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Meet The Sebastopols (Or It Could Only Happen Here)

Do you know what Sebastopol geese are? (See them by clicking HERE.) I didn’t until I saw photos of them last fall. They are gorgeous feathered geese who remind me of brides in frilly gowns and wanting some glamor in my blue jean life, I immediately fell in love with them. But I spent time reading books and doing research to make sure they’d be compatible with our rugged winter climate and by the time I found out they’d be fine here, there were no goslings left anywhere.

But luck was with me because 4 little goslings became available (thank you Jody!) and are now the new residents of Red Pine Mountain Farm. They came by Express Mail in a crate looking much like a dog kennel. I never knew the Post Office shipped birds as large as goslings.

When I opened the box, there they were; 4 adorable squeaking fluff balls.

I settled them in their new temporary quarters (one of my stalls) while they adjust to our Vermont weather. At first they were making all kinds of noise as they wondered where in the heck they were but after taking a bath in the turkey’s toboggan which is serving as their temporary wading pool, they fluffed their feathers and went down for a nap. I spent an hour or so just watching them. They are so adorable with their huge web feet.

Anyway, lest the other birds feel neglected, I spent time with them as well. I converted an old drying rack into a temporary roosting post for the baby chicks. The Buckeyes are getting huge.

My chicks are friendly too and come running when they see me. Mountain Man tells me it’s because I feed them but I think it has something to do with my singing. Never underestimate the power of a good lullaby.

My Golden Spangled Polish chicken is starting to sprout feathers on his head. At the moment, he reminds me of a Roman soldier.

Back to check on the goslings again. Aren’t they adorable?

I tear myself away and check on my turkey hen. A few days ago she hatched two chickens. “Who are you saying hatched a chicken?”

I knew she was sitting on dozens of eggs so I had high hopes she would hatch baby turkeys and I knew they took longer than chicks to hatch. Today, there was more movement. Was it a turkey? No, it was GUINEAS!!!

Here is baby guinea with her older chick siblings.

And just like all younger siblings, the baby guinea tries to do everything the older chicks do including the game scale the hay pile.

And finally makes it up the mountain.

So there you have it Sebastopol geese, chickens with plummage that looks like a hat and a turkey who hatches chickens and guineas but of course no turkeys.

Sometimes I think these things only happen here. But then again if you’d told me 3 years ago, I’d be mother to a flock of birds and loving every minute of it, I’d have told you that you were crazy. Maybe it’s the magic of Red Pine Mountain.

Thanks for visiting us and if you have any name suggestions for the new arrivals, let me know.