what to feed sebastopol geese

Treats –

• Watermelon –. I usually chop it up in chunks for them and give them some bits of rind too. But sometimes I just slice it and let them chew it.
• Lettuce –. On a snowy morning, their excitement is deafening if I show up with a tub of chopped lettuce. ...
• Dandelions –. This is their absolute favorite food. ...

Full Answer

What is a Sebastopol Goose?

The Sebastopol goose is a type of domesticated goose and is one of the most popular breeds in this category. They are known for their long, slender necks and webbed feet, which make them excellent swimmers. This animal is a breed of domesticated geese that originated in the city of Sebastopol. Their long necks and slender bodies characterize them.

Where do geese Go for food?

Well, wild geese have the ability to fly to find other foods and you will often see geese feeding on fields, village greens, rivers, lakes or ponds to forage for a variety of foods. What do geese eat? Wild geese spend about half of their day feeding on land and water.

What is the best breed of Goose for poultry lovers?

Our Sebastopols are not just bred for their stunning appearance (which gives the impression of them wearing a wedding dress), they are hardy geese with a very friendly persona. When you couple all these factors together it is hard to disagree that this breed is the best overall breed of goose for poultry lovers.

What kind of animal is a geese?

This animal is a breed of domesticated geese that originated in the city of Sebastopol. Their long necks and slender bodies characterize them. The geese can be used for eggs, meat, or to keep the grass short on golf courses and other areas where they are raised.

What is the best thing to feed geese?

Ducks and geese also eat a lot of insects, so feeding them mealworms or freeze-dried crickets mimics their natural food choices. Other good options include barley, oats, birdseed, cracked corn, vegetable peels and chopped-up grapes that have been diced into pieces, One Kind Planet(Opens in a new window) advises.

What is a goose's favorite food?

They mainly feed on grass in their natural environment, and are content to find whole wheat grains and cracked corn in the fields, therefore it is nutritious to feed them similar wild bird food containing grains and cracked corn. Be specific in the type of bird seed you feed geese.

What food is harmful to geese?

The following foods are toxic to geese and shouldnotbe fed: Avocado, any part-has the toxin persin. White potato, any part-has the toxin solanine. Green tomato, as well as the leaves- has the toxin solanine.

What can I feed my backyard geese?

Geese will eat all kinds of grasses, weeds such as plantain, clover and dandelions, and also herbs like basil, dill, oregano, parsley and thyme. If you hand feed your goslings when they are young, you can teach them which things are good to eat and hopefully train them to seek them out in your yard.

Can geese eat banana peels?

They can eat both ripe and unripe bananas, although the latter will benefit them more. Moreover, you can also feed your geese banana peels as long as you purchase organic bananas.

Do geese eat apples?

geese will consume many fruit types, especially if these fruits are cut into smaller pieces. They are especially fond of berries since these are ideal for swallowing. You can choose to offer your goose chopped apple, orange, banana, pineapple, pear, peaches, and other fruits but try not to overdo these foods.

Can you feed geese sunflower seeds?

Yes, geese can eat sunflower seeds. Sunflower seeds are exceptionally healthy even their fellow waterfowl ducks can benefit from them as well. Yes, geese love sunflower seeds.

What snacks do geese like?

5 Seasonal Treats That Your Geese Will LoveMealworms. Geese are technically vegetarians, but most of them won't turn their beaks up at a crunchy, dried-bug treat. ... Watermelon. Watermelons are some of the best treats to give poultry during the summer. ... Lettuce Greens. ... Bread (On Occasion) ... Dandelions.

How do you entertain a goose?

Geese are always chewing. They can be picky eaters when it comes to what they actually swallow, but they will chew on anything. Keep them amused by providing dog toys, such as the knotted ropes you might use for tug of war. Geese will nibble around and chew on the toys until they've completely destroyed them.

Do geese eat grass seed?

Geese Lawn Damage The Canada goose eats a variety of grasses when on land. It feeds by grasping a blade of grass with the bill, then tearing it with a jerk of the head. Kentucky bluegrass is a favored food of geese, it should not be planted near newly constructed or renovated ponds.

Is it OK to feed geese bread?

According to the Humane Society of the United States, feeding ducks and geese bread is similar to feeding children candy before dinner. It is not toxic, they love it, but it has no nutritional value. Bread fills up their stomachs and then they are not hungry for the foods they need to be healthy.

Can geese eat mixed corn?

If you are going to feed wild geese, choose nutritious foods such as sweet corn and peas (either tinned or frozen, just defrost them in warm water first), and greens such as cabbage, cauliflower leaves or lettuce. Ideally some wheat or mixed corn which is readily available for chickens.

What do geese like for treats?

5 Seasonal Treats That Your Geese Will LoveMealworms. Geese are technically vegetarians, but most of them won't turn their beaks up at a crunchy, dried-bug treat. ... Watermelon. Watermelons are some of the best treats to give poultry during the summer. ... Lettuce Greens. ... Bread (On Occasion) ... Dandelions.

Can I feed geese bread?

Here are several reasons why you should not feed geese and other birds. Bread, crackers, popcorn, and other high-carbohydrate foods are like junk food to birds. They provide very little nutritional content, and birds that fill up on them will not seek out other, nutritious food.

What do geese eat in the winter?

Since geese naturally eat leafy greens and fresh grass, supplementing some special treats is a great idea in winter. You can offer them a head of lettuce or cabbage, flakes of hay, and greens off root vegetables like beets and carrots.

What do Canadian Geese like to eat?

Canada Geese eat grain from fields, graze on grass, and dabble in shallow water by tipping forward and extending their necks underwater. During much of the year they associate in large flocks, and many of these birds may be related to one another.

Why raise Sebastopol geese for meat?

