Geese weeding the corn?

[bearz]

We've been looking for a pair of geese for my son and I've read an advertisement about a kind of goose that will pull all the weeds in your corn but leave the corn alone.

Is this just a gimmick or does it really work? I grow sweet corn every year and to not have to weed it would be amazing. We could easily build them a shelter and put a fence around the corn.

What say you all?

 

[silkiechicken]

I say they will eat up all the nice sweet tender sprouts. Once the corn is maybe 12-18 inches tall, you could probably put in any weeder geese and they'll take care of the fresh young sprouts that come up after you first do your hand weeding.

 

[greyfields]

The corn needs to be a few feet tall before you let them in. At that point, they'll eat anything which sprouts.

However, if they run out of food, they will start pulling the corn down. I've many times watched in laughter as 2-3 geese pull the corn stalks down and then teh flock pounces on it, eating the leaves and stover.

Of course, they were probably bored and hungry when they did it. Generally, they work OK on row crops.