Geese and bindweed / morning glory (Convolvulus sp.)

[billw]

Our geese are weeders and lawnmowers as a first order of business. They do a great job on grass, dandelions, and a few other broadleaf weeds, but ignore one of our biggest problem weeds: bindweed.

I've read that geese may eat other plants when introduced early and we are raising a new batch of goslings, so we started offering them bindweed on day three. At first they sampled, but didn't eat much, but three days later, they are chowing down on as much as we give them and take it preferentially to crumbles or grass. I have no idea if this will continue into adulthood, but it looks good. I also have no idea if it will be healthy for them to eat long term, but there was so little information available, that we decided to just try it.

Anyway, just a report. I'll update as they get older.

 

[yoyosma]

Hi there-
Wondering how it's going with your geese and bindweed? How about your ducks, do they eat it?
We re-homed our geese but I sure would love it if our ducks and chickens would eat the bindweed- it's a pernicious thug of a weed, isn't it?
I've read about raising weeder geese to eat specific plants, and as we don't have goslings, we won't be able to do that... but I am wondering if your geese have gotten to like it and thrive while eating it.
Thanks!