Another benefit of raising Sebastopol geese for meat is that you won’t have to worry about an odd carcass side due to the lighter feather color of these birds. It’s purely a matter of aesthetics but can make for a cleaner-looking carcass by the time you’re ready to put it in the oven.

How long does it take to raise a Sebastopol geese?

They aren’t typically used commercially for this purpose, but if you decide to raise Sebastopols for meat, you should be able to process them at around six to ten weeks.

What is the Sebastopol goose?

The Sebastopol goose is a type of domesticated goose and is one of the most popular breeds in this category. They are known for their long, slender necks and webbed feet, which make them excellent swimmers. This animal is a breed of domesticated geese that originated in the city of Sebastopol. Their long necks and slender bodies characterize them.

How much does a Sebastopol goose weigh?

More often than not, the Sebastopol goose can be identified by its feathers, which curl under. These are mostly flightless birds. Weighing around 10 to 12 pounds, these geese aren’t the largest you will find. However, it’s not their weight that impedes their abilities to fly but, instead, their feathers.

What is the name of the goose that is a white goose?

It was shown under the name it has today – Sebastopol goose – and prized for its white, curly feathers, medium weight, and vibrant blue eyes.

How many eggs do Sebastopol geese lay?

The average female lays only 25 to 35 egg s per year. Of course, these are quite large. Bright white in color, they are big enough to make up for three or four chicken eggs! Sebastopol geese can be raised as reliable layers during the laying season between early spring and summer.

What is the name of the goose that is a scrupp gun?

They have a ton of other nicknames, too – for example, in Germany, Sebastopol geese are referred to as Strupp Guns or Lockengans, which means “unkempt goose” or “curl goose,” both names about the frizzled, frazzled appearance of this bird’s feathers.

What to feed wild geese?

If you are going to feed wild geese, choose nutritious foods such as sweet corn and peas (either tinned or frozen, just defrost them in warm water first), and greens such as cabbage, cauliflower leaves or lettuce. Ideally some wheat or mixed corn which is readily available for chickens.

What do geese eat to digest their food?

What do geese eat to digest their food? In the wild, geese will pick up small stones and grit and sand from the ground and from the bottom of the lake or river to help them digest their food. We need to provide sand (standard builders sand will do) plus mixed poultry grit containing flint grit and oyster shell for our domestic geese.

How many geese per acre?

Once the grass is 5 or 6 inches high, the geese can be given access. The stocking density should be no more than two geese per acre. We only want to graze the meadow lightly. Geese ideally need short, fresh grass, so if the grass grows tall, you may need to cut some areas for them to have some shorter grass.

What did birds do in Europe?

Traditionally, in Europe, people kept poultry in orchards. Chickens and waterfowl would eat insects and fallen fruit, and geese would keep the grass short. Droppings helped provide nutrients for the trees, and the trees provided shade, shelter and safety.

Why do geese make noise?

Geese can add a security element to the vicinity, making a lot of noise when something unfamiliar comes near, alerting you to visitors or predators nearby.

How much time do geese spend on land?

Wild geese spend about half of their day feeding on land and water.

What do geese eat?

Wild geese spend about half of their day feeding on land and water. A goose’s diet consists of various grasses, clover, alfalfa, seed heads, wheat, maize, barley and beans from fields (usually foraged from fields after harvesting). They will eat a few berries from hedgerows from time to time when they are available, ...

How to care for a Sebastopol goose?

Care Considerations. Because the feathers of the Sebastopol are loose and unkempt, they need more shelter and warmth in winter than other goose breeds . Keeping them indoors at night, and out of the wind on especially cold days, will help them to weather freezing temperatures.

What is a Sebastopol geese?

Sebastopol geese form a surreal and intriguing spectacle drifting across a pond or foraging around your backyard. With feathers every which-way, the appearance of a Sebastopol is reminiscent of unfolded laundry, and contrary to goose stereotypes, their personalities are most often amiable and sweet. The most unique looking breed of goose has ...

How much does a Sebastopol bird weigh?

Though the exact origins of the Sebastopol are unknown, modern birds are most frequently raised for show or as pets. Sebastopols weigh 10 to 12 pounds. They have elegant, arching necks that evoke images of swans. Their eyes are bright blue, a pleasing compliment to their orange bills.

How many eggs does a Sebastopol have a year?

In fact, the breed as a whole was extremely rare during the early 1900s. Since it is too small to be a useful meat bird, and its 25 to 30 eggs a year are not enough to sustain a farm, Sebastopols rely on hobby farmers and those drawn to its unique beauty to breed and expand their presence in the United States.

Why are Sebastopol geese so attractive?

There’s a peculiar attractiveness of the Sebastopol, their bright eyes implying surprising intelligence. The feather pattern that makes these geese so unique can be difficult to breed, and if you plan to raise these geese, selecting good specimens for stock is vital.

What were the two types of Sebastopols?

Initially two types of Sebastopols existed: one, a smooth-breasted variety whose curling feathers were confined to its wings and back; and the other, with curly feathers upon its entire body except for the neck and head. The first type slowly disappeared.

What is the most unique goose?

The most unique looking breed of goose has to be the distinctive Sebastopol. These striking birds were relatively recent additions to America’s Standard of Perfection for Poultry, and they have become a backyard favorite because of their docile personalities and stunning plumage.

The First Week

I have to admit that at first I didn’t think they were quite as cute as chicks. But big! They seemed huge after the itty-bitty babies one of our hens had hatched only a month or so before. Their baby fluff felt wiry, but oh, they were so squishy! I fell head-over-heels in love.

Suggested Resources

I loved raising my goslings, and I was especially excited when Costi and Jena raised an adorable, squishy gosling of their own a few years later! If you’re thinking about trying some geese for the first time, here are a few resources that I have found helpful: