My first Grey Saddlebacks
Holderread - Overton Bloodlines.
'Chaps' 2008 gander (on left) and
'Cherie-Pie' 2008 goose ( on right)
Their 2009 goslings turned out fantastic!
Gorgeous round heads, width and substance galore
and the curlies ones, major poof balls!

 Colored Sebastopol Geese are not an APA accepted breed.
They are hybrids, the result of crossing white Sebastopols
to other breeds of geese to introduce color.
Their gene pool is big and varied and far
from perfected but what a fun project!

Pictured below 'Chaps' & Girls.
Winter 2008

In Europe both smooth and curly breasted varieties are accepted
in the breed standard but here in the U.S. only curly breasted,
white Sebastopols are an APA accepted breed.
Many breeders in the U.S. would never consider using the smooth breasted
variety for breeding but supposedly the practice of breeding curly x curly
causes more wings disorders such as angel wing and twisted wing tip so
some breeders recommend breeding smooth x curly to help reduce wing
disorders.
I use to question the practice of using smooth breasted Sebastopols
until I saw a breeder friend's line of show quality Sebastopols out
of smooth x curly breedings.
Well, nothing ventured, nothing gained... so I'm experimenting with
my colored Sebastopols. 

Nov. 2009 UPDATE REGARDING TWISTED WING TIP.
I recently had the opportunity to speak to Dave Holderread regarding
twisted wing tips.  He said its not caused by their curly feather mutation
but rather it's a result of wear and tear on their feathers.
Since their feathers do not lie smoothly one on top of the other like normal feathers do, whenever they flap their wings it causes wear and tear on them and eventually causes the distorted condition.  He said if it was genetic it would show up within 6 months but as many of us have come
to learn it doesn't show up until they are 2-3 years old so it sounds like
a logical explaination.

Update: Stiff Primary Wing Feathers in Sebastopol Geese. 
Dave and I also discussed stiff primary feathers which alot of people attempt to breed out but according to Dave this will result in narrow,
wooly feathering.  He said 1 in 4 of the grandparents in any given breeding should have some stiff primaries to help prevent too fuzzy
and narrow feathers.

If anybody has any information or corrections
on any of these topics please email me and I will publish it
here and give you credit or you can remain anonymous.
We need all the help we can on gathering any information
on the breed since so little is out there. 

So back to the fun stuff...
Our first saddleback goslings started arriving April 2009
What an exciting time!
Saddleback goslings have black on their feet & beaks.
Both males & females sport a dark cap & saddle.
The black on their beak & feet quickly fades and changes to classic orange.
Blue Saddlebacks also have black on their feet and beaks but to a  lesser
degree than the Gray Saddlebacks. 
Incidentally Gray Saddlebacks have a combo of gray, brown
and black coloring on their colored feathers despite them being
called "Grey" Saddlebacks.
My Saddlebacks have blue eyes but they aren't quite as
light blue as my white Sebastopols.
Some Saddlebacks can have brown eyes.

Pictured below - 
My first 2009 Grey Saddleback Sebastopol Goslings! 

We were also blessed with Greys!
Greys have brown eyes and their feathers
are black, 2 - 3 shades of gray and white.
Greys that carry a saddleback gene have a white splash on their chest.

Hours old, 2009 Grey Sebastopol gosling 'Belle'
 with white Sebastopol hatchmates. So cute!

Speaking of smooth breasted Sebastopols...
it's a scary thing isn't it?
Just the thought of it sends shivers up the spine
of any Sebastopol breeder with a brain in their head.
Well...I got some of the best quality goslings, ever,
out of my smooth gander.
By the way, curly offspring out of a smooth parent
will only produce (some) smooth breasted offspring
if bred back to a smooth breasted bird.
Smooth breasted varieties do not just randomly
pop up due to having smooth bird in their background,
so I've been told.
So check out these 5 month old goslings fathered
by my smooth gander Chaps.
I can only imagine how gorgeous they will be
when they mature if they look this good now.

Blue Saddleback - Chaps x Cherie Pie 2009 daughter - 
'Blueberry Muffin'
Blueberry is so adorable with the most incredible
feathering with zero stiff feathers.
She sets low to the ground so you can barely see her
feet and her feathers drag on the ground when she walks.
I am very excited about this one! 

   
 Chaps x Cherie-Pie 2009 saddleback son -
'Chardonnay'
Pict. at 5 months old.

Chardonnay & Blueberry Muffin are headed straight for my 2010 breeding pens.
 I will be repeating the Chaps x Cherie-Pie & Chaps x Chiffon breedings in 2010.

Chardonnay - pict. at 5 months old
Please note: no smooth feathers
on neck and his father is a smooth.

Pictured below 2009 smooth saddleback goose 'Chantal'
An outstanding Chaps daughter,
out of curly, white 'Chiffon' (a Meringue x Soufflé daughter.)
Chantal is very deep and wide with a gorgeous round head.
Can you believe she's only 5 months old in this picture?
She looks like a mature goose!
She will be bred to a curly gander in 2010.

Another gorgeous 2009 Chaps x Chiffon daughter!
Owned and photographed by Jim & Ginger Moose of S.C.
Thank you Jim & Ginger for purchasing Belle.
I know she has a wonderful home with you!

'Belle' 
2009  Solid Grey Sebastopol Goose
Pict. at 5 months old

See more photos in my PHOTO GALLERY