Is it possible to have flower beds and flower containers with geese?

[r4eboxer]

I have free ranging geese, ducks and chickens. I have a plan for my veggie gardens (5'ft fence)but I'm wondering what kind of havoc is going to be done to my flower gardens and containers. Right now I plan on putting all containers up high but I want to add flowers along the creek wall where they can hang over the wall trailing down toward the creek.

I also want to put stuff in my beds in the front yard. Am I going to have to fence all my beds in with ugly chicken wire? or will the geese leave some varieties alone?

Right now I have Marigold's, impatiens, sweet william, morning glory, nasturtiums, daisy, and one other flower growing under my grow lights.

Anyone have geese and flower experience that can help?

 

[CelticOaksFarm]

You should be more afraid of the chickens eatting everything. They will destroy freshly planted pretties in no time flat.

 

[erinszoo]

My geese ate my gerber daisies and marigolds last year as well as everything else they could put in their mouths. Interestingly enough though, they nibbled at my garden but didn't destroy any of the plants. They've been eating lettuce in my greenhouse all winter and they just bite off the top ends then I have them eat out of a different patch of lettuce until the first one grows back. They did eat our strawberries completely.

 

[cracking up]

I was surprised when I added geese to the mix. They can reach so much higher than the chickens and ducks. If you put it in a pot they think it must be their lunch. Mine haven't eaten daffodils, china lilies or iris but nothing seems to keep them out of the beds. I think a tall fence is going to have to be the answer.

 

[The goose girl]

A former pair of geese suddenly found my strawberries. They were so happy, all red on their chests from the juice. I fenced the strawberries in.

My present goose hasn't eaten neither my vegetable garden and flower beds nor my pots and containers. He will weed out the dandelions. He ate a few strawberry leaves and then lost interest. He likes to chew off stalks of my lovage and bring them to his pond to play with, but the plant is so big it doesn't make a difference.