how do you stop geese from chewing on everything

[flicka28]

We have geese for my daughter to show for FFA - and they are chewing on everything. They have chewed the wiring on 2 accent lights, they love to rest under our trucks, and have been seen chewing and poking on the undercarriage - hope they haven't destroyed anything there... Does anyone have any ideas of something that repels the geese from chewing on certain things?

 

[ultasol]

You don't, it's the nature of the beast. As their human guardian, it is your responsibility to put them in a place where they don't have access to things they should eat or chew on. A 'illness' mentioned in many goose/waterfowl books is called 'hardware disease', which is when a bird eats some piece of equipment (nails, screw, wire, etc) that they shouldn't, and it causes harm.

Make them a pen in a safe area, give them access to graze in safe areas clean of non-edible debris of a size that will fit down their gullet.

 

[The goose girl]

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Exactly!

 

[CMV]

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That's a new one on me! I hadn't heard that before. Interesting.

 

[froggie71]

I know a lady who told me her geese were chewing on things and she got them some dog toys to play with. So I just got some toys for my geese. I just saw them out there playing with them. No, it won't stop them from chewing on everything, but if they have other things to distract them, they might not chew on things you don't want them too. Good luck.

 

[laughaha]

what kind of dog toys?

 

[froggie71]

I chose things big enough they can't swallow, soft, but not fuzzy. Things that can get wet, but not get nasty. at the dollar store I found soft frisbee type toys.

ETA pics

 

[Kim65]

They chew "less" as they get older, but not much less. They are very curious and don't have fingers to play with things, so they chew on them to explore them, instead.

My young geese chewed my satellite radio antennae cord, lawnmower wires, got a salmon spoon through their bill . . . they put everything in their mouths like human kids.

Best to "goose proof" their designated area, or pen them up. Providing toys is a great idea. One thing that mine liked was a giant head of cabbage thrown out in the middle of the yard. They chewed that thing for a month and then it disappeared lol. Whole broccoli, whole ears of corn will keep them occupied and they'll "forget" about the no-nos in hopes you'll thow them a tasty. Mine have a piece of baling string that hangs loose from their goose house, and they love to go chew on that and yank on it. It it getting shorter and shorter as they wear it away.

 

[smileysal]

Ha ha you can't that's why our two goslings are called Nipper and Nibbler!!!

Here's their redecoration of our lounge!!!

 

[banter]

"Bitter Apple" the same spray for dogs would probably work. Geese are sensitive to taste. Mine shake their heads and spit out a lot of weeds they try.