How to Care for Sebastopol Geese

Housing and space

The curl is the whole reason to keep the breed and the reason housing matters. Flat feathers zip together and shed water. Curled ones do not, so a Sebastopol caught in prolonged rain gets wet to the skin in a way a normal goose does not. A three-sided shelter they can walk into is enough; it does not need to be warm, it needs to be dry.

Space is generous rather than large. They are grazers, so grass does most of the feeding in summer. Because they cannot fly, fencing is simpler than for almost any other waterfowl: a fence they cannot walk through is a fence they cannot leave. What that fence mostly needs to do is keep predators out rather than birds in.

Water

Water is the one thing people get wrong. A goose has to be able to submerge its whole head to clear its nostrils and keep its eyes clean, so a shallow poultry founder is not adequate no matter how often it is refilled. They also need enough water to wash in, which is what keeps curled feathers in condition.

A pool is a bonus rather than a requirement, but if you provide one it must be shallow enough to climb out of easily. A waterlogged Sebastopol is heavier than it looks and a steep-sided tub is a genuine drowning risk.

Diet

Grass and good pasture through the growing season, supplemented with a waterfowl or all-flock feed. Do not feed medicated chick starter to goslings. Waterfowl need more niacin than chickens do, and a plain chick crumble without supplementation is behind a good share of the leg problems people report.

Angel wing, where the last joint of the wing twists outward, is generally associated with too much protein too fast during growth. Slower growth on a lower protein ration and plenty of grazing is the usual prevention. Once the bone has set it does not correct.

Temperament

Sebastopols are among the calmer goose breeds and handle well, particularly if raised from goslings. They are not silent: geese are loud by nature and this breed is no exception, which is worth knowing before you keep them close to a neighbour. The FAQ covers noise and whether they make good pets in more detail.

Ganders through breeding season are more assertive than the rest of the year. That is normal goose behaviour rather than a fault of the breed. If you are keeping a breeding pen, read the breeding guide.

Common Questions

Do Sebastopol geese make good pets?

Sebastopol geese are among the calmer goose breeds and handle well, particularly when raised from goslings. They are loud, like all geese, and ganders get assertive in breeding season, so they suit a household with space rather than a close suburban plot.

Can Sebastopol geese fly?

No. The curled flight feathers cannot generate lift, so Sebastopols cannot fly at any age. A low fence contains them, which makes them easier to keep than most waterfowl.

How much room do Sebastopol geese need?

They are grazers, so the more pasture the better, but the fixed requirements are dry shelter, shade, and water deep enough to submerge the whole head in.

Raising from scratch? See goslings and the incubation guide. Want to skip the growing? The adult flock is ready now. For how long they live see lifespan, and for breed background see facts.