How accurate is this information?

[jimjan]

Hopefully will help keep the chickens for digging out the flower beds too.

 

[servpolice]

https://pethelpful.com/farm-pets/How-to-care-for-geese-natures-natural-ecological-lawn-mowers

I'm researching geese before I commit to getting a pair in the summer and I've been looking all over the internet for as much detail as possible but I've just come across the above website which mentions a few things which seems contrary to the vast majority of sources I have seen thus far; In particular:

"They eat few things other than grass, but they do like chickweed, clover, dandelions, everlasting pea plants, etc. Mine snip the heads and leaves of flowers, and they will chew the bark of climbing plants"
- I have seen people mention feeding grapes, cabbage, multiple different veggies, frozen peas, sweetcorn etc to their geese, what gives?

"They are quite delicate and, unlike hens, can suffer from various fatal conditions"
- My understanding was that geese are some of the hardiest poultry around and are very simple to keep? Always looking to learn so I can give my babies the best start when they arrive. :-D

Geese are by far the most hardy of all poultry.

It all depends on what reason and why you want geese?

They will eat most greens such as weeds and vegetables. Some geese such as Chinese geese are better at eating weeds whereas other breeds stick more to grass.

Geese love to chew on things with hanging rope being their fav to chew.
Geese only chew on bark of 1-2 year old trees but once the trunk of a tree gets wider they stop chewing it.

The breed you pick also determines how they act etc.

Chinese, Embdens and Pomeranians are excellent alarms but can also be the most aggressive.

American buff, African, (dewlap)Toulouse and Pilgrim are the most calm and least aggressive but then again any breed can have aggressive geese and it also depends a lot on how they are/were raised.

Heavier breeds eat more and lay less eggs. Lighter breeds lay more eggs.

Some breeds start off fights and bully around more than other breeds. They also tend to bully other poultry more (Embden, Toulouse and Chinese).

Chinese and African ganders break out fights year round and will have a constant change in the pecking order.

Some geese can get flighty when excited and will fly a bit off the ground (Greylag, Chinese, Toulouse (non dewlap type), rarely Embden and some other light breeds.

Geese are little maintenance but need a bit of extra food in the winter.

Geese can fed off predators but there is still a 50/50 chance the goose loses so keep geese inside somewhere at night. Watch for predators and never allow geese fight off predators as they will most likely lose in the end.

Once a fox knows you keep poultry you will never be free from him until he disappears for whatever reason even if you don't see him for 2 months, he'll be back.

Guineafowl and geese cooperate excellent together if the is a predator.

I rarely had a sick goose over my 11 years of raising geese so sickness is a least concern.

Bumble foot was the only problem I would have with geese with is caused when a goose stands on something sharp or pointy or when a goose twists it's leg by constantly walking on a hard uneven surface.

Geese are like dogs and will recognise you for the rest of your life. My geese love and talk to me whereas they don't wouldn't like someone else. Geese can get very tame especially if raised from a gosling.

Geese are super fun and bring a huge personality to your home!

 

[DiYMama540]

Lol "poop free zone" I love it I've been trying to find an easy solution to keeping mine off the deck at least. Seems to be one of their fave places to take a morning nap though

 

[Leader Bee]

Geese are by far the most hardy of all poultry.

It all depends on what reason and why you want geese?

Absolutely getting geese as pets as I find they have adorable personalities, I don't care about how fat they get for the dinner table as I would never dream of it and I don't care how many eggs they lay as it isn't really the reason I'd be getting one. I think it's fairer to get geese than dogs who I would be leaving alone while I'm at work and I have a feeling that they probably need walking a hell of a lot less too.

 

[servpolice]

Ok cool, it's all up to you on what goose breed you think looks the nicest or appeals to you the most.

Yes geese aren't much work at all and nah they don't need to walk much because they walk enough themselves even in a small yard.

 

[bluemerle]

One thing about geese: they can be destructive! They are very curious, intelligent, etc. and like to nibble/explore everything: this means that, if there's anything valuable in their pen (like a gazebo, etc.) you must protect it from their obsessive natures! I've heard about people who 'free range' their geese around the yard having them chew on break lines, etc. on their truck & that's something you definitely want to avoid!

That being said: they are the most delightful birds I've ever had the pleasure of raising, and they really are a lot like feathery dogs. They are so much less work than my ducks were, because of their cooperative nature. I can't imagine life without them.

 

[Quackter]

Lol "poop free zone" I love it I've been trying to find an easy solution to keeping mine off the deck at least. Seems to be one of their fave places to take a morning nap though

Honestly other than the yeard looking like an icecream truck exploded, I haven't had any other drawbacks with them.

 

[The goose girl]

Kudos to you for researching!

"They eat few things other than grass, but they do like chickweed, clover, dandelions, everlasting pea plants, etc. Mine snip the heads and leaves of flowers, and they will chew the bark of climbing plants"
- I have seen people mention feeding grapes, cabbage, multiple different veggies, frozen peas, sweetcorn etc to their geese, what gives?

Geese are grazers, and if they have access to quality grass they will not need much more than that. Most geese like other weeds, too, like the aforementioned and more. Many geese also like different fruits and vegetables, especially as treats. During the winter and during summer droughts they should have access to either waterfowl or chicken pellets, as they won't be able to find enough grass.

And geese seem to be almost as different as people when it comes to food. I've had a goose who loved clover, and one who would spit it out. The ones I have now love bread - none of my other geese would touch it. My gander absolutely adores grapes; the goose treats them as if they were gravel. One goose would trample anything and anyone to get to cat and dog kibble; others didn't care for it at all. My gander has developed a taste for my friend's toad lilies, so now they're fenced in and the gander will spend time every day pacing the fence and making frustrated sounds even though there's a lawnful of delicious grass right at his feet.

"They are quite delicate and, unlike hens, can suffer from various fatal conditions"
- My understanding was that geese are some of the hardiest poultry around and are very simple to keep?

Everything I've read and experienced about geese supports your understanding. Geese (and especially goslings) can be prone to deadly respiratory infections if their bedding is damp and moldy, and hardware disease (eating metal or plastic that lodges in their gizzard) is also fairly common. Apart from that, geese rarely catch diseases or parasites of any kind.