White geese, encompassing both wild species like the Snow Goose and domestic breeds such as the Emden or Roman, are primarily herbivorous birds. Their diet changes based on their environment, whether they are in the wild or domesticated, and also varies with the seasons.
Natural Foraging and Wild Diet
In their natural habitats, white geese are grazers, spending a significant portion of their day consuming various plant materials. Their diet largely consists of grasses, leaves, and stems, with popular choices including clover, alfalfa, bluegrass, orchard grass, and timothy. They use their strong, wide bills to tear off vegetation from the ground. Wild geese also forage for aquatic plants like sedges, water lilies, and cattails, often pulling submerged roots and rhizomes from the silt.
Seasonal changes influence their food choices. During autumn and winter, wild geese consume more seeds, grains, and berries to build fat reserves for migration and to generate body heat. They frequently feed on waste grains such as wheat, maize (corn), barley, and beans in agricultural fields after harvests. While primarily herbivorous, very young goslings may consume insect larvae, and adult geese occasionally supplement their diet with insects, worms, or small invertebrates, especially during breeding season for extra protein.
Feeding Domestic Geese
Domestic white geese benefit from access to natural foraging areas, such as pastures or lawns, where they can graze on fresh grass. Grass provides essential vitamins and minerals, particularly when it is fresh and short. For domestic birds, their diet is often supplemented with commercial goose feed, typically in the form of pellets. It is important to avoid layer mashes or crumbles, as these can get stuck in their mouths.
In addition to commercial feed, domestic geese can be given appropriate kitchen scraps. They enjoy leafy greens like cabbage, cauliflower leaves, and lettuce. Cooked vegetables such as potatoes, carrots, and parsnips can also be offered. Fruits like apples (without seeds or cores) and berries can be given in moderation.
Some owners also provide whole grains like oats, wheat, and corn, which can be scattered for foraging. Geese also require grit, such as small stones or sand, to aid digestion, which they typically find if free-ranging.
Foods to Never Feed
Certain foods are harmful or toxic to white geese and should never be given to them. Bread, crackers, and other processed human foods offer minimal nutritional value and can lead to malnutrition. A diet high in carbohydrates from bread can also lead to issues like “angel wing,” a wing deformity, and contribute to the spread of disease due to increased defecation.
Other dangerous foods include avocados, which contain persin, a toxin that can be harmful to birds. Members of the nightshade family, such as raw potatoes (especially green parts, leaves, and stems), green tomatoes, and eggplant, contain solanine, a neurotoxin that can cause serious illness. Sugary foods, salty snacks, chocolate (which contains theobromine), and caffeine should also be avoided due to their potential toxicity or lack of nutritional benefit.