An Update on My Sebastopol Geese

July 13, 2018

My beautiful fluffy Sebastopol geese are thriving here at my Bedford, New York farm.

As some of you know, last May I acquired five Sebastopol geese from breeder Brian Tallman in Pine Plains, New York. These geese are easily identified by their long, curly feathers that spiral and drape to the ground. My Sebastopols are about three-months old now and enjoying their summer days grazing and exploring their new surroundings.

Here are the latest photos - enjoy.

: These five Sebastopol geese are the best of friends – they always travel together around their enclosure.

: These juveniles now have their white soft-quilled feathers. Sebastopols have been called the ‘pantomime goose’ because of their fancy plumage. They have a curled feather mutation and the shaft of the longer feathers splits, so the vanes are fluted.

: The Sebastopol goose is also referred to as a Danubian goose. The name ‘Danubian’ was first used for the breed in 1863 Ireland. Both males and females have pure white feathers that contrast with their bright blue eyes and orange bills and feet.

: Sebastopols have large, rounded heads, prominent eyes, slightly arched necks, and keelless breasts.

: The plumage of the head and upper two-thirds of the neck remains smooth, while that of the breast and underbody will become elongated and, as you can see, well-curled.

: Sebastopols are considered medium-sized birds. They are also very affectionate and kind-hearted with others in their group, or gaggle.

: Here are three of my juvenile chickens – they are in an adjacent yard until they are a bit bigger, but they love watching the geese play.

: Here is a closer look at the Sebastopol’s beautiful feathering. Unlike most bird species, which molt their feathers one at a time, waterfowl lose their flight feathers all at once. This is called a “simultaneous wing molt”.

: Geese typically undergo just one complete molt a year, replacing all body, wing, and tail feathers shortly after the nesting season.

: It takes adult geese about three to four weeks to replace their feathers. Sebastopols are in prime condition after they molt, in the post breeding season, and re-grow all their feathers by the fall.

: Here is another juvenile chicken and a baby peacock – notice the feathers at the top of its head. This is called the corona, the crest or crown feathers.

: These young geese love running through the yard and watching all the activity around the farm. Geese also spend a lot of time preening as they need to keep their feathers waterproof which is helped not only by the oil from the preen gland, but the actual structure of the feathers.

: Do you know… a goose is actually the term for female geese, male geese are called ganders. A group of geese on land or in water is a gaggle, while in the air they are called a skein, a team or a wedge.

: At the moment, our Sebastopols are still a bit timid when visitors approach them, but they are gaining confidence every day.

: This is Dawa. He cares for all the outdoor birds at the farm – the geese, the Guinea hens, the chickens, the peacocks, and the pigeons. All the birds adore him – especially at mealtime.

: As Dawa holds this Sebastopol, it is easy to see how the feathers curl on the side of the body. The feathers curl downwards and are up to four times the length of the feathers found in other geese.

: Mature Sebastopol geese are very good watchmen and will let you know day or night if something is not right. Sebastopols are also excellent runners.

: These birds are very hardy and are adaptable to cold climates. All my birds are kept indoors at night where it is warm in winter and, of course, safe from predators.