Thinking about getting geese, some questions

[townchicks]

Hi, I've had a few hens, for a couple of years now, and I was toying with the idea of a couple of ducks. Now a friend of mine is moving out of state, and is looking for a home for her geese, so I switched my focus (maybe). She has 2 Sebastopol ganders that are about a year and a half or so, old. I would take only one of them, as they have to be separated as they fight.I know he'll need a buddy and if he works out, yes, I will find him a goose.
Now my questions are, one, as he currently lives with her chickens w/o problems or aggression, I'm thinking he would live with mine, in their enclosed run, and semi enclosed yard. He would have access to the lawn for grazing, when I'm around, as of course there is not any grass in the chickens' area. My girls eat all flock, is this ok for the goose, to supplement his grazing? They also get greens, which he will share, hopefully, but I can separate at feeding time if need be. Also, just because he gets along with her chickens, am I foolish to assume he'll be ok with mine? Does he need a look but don't touch integration? Does he need to be quarantined, or is there little risk of disease being passed to the chickens? My friend takes excellent care of her animals, and I'm sure he's healthy to the best of her knowledge, but stress of a move can bring out hidden problems, I know. I'm also wondering about swimming, do Sebastopol geese swim, with their feathers? Are they waterproof? She doesn't give them a pool, just a deep bucket for washing their nares.
Oh, I have lots of questions, but for now, this will get me started. And I did get a book about goose care, which I've started reading. She's not leaving til March, so I have time to figure some of this out, but I'll be getting him earlier, because we are going to do a trial period. TIA

 

[Miss Lydia]

I'd go ahead a start looking for a female for him around his age. Integrating 2 to a new home together will cause them to bond quicker and feel more at home. I have never had my gander be aggressive towards my chickens but He has always had female ducks and geese to help release any pent up frustration. He will lower his head if he wants anyone to move away from him and they all know what it means. I would def have a separate pen set up to introduce everyone to each other and having a female ready for him will help a lot. My geese love to bath so setting up a kiddy pool will help him keep his feathers in pristine condition I have never had a Sebastopol but I would think they would love bathing water same as any goose would.

 

[townchicks]

Integrating 2 to a new home together will cause them to bond quicker and feel more at home.

Thanks for the advice, it makes sense. The problem is, if he's not working out, she's going to take him back. By not working out, basically I mean if he's too noisy for my neighbors. it's not a quiet neighborhood, and nobody complains about much, but still... I don't want to be the jerk. Daytime noise is ok, but nighttime, not ok. At her house, they don't make a lot of noise at night, so, I'm hoping.
Another question, I just heard there are mini sebastopols. If I got a mini goose, would it be too small for the gander to safely mate with? I'm not going to let eggs hatch, no room for babies, sadly.

 

[Miss Lydia]

Contact @learycow she has mini Sebbies ask her about size difference. As for noise yes geese can be loud but it’s not continually. And if you put them up In a secure house at night you probably won’t hear a peep well a honk out of them. My geese are very quiet at night unless I sneeze then my gander will holler out one time . He’s nutty. lol.

 

[Percheron chick]

Curious about their current living situation. Typically, 2 ganders will get along great as long as there are no girls involved (duck or goose). Sebastopol need to swim even more than hard feathered geese. They are poorly insulated from the cold and dirty feathers exacerbate the problem.
I would not put a mini goose with a regular gander. He could drown her rather easily. He would be happy with any goose. If you have no intention of hatching goslings, any breed will do. A nice Sebastopol goose is not easy to find and will run $50-100+. Most breeders of good stock will not sell single females.
I would take both ganders and try them out. You will stir up the dynamics between the two and they might suddenly be best buds. If it doesn't work, send one back.

 

[Miss Lydia]

 

[townchicks]

@Percheron chick I'm not sure about their current living conditions, but my friend just said that they have to be separate because they fight, so one lives with one group of chickens, and the other with another group of chickens. I hadn't thought at all about taking both because I've really got nowhere to put one if they did fight. I know she just has the two, no females. I'll talk to her about that. Good to know about the mini being too small, I suspected as much, but thought I'd ask, as the mini idea is appealing.
I realize the gander doesn't care about the breed, but I like the look of the Sebastopol too, so thought I'd start looking for his goose in that breed. If something different came up, I'm open to that. I did know they're pricey, but didn't know it would be difficult to get a single female. It makes sense though, that females are in higher demand.
I'll certainly get him a pool, I just thought that they might not be waterproof with those feathers.

 

[Percheron chick]

Join the Sebastopol FB groups. You might be able to find a female for sale locally. Most of the better birds are the Midwest but you never know.

 

[townchicks]

Join the Sebastopol FB groups

Good suggestion. I never think about FB for things like that.

 

[Jmpridge]

Ha i just got a pair this weekend! Guy out of erwin nc. He is npip ai breeder of many breeds!