[welshlass181]

Hi, we're slowly getting a collection of livestock on the land that we have.  We've just got 5 gilts, 1 sow and her 3 piglets ..... 3 laying hens and 1 random bantam (still at home at the moment) and we're thinking of getting some geese to ward off unwanted people, BUT, we're a bit concerned that they'll distroy the memorial garden that is on the land.  The pigs are fenced in the field with a pen in field kind of thing ..... there is stock fencing running down the field to section it off and they have pens in that field so if they manage to get passed the elec fence, stock fence and planks of wood that make up the pens they have to get thru the strip of stock fencing. 

Will the geese dig/eat the garden? there is a pond at the bottom of the land and we're looking to putting a duck house on stilts so Mr Fox has a job to get at them

[Rosemary]

Geese eat lots of grass, but I don't think they'll dig as they have webbed feet.

[shetlandpaul]

but they do eat anything. my son left his bike out and they ate his saddle. a bit of sheep fencing should stop them.

[welshlass181]

I am concerned that they'll eat the garden if i fenced in the garden the mother in law would have a poo fit hehe

[Henstock]

They do dig, with their bills, especially if the ground is wet/soft ie around their water bowl.
Depends how tasty what's in your garden is, they may just try it and then leave it alone, then again, they may scoff the lot!!!
And yes, they poo alot!!!

[Frieslandfilly]

They also walk over everything and flatten it with thier big webbed feet!!

[shetlandpaul]

and mud they will make theplace muddy.

[Frieslandfilly]

Having said that, I love mine . You just have to fence off areas that you dont want them in, we have only just got round to fencing the veg patch, they ate everything that was overwintering, parsnip tops, flattened the strawb plants, the only thing they didnt walk on were the leeks, they ate my wallflowers and winter pansies!! Still love them though!

[welshlass181]

Ty all defo food for thought

[princesspiggy]

i loved my geese, only sold them as kids were scared, but they were totally free range. they ate alot of grass but only got feed in winter. theyre good at pooing tho so u wudnt walk across grass barefoot again. i watched a tv programe on paul daniels once and he had them, an he said aswell - watch out for the goose s**t!! lol