Thanks to flocks of 60 or 70 of those feathered shit factories called Canada Geese.

I'm told they'll return to a place they feel safe and I guess this must be the place. They barely amble out of my path when I walk down to feed and water the chickens.

Don't really mind, just need to remember to take my boots off before going in the house.

I was told by the maintenance managers of local golf courses that goose poop has very limited fertilizing function for grass. It's just nasty, greasy crap.

Our office has a big crab apple tree near the parking lot. When the apples ripen and fall, the geese camp out for a few weeks in the parking lot. Goose turds everywhere on the ground, plus a few bombs strategically dropped onto cars during takeoffs and landings.

At one point in my life, I thought geese were cool birds.

Perversely enough, I STILL think they're pretty birds.

There was a flock of 20 or 30 grazing in the field next to the chicken coop this morning when I went down and I spotted another 20 or so coming around on final, gear and flaps down. I just stood and watched. It's amazing how a bird that big can go to reverse on the props, come to almost a complete stop about 6 inches off the runway and touch down as light as a feather (sorry...).

You could start feeding them corn and after a few weeks they won’t tase muddy......

quote:

Originally posted by MikeinNC:
You could start feeding them corn and after a few weeks they won’t tase muddy......

I like your thinking

quote:

Originally posted by scsigs:

quote:

Originally posted by MikeinNC:
You could start feeding them corn and after a few weeks they won’t tase muddy......

I like your thinking

Last year I put down some chicken scratch feed for them just out of curiosity.

Zero interest shown. They seem to prefer fresh green grass over grain.

I admire your tolerance for those flying shit factories. I have no such tolerance. If they started camping out on our lawn it would be war.

We had a terrible problem with them at the sailing club to which I once belonged. One of the members found a chemical you could spray on the lawn that wouldn't hurt them, but would make the grass unattractive to eat. It worked. They went away.

quote:

Originally posted by ensigmatic:
I admire your tolerance for those flying shit factories. I have no such tolerance. If they started camping out on our lawn it would be war.

We had a terrible problem with them at the sailing club to which I once belonged. One of the members found a chemical you could spray on the lawn that wouldn't hurt them, but would make the grass unattractive to eat. It worked. They went away.

And that chemical would be?

Sodium cyanide.

Canada Goose being a protected species, I'm sure the posts referring to shooting/cooking/etc. are just funnin' us.

Here's a link to the Humane Society's guide to dealing with too many Canada Geese, legally if you decide you'd prefer they move on.

They are pretty, in small numbers and/or when you drive past. I can definitely sympathize with folks living where they gather in large numbers.

quote:

Canada Goose being a protected species, I'm sure the posts referring to shooting/cooking/etc. are just funnin' us.

Protected? Not where I live. Legal hunting (during season) here in AL.

quote:

Originally posted by Herkdriver:

quote:

Canada Goose being a protected species, I'm sure the posts referring to shooting/cooking/etc. are just funnin' us.

Protected? Not where I live. Legal hunting (during season) here in AL.

They are a Federally protected species. link to Wikipedia

quote:

Canada geese are protected from hunting and capture outside of designated hunting seasons in the United States by the Migratory Bird Treaty Act, and in Canada under the Migratory Birds Convention Act.

Link - US Fish and Wildlife Services - List of Protected Species

quote:

Branta canadensis, Canada Goose

There is an exception during hunting season for licensed hunters, but that's not what's being discussed here. Here we're talking about a bunch moving into yards/populated areas and how to deal with that. And, even with a license, you'd only be able to take out a few - whatever the legal limit is - and that'd leave the rest of the flock.

They really are shit factories. Hunting ducks and a flock flew over. I honestly thought it started raining...

There is a place upriver, maybe a mile, where the Reds lose most of their games. Its on our side of the river. Used to be a really nice river front park. Past tense. The geese didn't all come at once. Their flock just keeps growing. And now its getting pretty nasty. Goose shit everywhere.

Its one of our picnic places. We make a quick stop at Lee's, the chicken place, pick up a couple of snacks, and go to the river. Now its carpeted with turds. Not a few, a bunch of fresh ones every day. Not so nice a place these days. The numbers haven't grown up all at once. Just every year there are more of them. If they'd just swim in the river, it'd be OK.

These are aggressive birds. If you don't give them your biscuit, they'll try to take it. Kick them and they'll shit on your foot! Well, I like ducks. Won't tolerate the pigeons. So I feed my biscuit to sparrows and ducks, the favored species. But mostly these days we come back home. Same distance from the water, just on the dry side of the road. And no dirty birds.

Around in our area there should be no limit on shooting those crappin things. We hate them. In the spring they nest near our pond and you can't walk around the pond without stepping in the little gifts they leave everywhere.

Two previous companies hire dogs to chase the geese away. Apparently, if they homestead in your property, they can designated it as protected shelter and the companies couldn't build on the property.

They also sent out memos not to feed any animals.

They are very aggressive, and should be respected. The Major Canadians are freaking huge. I am amazed at the number of dumb-asses that let their kids approach them, I guess under the assumption that 'nature is safe' for them.

The only encounters I have ever had were licensed, legal and lethal for the birds involved. Other than that I leave them alone and they leave me alone.




Link to original video: https://youtu.be/XS4edlvY-ks

We get them across the street form work and they come over for water from the drain. I won't do anything until they decide to start it. Then their done.

People on our lake try all sorts of things to keep them off their shoreline or beach areas. Pinwheels or flags stuck in the sand work for a couple days but the geese get used to them. Our neighbors dog keeps a vigilant watch. If they dare land he's on them like a blanket in a second. Every now and again a goose will try to make a stand against him but it never lasts long. He's a border collie and is way to quick and agile. He is also fearless and will kill them if given the chance.

Guy I worked with had a place on the lake infested with them. Neighbors niece visited with her new year old lab, and about 5 minutes after she opened the car door 12 or more were done and he wanted more.

She felt terrible, but he told her to come back anytime and to be sure and bring her dog.