Breed suggestions for weeder geese on 1/2 acre vineyard

[Norcalnewbie]

Currently researching Sebastopol geese and Cotton Patch geese. We have 1/2 acre of grapevines in Northern California next to a road on a fully fenced property with a 4 ft fence. The weed infested vineyard sits right next to our lovely garden, and I’m hoping to not have to fence it off. What breed would be best? General list of wants are:

• Friendly (we have 2 young kids, 3 small dogs, 9 chickens)
• Quiet
• Great foragers (and will stick with the task at hand rather than taste-testing our whole property - we’d like to let them loose in the vineyard to free range and keep our weed problem under control)

I’ve read Cotton Patch geese are better at keeping on the weeds and off things they shouldn’t touch, but concerned with flight capabilities considering our proximity to the road and other properties. Love the beauty of Sebastopol geese, but will they be efficient enough? Was only considering 2-4 geese tops for 1/2 acre. Any other breed suggestions? Completely new to geese and no idea what we’re doing.

 

[AgnesGray]

Currently researching Sebastopol geese and Cotton Patch geese. We have 1/2 acre of grapevines in Northern California next to a road on a fully fenced property with a 4 ft fence. The weed infested vineyard sits right next to our lovely garden, and I’m hoping to not have to fence it off. What breed would be best? General list of wants are:

• Friendly (we have 2 young kids, 3 small dogs, 9 chickens)
• Quiet
• Great foragers (and will stick with the task at hand rather than taste-testing our whole property - we’d like to let them loose in the vineyard to free range and keep our weed problem under control)

I’ve read Cotton Patch geese are better at keeping on the weeds and off things they shouldn’t touch, but concerned with flight capabilities considering our proximity to the road and other properties. Love the beauty of Sebastopol geese, but will they be efficient enough? Was only considering 2-4 geese tops for 1/2 acre. Any other breed suggestions? Completely new to geese and no idea what we’re doing.
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First off, I have no experience.

I have been in the goose-selecting process recently though and have been choosing between those two and pilgrim geese. I like cotton patch and pilgrim because they are autosexing. Cotton patch is very threatened on the livestock conservancy list and, what is a downside for me (there are excellent breeders in California) could be helpful to you. (I don't like to ship that far if I can avoid it.) Good luck!

 

[ColtHandorf]

American Buff Geese are beautiful, calm, and fairly quiet. My small flock keeps my fenced-in backyard like a golf course.

 

[Norcalnewbie]

American Buff Geese are beautiful, calm, and fairly quiet. My small flock keeps my fenced-in backyard like a golf course.

Do they just eat your grass, or do they eat your weeds as well?

 

[ColtHandorf]

Do they just eat your grass, or do they eat your weeds as well?

Both. I think most geese prefer grass, but if it's short enough they'll eat it weeds. You'll want to remember they aren't as efficient if it is really tall when you put them on it.

 

[GranderTheGander]

I've always heard nothing beats Chinese geese for weeding, and they will eat weeds that other geese won't eat. They are NOT quiet, however, which also makes them excellent watch geese.