Geese pinching, and other questions

[chrisNca]

I've befriended a white chinese goose at my local pond. He loves to be pet and likes to sit in my lap, but he's constantly pinching me. Is it a mating instinct (used to soften a female up)? Is he just testing me? Or is it a display of affection? I'd like to get him to stop if possible.

I'm also curious if there's a way to find out how old he is. Could someone give an estimate if I took up close pictures of his beak?

Also, what do geese love eating the most that is inexpensive and readily available? I know white bread is not good for them. Sometimes I give them cat food. I know that they eat grains and veggies. Today I tried feeding some slices of raw carrots but they weren't interested in that.

 

[The goose girl]

I've befriended a white chinese goose at my local pond. He loves to be pet and likes to sit in my lap, but he's constantly pinching me. Is it a mating instinct (used to soften a female up)? Is he just testing me? Or is it a display of affection? I'd like to get him to stop if possible.

He's obviously imprinted on humans and most likely dumped at the pond when his owners lost interest and thought him to be too much bother.

The pinching is usually geese's way of investigating. Also, he's probably somewhere between feeling safe around you and still somewhat nervous. I've noticed some of my geese would chew frantically on anything if they'd put themselves in a situation they couldn't quite handle. It seemed the bite/attack instinct was kicking in, but very muted.

One thing you could try is giving him something else to chew on, like an old leather glove.

I don't see it as a display of affection - a female goose wouldn't care for it.

Quote: That wouldn't help, unless he's very young and his knob hasn't grown to full size yet.

Quote: Try dog food instead. Cat food contains more fat. Dog food should only be given in very small amounts as treats. Most geese love dandelion leaves, which are a far better choice healthwise, but dog food is easier to keep in your pocket

. Whole grain bread is also a possibility. Remember that geese mainly feed on grass and other weeds, so anything else should be served as a treat only.