[maurice]

Hi-
My goose has been 'playing' with sticks and twigs he finds lying around, even small tree roots which have been unearthed by our chickens and ducks. It looks like he's trying to eat them. Is this normal or is it a sign of something?
Grazing is very poor at the moment so we give him (and the other poultry) mixed corn every morning and evening and we think we give them enough. We don't want to leave too much food out for them as it attracts rats.
Any ideas about the stick playing/eating?
TIA
Maurice

[shygirl]

geese eat a suprising amount of grass. they are not the same as ducks. i suspect eating the sticks is from their strong desire to graze. how big is their grazing area?

[HesterF]

In my experience geese will eat pretty much anything. They are particularly keen on the rubber handle of my trowel, the bristles of the brush I use to clean out the poultry houses and my baby apple trees. In fact, they'd probably pick any of those over a whole field of fresh grass. To be fair, I don't think they actually eat them (except for the apple trees) - they just like chewing different textures or something but they can be surprisingly destructive. So, no, I don't think it's an indication of anything worrying. I think it's just an item of interest.

I would give him (have you only one goose?) some pellets (e.g. waterfowl growers/finishers) as well if grazing is poor. That will ensure a slightly more balanced diet through the winter than just grains. I give pellets in the morning and mixed poultry corn in the afternoon at the moment. Geese really like corn in water so at the bottom of a bucket or bowl if you've not tried that yet.

H

[Steph Hen]

I got a goose summer 2012, and a gander spring 2013. I saw my gander manipulating twigs in a similar way, he ender up forming them into a nest which goose layer in sometimes! Strange things geese.

[maurice]

Thanks for the replies, that's put my mind at rest.
Yes we have only one gander. We were thinking of getting a goose for him, but he seems happy with our three ducks and various chickens.
He's in a small field which has plenty of grass in the summer but looking very poor now which is why we're giving him the mixed corn. We'll get a bag of waterfowl pellets for him (and the ducks) this weekend and we'll try putting the grain into a bucket of water for him. Thanks for the suggestions.
Maurice

[HesterF]

They are pretty laid back at this time of year. You might find him less happy with ducky/hen company in spring so maybe have a goose back-up plan in case you need one. Not sure what will happen if there is no goose in sight - maybe they just stay all laid back without women to chase! Or I have seen one of my ganders trying to mate a duck which is more worrying because he could damage her quite seriously (now I've separated the ducks and geese).

H

[Bodger]

Its also why newly planted orchards and geese don't mix.