Sources place the Black Sea area as the birthplace of the Sebastopol goose in southeastern Europe. In honor of Sebastopol, Russia, the port from which they originally came to the United States, their name bears that name. Because of their unruly feathers, these birds have been called “Strupp Guns” and “Lockengans” in Germany.
This breed of domestic goose was officially recognized in 1938 by the American Poultry Association Standard of Perfection after having been developed from European Graylag geese.
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Appearance of the Sebastopol goose
Feathers are a dead giveaway for a Sebastopol goose; they are long, soft-quilled, and curl elegantly from the bird’s wings, body, and tail. One example of breeding for a desired trait is the alteration of plumage. Careful attention must be paid to the vitality and fertility of breeding stock whenever a domestic animal is selected for an unusual characteristic. Select for health and size first, then look for breast feathers that curl nicely, flight feathers that are pliable, and long, broad, spiraling plumes on the back and tail. Don’t use animals with “slipped wings” or crooked toes in your breeding program.
The Sebastopol is a popular tree, and the white variety is the most well-known. Their bright blue eyes and orange bills and feet stand out against their pure white feathers. Adolescents are characterized by a prevalence of gray hair. Colors like gray and buff are also available.
Both the gander and the goose of the Sebastopol goose breed reach a mature weight of 14 pounds. They have big, round heads with prominent eyes, slightly arched necks, and no keels. The breast and underbody feathers are elongated and well-curled; the plumage on the head and upper two-thirds of the neck is normal. The shafts of the long, downy feathers on the back, wings, and tail are flexible and spiral in an attractive pattern; the feathers are also nearly floor-length. Because they can’t fly due to their curled feathers, they’re easy to contain because they aren’t particularly restless and move slowly.
History
The Sebastopol goose is the most exotic looking of our species. The existence of such a bird may come as a surprise given that it appears to have been around for hundreds of years without any significant changes in breeding practices. Many researchers believe they came from the regions surrounding the Black Sea, including Hungary and the Balkans.
Due to their origins in the lower Danube river region, imports of these dogs led to the breed being known in England as Danubian and in Spain and Italy as Danubio. It is unknown where the name Sebastopol goose came from, but it is possible that it was derived from the fact that the first birds in the area were brought in through the port of Sebastopol.
Egg laying
Sebastopol geese lay between 25 and 35 large, white eggs per year, making them a moderate layer. Broodiness and maternal qualities make them suitable as foster parents for either their own or other species’ goslings. The optimum number of geese for a gander to mate with is between one and four. Fertility problems can sometimes be helped by clipping the long plumes of the back and tail and the feathers around the vent.
Care
Maintaining the beauty of Sebastopols requires the provision of clean swimming water. They’re excellent swimmers thanks to their webbed feet. They can be raised in cold climates and are hardy, but they need more protection from the elements than other breeds do because their feathers are too baggy to trap much heat and they get soaked rather than dry out quickly.
They are easily fattened, have a calm and pleasant demeanor, and make docile pets because, unlike some other goose breeds, they are more timid than aggressive. They serve a dual purpose as both a decorative and functional livestock breed, helping to maintain a tidy pasture. Roasting meat from a Sebastopol is of high quality.
