SpArKz......: March 2013

Sebastopol Geese - The Goose With a Curly "Perm"

Sebastopol - White Curly Breasted
Photo Source: J, Metzer, Metzer Farms (www.metzerfarms.com)

“Sebastopols look like they just got a curly perm at a hairdressing salon” – Carol Ekarius

Sebastopols - Curly Breasted White
Photo Source: Dave Kozakiewicz

“Wow! A big ball of fluff! Is it supposed to be like that?” - Those were my thoughts upon first seeing a Sebastopol goose. I wanted to reach out and pet it; it looked so soft and cuddly. The more I researched various poultry breeds, the more I wanted to get some of these unique looking geese.

Sebastopol - Curly Breasted White
Photo Source: Dave Kozakiewicz

What makes the Sebastopol so unique are its curly feathers, giving it that “curly perm” look. The frizzled feathers are the result of a genetic mutation and curl due to the lack of a rigid feather spine or quill. The feathers curl downwards and are up to four times the length of the feathers found in other geese.

If one would imagine the Sebastopol as having regular feathers – no curls at all – they would greatly resemble the Roman breed of geese.

Roman Goose
Photo Source: Lou B.

Sebastopols have large, rounded heads, prominent eyes, slightly arched necks, keel-less breasts and dual lobes – the fatty “lumps” that hang down below the abdomen. (A.L.B.C.)

There are two types of Sebastopols; the Curly feather breasted type and the Smooth (regular) feather breasted type. On both types, the plumage on the head and upper two-thirds of the neck is smooth and regular. Orange bills, legs and feet are the standard for both types. White is the historical and most common colour variety found in both types, but there are now Blue, Buff, Cream, Gray, Lavender, Buff Saddleback, Gray Saddleback and Splash varieties found in both Curly and Smooth breasted types. In White colour varieties, the eyes are a bright blue while with the Buff colour, the eyes are brown.

Sebastopol - Smooth Breasted White
Photo Source: Dave Kozakiewicz

Sebastopols - Smooth Breasted White Pair
Photo Source: F. L.

Sebastopols - Smooth Breasted Gray Saddleback
Photo Source: F. L.

Sebastopols - Curly Breasted White, Gray and Gray Saddleback
Photo Source: Dave Kozakiewicz

The Curly breasted type has its curled feathers commencing on the lower third of the neck and continuing on down on the breast and underbody. The feathers on the back, wings and tail are soft and curl downwards almost touching the ground in outstanding individuals (Holderread).

“Smooth breasted Sebastopols that have the proper feather pattern (as Standardized in Europe, where they can and do show them) have long wide streamers coming off the back/shoulders and a waterfall of streamers in front of the thighs. Wings are completely 100% normal. The wing flights and totally smooth breasts DQ them under the APA SOP. Young and/lightly built birds can and have become airborn though usually there is enough bulk, especially as adults, to make that difficult at best.” - Dave Kozakiewicz

The Sebastopol is classified as a Medium Goose by the American Poultry Association Standards with weights as follows:

Old Gander: 14 lbs Old Goose: 12 lbs.

Young Gander: 12 lbs. Young Goose: 10 lbs.

Only Curly breasted White Sebastopols are currently recognized for show in North America. Defects include straight flights, wing feathers protruding from the body and the absence of curled feathers on the underbelly and back under the folded wings. (American Standard of Perfection, 1998)

In Germany, only Smooth breasted White Sebastopols are recognized for show.