What Do Geese Eat? (Complete Guide)

Geese are well-built waterfowl belonging to the same family as ducks and swans. Humans have domesticated geese for about 2,000 years, which partly explains why geese have become embedded in literature and folklore, as illustrated by famous phrases and idioms such as “a wild goose chase” and “cooked his/her goes” like that.

Geese are large, stocky and often plump, so what do geese eat?

Most species of geese are omnivores, but their diet consists mainly of plant matter, especially seeds, grasses, roots, grains, bulbs, berries and aquatic plants. Some species, such as Canada geese, are herbivores. Although geese are sometimes called “greedy”; they are actually notoriously picky eaters!

Geese are social, gregarious and rowdy birds that mate for life and live and breed mainly in the northern hemisphere, so they are well adapted to cold weather. Like many waterfowl such as ducks and swans, they must maintain a thick layer of fat to protect their bellies from the cold, meaning they have a demanding diet. Many species of geese breed in the far north, even as far as the arctic tundra across Greenland, Canada and Siberia.

Family of egyptian geese foraging

What do geese eat on grass?

Geese have strong, serrated beaks that are perfect for eating dense plant matter. If they can’t find anything else to eat then they will happily gobble up the grass. Grass is hardly the most nutritionally complete food, which is why animals like geese, as well as other herbivores like cattle, must make up for it by consuming grass in large quantities.

A big goose can eat 1 kg of grass a day, accounting for about 1/5 of its body weight, and spends half of its time grazing in a day!

When geese graze, they may also seek out roots, seeds and bulbs that have a higher nutritional content than grass alone. While geese may not be looking for live insects; they probably won’t be too worried about scooping up the occasional beetle or small worm while feeding.

Canada geese foraging in the grass

What do geese eat in the water?

Like most waterfowl, geese eat aquatic plants such as seaweed, kelp, and watercress. However, geese generally forage on land rather than in water. Geese may eat small aquatic insects and even small fish, but meat is certainly not their first choice.

In general, geese are very inclined to eat herbivorous plants and do not specifically feed on aquatic insects and fish. They tend to feed on terrestrial plants rather than aquatic plants.

Canada geese diving in water for food

What do geese eat in winter?

Most (but not all) geese migrate in winter to escape the cold. To build fat reserves, geese increase their carbohydrate intake by eating more grains such as wheat and barley — carbohydrates also help the birds generate more body heat.

Geese are characterized by being plump and stocky with ample fat reserves – they will eat whatever is needed to maintain the rounded bodies they are proud of!

What is the best food for geese?

The diet of geese consists mainly of plants. Grains such as barley, oats and wheat, as well as birdseed, sweet corn, vegetables and grasses such as clover and bluegrass provide a balanced diet for geese.

Despite their large appetites, both wild and domestic geese are known to be picky eaters (and often very picky!). Different geese have different tastes, even within the same flock! The word “greedy” is probably not as appropriate as “picky as a goose”!

Geese hand feeding grain

What can’t geese feed?

While geese often opt for a high-carb diet, it’s important not to overdo them with “empty carbs” such as bread. Moldy bread and other moldy foods are extremely toxic to geese and many other birds. Geese need a varied diet and should be offered a variety of food options.

Another consideration is that overfeeding goosebread and other “empty carbs” increases bowel movements, which can make their foraging areas prone to bacterial and fungal growth. This disrupts the ecosystem, causing harm not only to geese and other birds, but also to other mammals, insects and even dogs.

What do goslings eat?

The staple food of goslings is grass and clover. Domesticated goslings are usually also fed chickweed. In the wild, geese usually choose fertile pastures for their nests, where there is an abundance of various grasses for the chicks to forage.

Goslings have no complex dietary requirements, and their stomachs are perfectly adapted to eating soft, plant-based foods after weaning. They thrive on grass and will grow rapidly until they are ready to fled at 3 months and leave the family unit at about 9 months.

Egyptian goslings foraging on the grass

Do geese eat meat?

Geese are generally omnivorous, but they don’t need meat of any kind to thrive. While geese are quite capable of eating small invertebrates and even small fish, this is by no means the focus of their diet.

For all intents and purposes, geese can be considered herbivores, happily eating grass and other plant material while ignoring insects and other small animals.

Do geese eat bread?

There is a lot of debate about whether it is safe and reasonable to feed birds bread.

The main problem is not that bread is poisonous or dangerous to birds, as long as it doesn’t get moldy, but that it’s nutritionally incomplete. A bird full of bread won’t seek out more nutritious food. So while it’s usually okay to feed goose bread (preferably seeded or whole grain bread) in small amounts, it’s usually discouraged.

Do geese eat fish?

Geese are marginal herbivores, and most species rarely eat meat or fish.

Some species, such as Canada geese, are indeed considered herbivores. Geese are well-suited to maintaining a large plant-based diet and are less likely to need to resort to consuming fish and meat.

Can geese eat apples?

Apples are an excellent source of energy for geese and other birds. Rather than feeding geese with chunks of apples, cut them into manageable chunks.

A pair of geese eating an apple

Can geese eat grapes?

Grapes are eaten by most poultry and wild birds. Interestingly, Canada geese and many other birds are repelled by a chemical used in a nontoxic bird repellant called methyl anthranilate, which is used as a synthetic grape flavoring. Natural grapes are fine though!

Are geese omnivores or vegetarians?

Geese are borderline vegetarians, but will sometimes eat insects and possibly even uncommon small fish. They thrive on plants and do not require meat as part of their diet. Geese are among the most herbivorous waterfowl, consuming more plant matter overall than ducks or swans.