what's with the rocks in their water?

[RedfogsFlock]

We have 3 ganders, and every morning when we go out to change & fill water their bucket always has rocks in it. Not little pebbles, or sand either, but big rocks! Why & what are they doing?

 

[jojo@rolling acres farm]

Are they in a totally secure, Racoon proof run? Every once in awhile, Racoons will put things in the water container in our goat pens. Raccoons like to "wash" things. We find all kinds of things in the containers that the goats would not have access to. My geese do chew and mouth things and they carry a few things into the pool too. I just wanted to alert you that it could be Raccoons and if so...it could spell trouble for your geese. Thought I should let you know...

 

[Goosehaven]

My geese love to "mouth" the big rocks we have underneath our swing and dunk them in their water. I watch them do it on a daily basis.

 

[RedfogsFlock]

it's in the mornings that we find the rocks, "mouthing" things is an interesting theory. They do pick things up and just well like you said mouth them. lol Never thought they would pick up rocks tho.

As you can tell these are our first geese, and they are not to much for human contact. We got them from a rescue, so it's all good for us. I don't need them to be lovey dovey, just loud when something isn't right, and that they are good at. lol

TY for the advice!!!

 

[goosedragon]

Quote:
See the marble post. geese will select stones that are just to big, try to wash them down with water and end up spitting them our in their water. If they are truly BIG rocks, the coon theory works for me.

 

[banter]

My geese put rocks, pine cones, straw etc....... in their water on a daily basis. I've watched them put them in and out of the water, line the stuff up, make a trail, put it back in the water......Seems to be normal behavior. Might be a nesting instinct or just playing!

 

[D'Angelo N Va.]

when I had geese, sometimes the female goose would take the pebbles from the creek bed and put them in her nest...never could figure that out either....good luck at finding the answer.