Toys for geese?

[mestaske]

I was wondering if anyone here uses plastic dog toys for their geese. So far my 2 geese that are in with my 7 ducks like to chew on the corners of this cool hollowed out log I found and are polishing the edges of it. The gate to their pen is a pallet so they love to stick their heads through the slots and see whats going on outside. Also they are pulling out old insulation from the side of a building they are in with. I am wondering what you guys give your geese to keep them entertained. I know they are curious creatures and don't mind them being that way but want to keep them happy. Any ideas?

 

[Oregon Blues]

Mine want me to entertain them. They love to watch gardening.

They seem to enjoy placing sticks into their water and fussing with them. I've never seen them play with anything else. Play is mostly running around in circles with their wings spread and splashing in water.

 

[Denninmi]

Quote:
Just a word of caution about that -- I've read a LOT of threads on the predators forum about people going to check on their birds and finding a headless corpse because the bird stuck its head through the fence and something got it. I put the 1/2 inch plastic mesh around the outside of all of my runs just to make sure this doesn't happen. Better safe than sorry.

 

[toadbriar]

mine like flip-flops, shoelaces, crocs, work gloves, and my hair. also jeans rivets and jewelry fascinate them. Agreed on the running around screaming with wings spread out.

Here they are as youngsters, beating up on a toy pirate.

 

[theron]

Mine love to chew on two squeaky dog toys. They will pick the toys up in their mouth and play keep away with them. They also like to take sticks and put them in the water like Oregon Blues said. They love chewing on the water bucket handles. My one gander likes to splash water out of the bucket and make mud and stomp on it.

 

[erinszoo]

Mine like shiny things and ice chunks in their pond. A big gold plastic bracelet is their favorite toy. And running around with their wings spread and splashing in and out of the water.

 

[goosedragon]

one of those inflatable beach balls blew into my yard. The flock gathered around and gave it the eye until the wind moved it then they swarmed it! they pushed that ball around all day until one managed to grab it wrong and tore it. I got them a badly worn soccer ball from the parks department. the black/white pattern would keep their attention for hours and it was tough enough that it could take s beating. finally I got some used tennis balls that they could pick up in their bills and they would struggle over them. One older goose would stash them in what looked like a nest. I raided her and only gave them one or two at a time. Even then the big gander would take one to the pool with him.....

 

[The goose girl]

The all-time favourite is the beaded curtain. He'll pick up a mouthful of string and then throw them about and watch them swing back and forth. Here's a video:

Other popular toys are shoelaces, flip-flops, crocs, and - if I'm not there to stop him - any kind of insulated wire.

I have a lovage growing close to his tub, and he will chew off large sticks of it and place them in the water. Then he'll chew them up into mulch.

 

[mestaske]

Thanks everyone for the advice and ideas. i think I am going to give them some tennis balls and squeaky toys. I also might try one of the balls meant for dogs and horses with the handle, maybe hanging? The curtains sound fun, I will have to come up with something fun like that made out of string.

 

[toadbriar]

you know what I'd bet they'd love, are those plastic keys baby toys.