The Accidental Smallholder Forum

Livestock => Poultry & Waterfowl => Topic started by: Rossi on October 09, 2016, 10:01:54 am

Title: What animal eats grass in a pond?
Post by: Rossi on October 09, 2016, 10:01:54 am

Hi!  We're new to smallholding and this is our first post! We have approx one and acre containing s millpond which has become overgrown with grass.  Does anyone know whether geese would clear this for us? Or would another animal be better?  We have two Kune Kune's but the water is quite deep.  Loving the website and looking forward to your advice.  Thanks Ross

Title: Re: What animal eats grass in a pond?
Post by: Possum on October 10, 2016, 08:05:29 am

Yes, geese will definitely eat grass growing in a pond. Not sure if they will clear it, but they should make it more manageable.

Title: Re: What animal eats grass in a pond?
Post by: Rossi on October 10, 2016, 10:17:27 pm

Thanks Possum. Any tips on best breeds for newbies to geese? We would be primarily keeping them for meat.

Title: Re: What animal eats grass in a pond?
Post by: macgro7 on October 10, 2016, 11:06:10 pm

Any geese will be good for meat to be honest. Commercial "beoiler" (crosbreed) geese will probably lay the most eggs, they will be the easiest to hatch and grow like fast like mushrooms after rain!
Depends what you like really!
I have West of England geese. Used to have African, embden, brecon buff and trio of tiny czech.

Title: Re: What animal eats grass in a pond?
Post by: Marches Farmer on October 11, 2016, 10:51:28 am

What do you want the millpond for?  If a wildlife sanctuary geese are not the solution.  You could contact your County wildlife trust and ask their advice.  What dominates our pond varies from year to year depending on water depth and season - could be water forget-me-not, duckweed, floating grass ... but it's still an important breeding pond for Great Crested Newts, dragonflies, etc.  I shoo the wild ducks away in Spring so they don't nest nearby. because they turn it into a dilution of mud.