Chinese Geese Questions

[sbates]

Hi, I have purchased 11 Chinese Geese for the purpose of keeping the grass down in my apple tree orchard they are about 5 months old and I have some questions:

1) They seem to stay within about 50 feet of their house and will only eat the grass in this small circle (my orchard is about 1/3 acre in size). I want them to try to free range a bit more to eat more grass, but they seem to prefer to eat corn out of the feeder. I am guessing if I take the feed away they will eat more grass, but don't want to starve them. Any advice here would be appreciated.

2) I have a small pond in the orchard. It is about 6 feet deep and may 15 feet wide by 30 feet long. They refuse to go in the pond. What gives? I thought geese like to swim.

3) Every time I go near them they all gather around me and honk incessantly. They don't seem to attack me.. just gather around me and honk non-stop for 5 minutes. It "feels" a little aggressive but they dont ever try to bit me or hit me with wings. Then eventually they get bored and wander off. What does this behavior mean? Is this aggressive? Should I bring them treats so they will like me?

 

[Miss Lydia]

Sounds like they see you as someone important did you get them when tiny? If they are not acting aggressive then your okay they are just happy to see you. Corn to geese is like candy to us humans when you come to see them bring some for a treat. But don’t feed that as a sole ration. You could get an all flock feed which is for all poultry and keep that out for them but I am betting you take the corn away and you’ll see them grazing a lot more that is what geese are grazers and if you have ample grass they will eat it. Even though 5 months old they are still young and things are scary predators for one and at the top of the list so they are wary of a large area to roam and of course the pond since they haven’t an adult to show them these things. Can you wade out into the water a ways an encourage them to go in? Also geese know instinctively there are dangers in the sky under water an on land so snapping turtle are a big worry under water they prey on geese young an adults so you may want to rid your pond of them before letting them on the water. Sounds like the geese like you an possibly look to you as their leader so you might get them to follow you around the orchard so they can see it’s safe. They are very intelligent birds an learn fast.