Treats for geese?

[jajeanpierre]

I need suggestions for treats for geese. They seem very picky. I think they are eating the sprouted sunflower seeds I floated in a water bowl but they haven't taken anything out of my hand.

I want them a little tamer than they are. They are hatchery babies, 3 months old now. I bought them after they had been in the feed store for a few days. I think they were mauled a bit at the feed store. They follow me around and are happy to see me but don't want to be picked up and never did. I think I made a mistake not trying to imprint them on me more. They've always thought of me as their mommy goose, but don't like it at all if I try to pick them up.

Suggestions on treats and taming them a bit more.

 

[Goosebaby]

Take it slow, once you figure out what treats they like try setting the food on the ground a few inches from you and let them get used to that, then try offering it by hand, when they’re used to that you can try laying your hand against their chest or sides as they’re eating out of your other hand, then add more and more contact as thy get used to it.
Once geese are adults they don’t always like being handled as much, it depends on their personalities but it’s pretty common. I would aim for them just being comfortable with being touched because there’s a good chance they’ll be squirmy anyway if you try to pick them up. It does help if you need to take them to a vet or do a health check on them if they’re used to being touched even if they don’t like being picked up.


Some foods to try are:
Red tomatoes, some say green tomatoes are okay, others say never to feed them green tomatoes, I play it safe and only offer red tomatoes because I don’t know for sure what’s true about the green ones.
Apples, pears, peaches, plums, berries, grapes, oranges, carrots, peas, corn, romaine lettuce, lettuce, cabbage, Swiss chard, broccoli, kale, spinach, cucumber, pumpkin are all great, even bread and tortillas are a nice treat now and then.
Geese are really suspicious so it can take them awhile to get used to something, if they see you handling and eating something they’re more likely to want to try it or at least inspect it. You can also put it in water to encourage them to try it.

If there’s something you don’t want them to eat you can touch it, then immediately wring your hands and shake your head in disgust, they do the same thing when they taste something gross so it tells them whatever it is is bad and they’ll usually avoid it.

 

[BirdsBeesTrees]

My geese and all of my birds typically do not want picked up.
Heck, I don't like picked up and carried around. I can relate to the idea of let me down or I'll bite you, LOL!
My geese like a little bit of cracked corn or mealworms.
If I have some cereal to give them as a very very rare treat, they love the Fruit Loops.

 

[jajeanpierre]

My geese and all of my birds typically do not want picked up.
Heck, I don't like picked up and carried around. I can relate to the idea of let me down or I'll bite you, LOL!
My geese like a little bit of cracked corn or mealworms.
If I have some cereal to give them as a very very rare treat, they love the Fruit Loops.

Glad to hear my geese aren't anti social.

 

[JeanLynott]

My family has three geese and one of them definitely does not want to be picked up. We respect that and leave her be. The other two half heartedly run away when they see we want to pick them up. But most of the time, they settle down once we have them and like especially to be petted on their neck. They also tolerate kisses on the top of their heads.

 

[m1chelle1]