Goose Feeding – Fact versus Myth

Feeding Geese is a Summer Pastime That is Relaxing and Fulfilling

Aug 12, 2008

If you like to feed Canada geese here are facts and myths about what makes nutritious food for these waterfowls. Well-meaning advice from blogs may be inaccurate.

Goose and duck feeding at a nearby lake can be very restorative for the soul. A favourite pastime in summer when these waterfowls come to brood in urban lakesides, families love to bring young children and hunks of bread to feed these graceful birds.

In fact these large birds start to perk up at the sight of children and parents holding bags of what they assume are food. Many people love to throw crumbs of bread into the water, to see the geese catch them in their beaks, hungrily.

However, not many people realise that bread is not nutritious food for geese. When a goose ingests bread, it expands and fills its stomach quickly, giving it the false impression of being full. But this feeling does not last. Also bread gives little nutrition to these wild birds. This article can give you a better idea of what to feed wild geese, despite what blogs may say.

Contrary to a lot of blogs on the Internet, geese are herbivores and should not be fed with cat food, such as with tuna or salmon in it. They mainly forage on grass, and are happy to find whole wheat grains and cracked corn in farm fields, therefore it is nutritious to feed them similar wild bird food. You can purchase goose feed from an animal farm foods shop.

When you bring seed to the geese, put them in small piles on the grass at first, so they can see it. Do not throw goose feed into the water, as geese mainly feed on land, only sliding into the water for a bath and a swim.

If geese start coming up to you to be friendly, do not be lured into feeding them from the hand! They do not have teeth but have serrated beaks which can grip and tear! So beware. They are only somewhat nosy creatures. Occasionally you may find adult geese protecting their young while the young goslings feed, or a male or two protecting their mate. But overall there is little harm in watching them come up on land to feed. You can even spread the seed on the grass to make them work a bit for their food.

Walking by the lake and feeding geese can be calming and enriching. Watching these beautiful birds come to be fed feels good, especially when you know you are giving them good nutritious food. Finally, as these birds migrate it is best not to make them dependent on your food, otherwise they may hang around for a food supply that may not always be there. These geese will be thankful you now know what they love to forage on!

Sources:

Managing Problems Caused by Urban Canada Geese: General Biology & Reproduction Allen L. Gosser, Michael R. Conover & Terry A. Messmer, 1997

Snow Geese Survive All Too Well, Alarming Conservationists, The New York Times, Jane. E. Brody, August 12, 2008.

The copyright of the article Goose Feeding – Fact versus Myth in Wild Birds is owned by Lynette S.K. Webster. Permission to republish Goose Feeding – Fact versus Myth in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.