Can geese get into tall raised beds?

[la dee da]

Hey everyone!

So, geese love to eat grass, and I desperately need an affordable solution to keep the grass down in my garden walkways. We plan to get geese this year, so they sound like the perfect solution.

However, I cannot find any information on if geese can get into tall raised beds, or how far they can reach. We plan to have everything in raised beds. If you guys think this idea will work, I will increase the planned height of our berry beds from 8” to 18”. The annual garden beds are 24” tall. Can the geese get into these? How high up can they reach? I’m specifically interested in Pilgrim and American Buff, though Cotton Patch is starting to sound like a good idea if I can find some, due to their smaller size.

 

[Goosebaby]

Hey everyone!

So, geese love to eat grass, and I desperately need an affordable solution to keep the grass down in my garden walkways. We plan to get geese this year, so they sound like the perfect solution.

However, I cannot find any information on if geese can get into tall raised beds, or how far they can reach. We plan to have everything in raised beds. If you guys think this idea will work, I will increase the planned height of our berry beds from 8” to 18”. The annual garden beds are 24” tall. Can the geese get into these? How high up can they reach? I’m specifically interested in Pilgrim and American Buff, though Cotton Patch is starting to sound like a good idea if I can find some, due to their smaller size.

They can technically get into the taller raised beds by jumping/fluttering but they aren’t as into that as they get older. Mostly if they can reach into it with their necks that’s how they’ll eat anything in a raised bed.

 

[la dee da]

They can technically get into the taller raised beds by jumping/fluttering but they aren’t as into that as they get older. Mostly if they can reach into it with their necks that’s how they’ll eat anything in a raised bed.

Thank you! I had read a while back that a 2’ fence could keep geese out of a garden, so I hoped this would be true. Do you have any idea how far they can reach with their bills?

 

[KathiQuacks]

Yeah, my 2 will reach into & up to whatever they can. They could jump up to reach something higher, but would certainly prefer not to. If they can’t see what’s in the beds, they’ll never be tempted to jump up.

Mine can reach up about 3’, and stick their necks into something about 1’, I’d say.

 

[la dee da]

Yeah, my 2 will reach into & up to whatever they can. They could jump up to reach something higher, but would certainly prefer not to. If they can’t see what’s in the beds, they’ll never be tempted to jump up.

Mine can reach up about 3’, and stick their necks into something about 1’, I’d say.

That’s pretty much killed my idea. It’s good to know before I accidentally let them destroy my garden. Thank you!

 

[someonewholovesgeese]

That’s pretty much killed my idea. It’s good to know before I accidentally let them destroy my garden. Thank you!

geese are still good! also you can get them to prefer plants by feeding those specific ones while they are goslings but this should not replace their regular starter and this usually just makes them want them more but it can work if you do it right. they shoudlent eat anything in the nightshade family so if you have potatoes, tomatoes etc dont let them get to it and a 1 meter bed will be enough usually as embdens (big geese) usually only get that tall not enough to eat anything

 

[la dee da]

geese are still good! also you can get them to prefer plants by feeding those specific ones while they are goslings but this should not replace their regular starter and this usually just makes them want them more but it can work if you do it right. they shoudlent eat anything in the nightshade family so if you have potatoes, tomatoes etc dont let them get to it and a 1 meter bed will be enough usually as embdens (big geese) usually only get that tall not enough to eat anything

I do still plan to get geese, just not let them into the garden. 3’ beds (about 1 meter) would be too high for me. I just can’t risk losing my garden to my own geese—the last time I finally succeeded in growing something, an army of blister beetles destroyed it. I don’t want anymore risks. I just wish I could afford the classics like weed fabric with gravel, or even outdoor carpet. My garden is 80’x80’, so even just keeping weeds out of pathways is a major chore.

I appreciate the suggestions!