.

I love the buff saddlebacks and grey saddlebacks. I equally love some of the stunning white birds and would like to add both curly and smoothbreast (with quality feather). I think I have a good start with a few of my girls but they need improvement with feather quality, but my "best" (aka only) colored boy...I'm not sure. I have 3 more boys, 2 white and 1 blue saddleback (think he's a boy) but they are too young to determine any real quality at this point. I'll keep my eye open for a NICE gander of any color.











If anyone has a nice boy to complement and enhance these lovely ladies...I'd love to meet him! Even though pic doesn't say it, Madison is 2012 goose!

 

[kimberly35042]

And Studmuffin --


And him and his mom:



I'm beginning to like his head and neck, but in person, his body seems "square" to me. I realize genetically, he carries buff and would have a chance at a buff sb gander if I put him with his mom in 2013, but I just don't know. Maybe I should try to improve the overall type first. At least they already like each other!

 

[Goose and Fig]

I am just smitten with the buff saddlebacks. Cannot get enough of them!.

Any idea what I would get with a lavender gander over a grey saddleback goose?

 

[Cottage Rose]

Kim, love Stud Muffin! Whose his daddy?
Maybe I need to expand on my saddleback colors.
I only have grey and blue. Buff or lavender SB would be awesome!
(note to self: "are you CRAZY?!)
Kim where did you get your buff SB from or are you the breeder?
Maybe can do some trading next year...like a Blueberry Muffin baby for
a buff SB or buff SB gene carrier. I would put
SM back on Mom to gte some buff SB if shes the only one you have that is a
buff SB.

 

[kimberly35042]

Thanks guys --
Studmuffin was sired by Cotton, a curly white boy that I rehomed early on for a weird obsession with another gander. Pete's genetic info was invaluable with that color combo which produced white girls and grey sb boys. I'm a little disappointed in his size though. He and Marilyn (sister) both lack the substance that the mom has. The pics make him seem much more "manly" than he is in person **lol** Love the noble look in his eye that I don't see in person. And despite her size, Marilyn is the sweetest thing ever. She and the Blueberry Nugget are both really "personality plus" and have a home here forever.

CR - you aren't the first person that has told me to cross him back to his buff mom and to possibly get a buff saddleback gander. I'm letting a couple of younger white ganders with much better substance and feathers grow up some before deciding on that. I think Studmuffin there has a better head, but all of them are still really just babies.

I'm lucky to have 2 really nice buff saddleback girls, but I don't have a great pic of #2. She has a lot of substance, but her head isn't as pretty as Grumps there. I'm becoming a real snob on how the head and bill/beak come together -- what's that about??

 

[kimberly35042]

I am just smitten with the buff saddlebacks. Cannot get enough of them!.

Any idea what I would get with a lavender gander over a grey saddleback goose?

IDK ? I have Pete's charts link at work. I'll email you on Monday if I remember. Could be a bad first day back after taking a week's vacation. I should be planting my fall greens. I planted lettuce, beets and onions last weekend, but still have collards and need more lettuce. Overseeded front lawn, but not back...ugh. Simple life ain't so simple.

 

[Cottage Rose]

Kim I call it the "Arabian Headset". Round domed head and chisled little beak.
It's my artist eye that goes for that look but I suppose its subjective since we don't all like the same thing.
Its alluded my breedings for the most part and those who have it aren't sharing with me.
Its been the illusive quest for me to get it stamped in there solid.

 

[Cottage Rose]

Hey Kim little side note on heads...I've seen them go from really good to bla in goslings as they develop.