What do you think of your Sebastopol Geese?

[EmAbTo48]

I keep going back and forth on Sebastopol Geese and Toulouse Geese. I am going to just get one pair of one of these breeds. Please tell me which ones are better with temper? What are your experiences. Sebies are way more expensive then Toulouse around here. Any other breeds recomended!

I have a hatchery that has about everything! Any opinions are welcome!

 

[Lamar Estate]

I love my Sebastopol Sebastian. In fact, he's sitting on my lap as I type this (he's an indoor, diapered, spoiled goose).

I hatched Sebastian last March. His Sebastopol brothers died right before hatching, so I had him grow up with a same-aged duckling named Gizmo. Gizmo and Sebastian are best of friends, always looking out for each other.

Sebastian gets along very well with my dogs. He isn't fond of new people though. It takes a while before he'll let them pet him. At times, he's nipped at their pants or hissed at them. He does very well walking around our yard and woods with me, never going very far away from me. He even does well riding in the car (on my lap, of course). As for the diaper, it's only been a week and he still isn't happy about it.

Besides for meeting new people, Sebastian has a very good disposition. He doesn't like to be caught, but once he's on my lap, he loves it. He likes to cuddle. He'll even fall asleep in my arms. He doesn't make a lot of noise, but when he does, it's loud yet doesn't last very long. At night, Gizmo and Sebastian sleep in a pen next to our bed. When my husband and I are away from home, they stay in a room separate from the dogs.

I'm interested in getting Toulouse geese this summer or next summer. They are truly beautiful birds. I've heard great things about them.

Good luck on your decision,
Amanda

 

[flaming007]

I have sebastopols and there personalities are awsome!! They are a very calm breed and tame breed. When I was young and doing showmanship with them they would fall asleep in my arms.

 

[CelticOaksFarm]

We have 9 Sebastopols, adding two more in March and love them all dearly. We are also incubating Toulouse eggs currently since they are also a calm breed of goose.

What do you want the geese for? Do you hope to breed? If so then don't buy from a hatchery, find someone on here to get eggs from or goslings from. You will get a higher quality for breeding that way.

If you want just pets, and want Sebastopols, waiting until fall when this years babies go up for sale would get you known genders, from a breeder and could save you money as pet quality sell for less than top quality.

Also seek out someone more local to you that you can pick up from to save on shipping. There are tons of goose owners/breeders across the country.

 

[Oregon Blues]

I don't think Sebastopols cost less than Toulouse. Purebred Toulouse are rather expensive and very large. I don't know what those things are that are sold as Toulouse by the hatcheries, but they are not purebred Toulouse. Basically, they are just big gray barnyard geese.

Both of those breeds have a reputation for having very good temperaments, so if those are the two choices, pick the one you like the looks of the most.

Generally, if you buy from a hatchery, you won't get the gorgeous geese that look like the photos you see on the Internet. Sebbies and Toulouse are 2 breeds where there is a world of difference between hatchery birds and breeder birds.

 

[EmAbTo48]

We run a small hobby farm. I am looking for pets more so but I am going to allow to let nature take its course with goslings from them. If they hatch them I am fine with that. I won't be incubating or helping aid the process of hatching though it would be entirely on the parents.

I would love to find goslings on here. I have not had success on my duck eggs incubating yet, have only had 2 ducks out of the 10 eggs I have done. I still need time with incubating and getting the ropes of it before I would hatch out geese. So I am looking for goslings to raise from hand since I want them to be tame and friendly.

Who on here is shipping and selling day olds?

I actually have not found a single sole around us Northern WI that is selling Sebastopols the closest is the hatchery and that still is 5 hours away so I was just going to have them mailed.

We have 9 Sebastopols, adding two more in March and love them all dearly. We are also incubating Toulouse eggs currently since they are also a calm breed of goose.
What do you want the geese for? Do you hope to breed? If so then don't buy from a hatchery, find someone on here to get eggs from or goslings from. You will get a higher quality for breeding that way.
If you want just pets, and want Sebastopols, waiting until fall when this years babies go up for sale would get you known genders, from a breeder and could save you money as pet quality sell for less than top quality.
Also seek out someone more local to you that you can pick up from to save on shipping. There are tons of goose owners/breeders across the country.

 

[CelticOaksFarm]

Check out the Sebastopol thread here on BYC

Post a wanted ad here on BYC

Check out the Sebastopol forum for those near you. http://sebastopolgeeselovers.freeforums.org/

 

[Cottage Rose]

I believe "Wool Farm" lady is in Wisconsin and has a lot of Sebbies.
Google Wool Farm.
Barnyard/hatchery Toulouse might be cheaper but your quality Giant Dewlaps are much pricier.
It all boils down to what you want and fancy the most.
I've been raising Sebastopols for the last 7 years and thoroughly enjoy them.
Feather wise a quality Sebastopol is a site to behold and their personalities run the gambit
but geese (any breed) are much more personable than ducks or chickens.
I find geese delightful and enjoyable livestock to have around despite driving me crazy some days.

 

[ChristineR]

I've also heard that Cotton Patch geese have good temperaments. I was thinking about getting them or Sebastopol and finally decided on the Sebastopol, just because they are so pretty.