The Accidental Smallholder Forum

Livestock => Poultry & Waterfowl => Topic started by: ScotsGirl on November 19, 2013, 08:20:40 am

Title: Geese and Xmas trees
Post by: ScotsGirl on November 19, 2013, 08:20:40 am: Does anyone know if geese will nibble young Xmas tree saplings or stick with the grass? Someone I know wanting to get rid of his geese but we have just finished planting.
Title: Re: Geese and Xmas trees
Post by: HesterF on November 19, 2013, 10:42:14 pm: Well I know for sure that they nibble young apple trees and have had to fence them off accordingly. But maybe evergreens are less appealing although I wouldn't put anything past them to be honest (mind you, I'm not sure nibbling Christmas trees would be very comfortable - they're a lot more prickly - nor good for them). Can you take them for a day just to see?

H
Title: Re: Geese and Xmas trees
Post by: Womble on November 19, 2013, 11:26:10 pm: I'll agree with Hester. Our newly planted orchard was getting a bit overgrown with beautiful lush grass, so I put our geese in there.

Suffice to say, within HALF AN HOUR, they'd ring-barked half a dozen young apple saplings. So, I'm not saying they will go for conifers, but I wouldn't want to assume they won't either!!
Title: Re: Geese and Xmas trees
Post by: HesterF on November 20, 2013, 10:27:33 pm: Womble were your trees OK? Mine have only had a nibble at the lower branches on most but they have ring barked a couple but it's very recent so I'm hoping they'll be OK but probably won't find out until next spring.

H
Title: Re: Geese and Xmas trees
Post by: zarzar on November 21, 2013, 12:37:04 am: we lost a cou[le of our apple trees through the geese, wouldnt put anything past them they like a good nibble on anything.