Drought has dried up all my grass! What are you feeding?

Hey folks in the drought/dried up grass areas...

what are you feeding your geese this summer?
I've been supplementing with hay but mainly Alfalfa available around here so a lot of that goes to waste

because its stemmy.

I think this is the first summer ever I'm looking forward to winter.

Thats the problem if you have a lot of geese.

If I sprinkled as much as I would need to green up the geese pasture land
my electric bill would be $1000. a month!

I shutter to think what my next bill will be due to the extra water for my ducks and geese

and the sprinkling I do.
All I've been sprinking is one flower bed by my house and a small vegetable garden.
I have some smaller flowering shrubs that look like they are on the verge of dying.

I have to get them some water soon.
All my lawn grass and pasture land is brown and dormant but it will come back once we get some adequete rainfall.

Hope we at least get some regrowth for fall.

This has been the worst drought since the late 80's.
We got a little rain last night but not enough to make a difference.

I really feel for the farmers that will be losing crops.

Feel for our wallets with the no doubt big increase in grocery prices coming soon.
Think I will do alot more canning this year.
 

I might to try sprouting some oats

If you do a search on how to build a greenhouse for $50. you will find a variety of websites that show you how to DIY with PVC pipe.

I've been wanting to do this for a long time now. Just make sure if you live in a cold climate to do the version thats reinforced to handle the weight from the snow

and be prepared to brush the snow off regularly so it doesn't cave in.

Quote:

Originally Posted by HappyMtn 

I am watering like crazy when its not raining. Have to take mine off the grass for a couple hours a day, or we'll have nothing left soon.

We found some really nice grassy hay for the horses and donkeys and the geese and ducks have been getting into it too. 

I've been making lots of salads for them for when they are not on pasture, growing little plots of wheat grass and romaine.Turnip greens soon. Its not easy with a big flock!

 

I am going to work out some kind of greenhouse or cold frame so I can grow more during the cold months. Just need some lumber and cooler working weather.      

Yep, no doubt feed will go up again.
I'm already paying double what I use to.
If this keeps up I may have to cut back on my flock even more

and not grow out as many annual goslings next year.