You'll Never See Sheep And Geese In The Same Field...

[Chappers]

A mate of mine mentioned that he heard "a sheep expert" on radio 4 the other day who said, as a matter of fact, that you would never see sheep and geese in the same field yet neglected to expand on the subject.

Anyone know about this? Sounds like it could be true but also sounds like it could be some crazy old wives tale. Afterall, it's not unusual for smaller farmers to graze multiple types of animals on the same land.

[NazNomad]

Having kept both sheep and geese in the same field, I refute the claims of the Radio 4 'expert'.

[rowanwitch]

Absolute rubbish field near one of our birding spot two weeks ago sheep and a mixed flock of canada and greylag geese ...seen it loads of times

[B00]

Before i saw the other two answers id have said it's because geese are vicious buggers and would scare the crap out of the sheep.

I've known geese to be better than guard dogs for protecting farm yards, stable yards etc. Get a couple of those flapping at you, beaks going ten to the dozen you soon know about it!

[andy-hughes]

Our house overlooks a rural canal with a flock of geese living on it. They regularly hop onto the bank and into the adjoining field which has sheeo grazing on it - they don;t seem to have a problem with each other.

[Chappers]

Great answers guys! Yeah I thought it sounded unlikely.

[karenmac60]

Boo, we have a lot of distilleries in the area, and a few of them use geese instead of guard dogs - works a treat too :)

[Scylax]

This sounds like one of those 'truisms' commonly uttered by our country bretheren.
Compare it with the weather prediction : 'If it be rainin', and there be sheep in the field,
you look out for wet sheep'.

[Invictas]

I agree with Naz,
I have friends in Kent who keep both sheep and geese,and as they dont have an enormous acreage both these animals are kept together, and seem to get along OK.