It's amazing how much the older one keeps track of her. If the ducks approach or act like they are pressuring her, the older goose (Maggie) simply moves closer and in-between and the ducks back away. The whole time they are grazing they talk to each other, they can be clear across the yard but still they talk, almost too quiet to hear. COOS COOS, coos coos, COOS COOS, coos coos, all the while nibbling happily. Well, that is what ideally happens. There is still plenty to eat but perhaps it isn't as obvious to the younger goose as the summer continues and the grassy hummocks dry out. As for the ducks, they pretty much each different things than the geese. They look under the grass and leaves for worms and bugs (I have learned that geese simply do not care for the bugs, worms, and snails the way the ducks do) The ducks beg for dried meal worms, the geese can't figure out what the fuss is about. It could be that the younger goose hasn't discovered what more to eat since the seed head have been cleaned off of the tall grass.
The whole area that is fenced is about 50'x50' for the back area. Half is hummocks of tall, rough field grass with the tallest having seed heads. I used to bend it over for the geese to eat but they are perfectly able to bend the stems down to eat the heads. The rest of the tall part is a thick, large leaf grass that has been trimmed about 8" tall. The two older ducks, the one who is my principle layer and her mate (they love each other dearly) have their own 16'x20' mostly grass area that they have exclusive use during the day and share half of it with the geese at night, although both geese have been in the house at night since this started. The chickens go where the chickens go. They all can readily fly out of the 6' night area fence and once it became clear they would stay in the yard and come back at night I stopped worrying as much. Two are show chickens that are penned up at night and when it rains. I have another strip 10'x50' that isn't fenced that will be included with the duck yard when I can get the poles and wire. I also take the older ducks out to the front yard for attended foraging, the geese have gone separately a few times as well. I still haven't taken the three duck children out and haven't successful mixed them with their parents. The father tries to do x-rated things to his children and the geese, and one of the young drakes tries the same with his mother. The hysteria and potential for injury isn't worth trying and more. I'm not sure how they would be when I'm watching them as a loose flock in the front yard. I could take the two geese and three young ducks I think. So that adds more to the area they have now. About half of their existing yard is the short cushioned grass that grows after ducks and geese have been after it a while. I water the two main areas about once or twice a week if it hasn't been raining.
Today the young goose has been eating more when she is penned in at night and seems to be drinking less. Her poos are watery but about half green grass color or tan like the crumbles. The no longer look like clear water. They are not yet the firm green stools the other goose has. When I have put everyone in at night and pick up the dishes which with the pellets had been full enough to need to be picked up (rodent control) they have been empty. So perhaps it was the feed after all. Now, what does one do with nearly 50 pounds of feed that doesn't temp the rats? I can't put it in the compost pile or they will be all over it.
