Grass for geese questions

What types of grass are best for young geese?

How much grass should they be eatting at 10 weeks of age?

When (at what age) do you allow the geese to begin free-ranging?

For winter grass/feed, what should be grown/provided?

What about winter greens...will geese eat turnip or collards?

Right now my two darlings Ninya and Charlotte are in a 10 x 20 foot pen of tender bermuda grass with some dallas grass available. The pen walls are 2 foot high 1" chicken wire on rods set in brick that can be moved to set the perimeter. Their little water trug can be moved as can their coop. Thus they have lots of this grass availble.

I have raised beds in the garden that can be sown with winter grass seed for them. I need to know what seed to get ahead of time for planting in Zone 6 - 7.

NanaKat said:

What types of grass are best for young geese?

How much grass should they be eatting at 10 weeks of age?

When (at what age) do you allow the geese to begin free-ranging?

For winter grass/feed, what should be grown/provided?

What about winter greens...will geese eat turnip or collards?

Right now my two darlings Ninya and Charlotte are in a 10 x 20 foot pen of tender bermuda grass with some dallas grass available. The pen walls are 2 foot high 1" chicken wire on rods set in brick that can be moved to set the perimeter. Their little water trug can be moved as can their coop. Thus they have lots of this grass availble.

I have raised beds in the garden that can be sown with winter grass seed for them. I need to know what seed to get ahead of time for planting in Zone 6 - 7.

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I have a large field that used to have an orchard, but was plowed under due to disease. In the last few years it has filled in with natural grasses for my area. My geese have their favorites, and avoid those they don't like. At 10 weeks, they will probably eat grass all day long, given the oportunity. My nearly 8 week olds are free ranging 12 hours a day.

My geese do like collards and turnips, but love kale. Just experiment and see what they like.

I just planted winter pasture grass a couple of years ago, but any winter grass for your area would work. The University of Minnesota recommends clovers, bluegrass, orchard grass, timothy, and bromegrass. The main thing is to cut it if it gets too long, they like new growth.

Thank you

Geese from 5 days old are turned out all day here to graze with water available to them. They are fed first thing in the morning but on grass the rest of the day. Age distances if they are in a covered playpen, garden fenced space or free ranging.

I grow wheat grass in my raised beds over winter too. I will have several going, so by the time one is mowed down, another is ready to open up. They also LOVE pea vines, and will mow down about any fence to get them.
Mine like turnip greens, but not collards.

You guys are so lucky! I raised a pair of brown Chinese to live in my garden and help with the grass that tends to pop up and what do they do? Nothing! They prefer to wait for their evening pellet ration and won't pick grass at all on their own. And their pellet ration is just a handful given as a treat. But the funny thing is, when I'm out there doing the back breaking labor myself, there they are beside me catching all of the grass I toss over my shoulder and eating it. ??

They will go after my vine ripe tomatoes if I leave them to get red on the vine, but other than that, they prefer to catch and kill frogs and bugs. They just won't eat the grass unless I toss it to them. What gives? LOL!

Chicky-dees said:

You guys are so lucky! I raised a pair of brown Chinese to live in my garden and help with the grass that tends to pop up and what do they do? Nothing! They prefer to wait for their evening pellet ration and won't pick grass at all on their own. And their pellet ration is just a handful given as a treat. But the funny thing is, when I'm out there doing the back breaking labor myself, there they are beside me catching all of the grass I toss over my shoulder and eating it. ??

They will go after my vine ripe tomatoes if I leave them to get red on the vine, but other than that, they prefer to catch and kill frogs and bugs. They just won't eat the grass unless I toss it to them. What gives? LOL!

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I can't believe they wait for you to pull the grass. What silly geese! At least they didn't eat the garden before you got tomatoes.

CelticOaksFarm said:

Geese from 5 days old are turned out all day here to graze with water available to them. They are fed first thing in the morning but on grass the rest of the day. Age distances if they are in a covered playpen, garden fenced space or free ranging.

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So since Ninya and Charlotte are now 10 weeks old, I can take them to the garden while I'm out there to supervise and allow them some grazing time.
There is shade under the fruit trees and under the veggies in the raised beds. I could set up a water area.

HappyMtn said:

I grow wheat grass in my raised beds over winter too. I will have several going, so by the time one is mowed down, another is ready to open up. They also LOVE pea vines, and will mow down about any fence to get them.

Mine like turnip greens, but not collards.

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What varieties of grass do you grow?
We have perennial rye that we seed with a pasture drill in the pastures. I could plant that and wheat....just can't let the chickens in the garden until it is established.

Nana they should be outside all day grazing returning to their secure house at night. They are more than old enough to be outside all day being over 2 months old.

CelticOaksFarm said:

Nana they should be outside all day grazing returning to their secure house at night. They are more than old enough to be outside all day being over 2 months old.

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Thank you...I guess I've been a little over-protective since I received them 2 weeks ago. Ninya has had several leg issues and of course Charlotte is more active.
I take them out each morning and put them up each night. I have a portable pen that I move around to fresh grass each day.
I think they are bonded enough they would stay close to the house and barn. We have a two lane highway in front of the house. They would have to go thru a cable fence and over gravel to get to the front yard...
I'm thinking they will stay close to their water tubs and cooler areas. with out the temporary pen up.
We have a craw-dad pond that the wild ducks and Canadian greese frequent when they are here. It is within walking distance of the barn.

Coyotes do cross over our pastures......

Where is the smilie with the wringing hands?