2 totally unrelated questions for the experts out there:

1) 10 acre pond in central NC. Based on forum feedback I purchased a Texas Hunter feeder and installed it on my dock. The bluegill have responded very well and I am currently feeding 12 second cycles 3x per day (morning - noon - evening). The grass carp discovered the food source as well and definitely get their fair share - not sure I can do much about that. More recently the 6 geese that seem to have taken up residence have discovered the feeder and when it goes off they just go to town on the fish food. Im guessing they are getting as much as half of the feed before the fish can get any. FWIW I am feeding Purina Aquamax currently. So - other then the obvious answer (shooting them) - any ideas on how I might dissuade them from the free meal?

2) As we near the time when the bluegill typically start bedding here in my part of NC, it occurred to me that if they are increasingly getting conditioned to hanging out in the general area of the feeder - they might not go to their spawning areas which are in somewhat specific locations in different parts of the pond. Is this a concern? Does anybody recommend curtailing the feeding during spawning time so that the fish will concentrate on reproduction rather then easy meals at the feeder?

Thanks for any insights!

- Cullen

Cullen, I think the only way you'll stop the geese from eating the fish feed is getting rid of the geese via several different methods.

A friend of mine had a geese problem at his office that bordered a stream, and he had always cut the grass adjacent to the stream. He was told that the geese feel safer when the grass is cut, and thus will stay in that area. So my buddy doesn't cut the grass there now and the geese have left.

I would certainly not want to waste feed on geese which I consider a 100% nuisance creature.

Regarding the question on bluegill, we think the males are the ones that guard the nests after the female puts her eggs down. As such, I'm not sure the male bluegill will leave the nest a good distance to feed once the eggs are laid.

Let's see what others say on that and the geese.

It all depends on whether the BG prefer feeding or spawning.

IME prime of life BG prefer spawning. The very young and the very old might as well eat.

BG males guard the nest for about 2 weeks. Usually in a BG colony of nests. Some spawn in single nests but not many. They will eat during that time but not likely to swim away from the nest.

Get rid of the geese. Dogs will help sometimes. Loud noises will also run them off. Projectiles directed at them will also work. They don't like nets either.

That is a long run time (12 x 3) for this time of year. Absent the geese how long does it take for the fish to eat all the feed? Usually as the water temps go up in spring BG metabolism increases and food consumption increases (up to water temps of about 90 F).

Aversion to killing geese, or aversion to shooting? I wouldn't be very accommodating to those feathered rats eating up my $$$

Has anyone tried a feeding ring (or PVC square) that has ropes or wire attached to make a grid?

The feeder food would fall right through, but a 1' grid made of high-tensile wire should be uncomfortable for the geese.

Thanks for the great feedback! I am not particularly adverse to shooting the critters, but my wife and 3 year old son love watching the geese (he has actually named a couple of them) and I would not win any favor at home if they suddenly disappeared... I might try some loud noise deterrents and see if that helps - I just can't always be there when the feeder goes off. As far as dogs go, we actually have two labs. Unfortunately, they seem to like the geese as well - especially all of the snacks the geese leave for them in the back yard. When the dogs run out back after I let them out in the morning the geese don't even give them a second look and the dogs are just nose down snacking on goose turds in a matter of seconds.

Regarding the feed times - I am admittedly a total amateur at all of this. If 3 times a day for 12 seconds seems too long - what might be more appropriate? When the feeder goes off I would estimate I see the bream splashing on the food for about ten minutes at the current setting.

Cullen, I have geese issues as well. A few non-shooting strategies may help:

1. Shift some feeding to night, especially after midnight.

2. Feed smaller amounts, but more frequently. My experience is that the fish start feeding first, then the geese crash the party. Smaller amounts tilt the advantage to the fish, less left for the feathered thieves.

3. Search for sinking feeds.

4. If legal, addle the eggs. The only thing worse than six geese is twice that many!

Like you, I can't shoot the geese without causing a bear market in the domestic tranquility index, but these strategies seem to help. Best of luck!

With the geese absent see how much time it takes for the fish to eat what you put out.

Five of the six goose eggs made it.

Then Daddy goose departed.

Now Momma goose has her hands full.

Good luck to the Momma!

How many different predators are there that live in Texas and eat goslings? I expect that number is quite large.

Do you provide any goose protection at your pond?

Wish we had geese around here….. have a few squealers and a stray woody but have never seen a Canadian goose around here

Bottle rockets, etc. should scare the geese away. As the summer progresses, and the Filamentous Algae problem gets worse, thank the geese for that - their poop is rich in nutrients, which feed the FA.

If you pair Pat's post and esshup's post, then you have a perfect Pond Boss "it depends" couplet regarding Canadian geese!

LOL

With the amount of droppings they leave behind, Pat may change his mind if his wish is granted. Not only in the water, but on the land, AND if there is a BOW nearby that has invasive plants in it, then those droppings that end up in the water have a good possibility of having invasive plant seeds in them. You have to make it a rule to take your shoes off before entering the house or you will track goose poop indoors. Look at the dogs feet too.....

Hmmm maybe good that we don’t
We got plenty of coons and they poop all on the pier nitely

FishinRod...yes lots of predators....I am surprised that five goslings have survived this long. We have fox, yotes, coons, hawks, owls, eagles (sometimes), the hogs don't come up to where the ponds are, not sure if otters are in pond now....seems like they are gone for now,

Just don't mow the peninsula where the nest is/was.
Momma goose seems to keep them near & under a willow tree on the water's edge.
I guess the willows keep them relatively hidden and they can jump in water if land based predators arrive.
The little ones stay close to Momma Goose.

X 2

That Momma Goose instinctually knows how to keep them as safe as possible from all of the predators you listed. Pretty impressive for that tiny bird brain.