Death in Geese

[Tinted]

Does anyone feed Tradition brand duck and goose feed?

 

[ultasol]

The best advice I can give is to get, "The Book of Geese" by David Holderread. It covers all aspects of feeding and raising goslings- from bedding, feed (including vitamin/mineral and protein requirements), diseases, etc. From the time the egg is laid until the bird is an adult (and continuing into breeding season, etc) it has provided me with the information I need. You can get it at the website for Holderread waterfowl or through online booksellers.

 

[JordanFamily]

Well I do understand your asking if Ideal did something wrong because genetics can play in failure to thrive situations... But really my guess it is all because you are not feeding the right feed... If you bought the babies from me and told me you were feeding them that I would say... duh of coarse they would have failure to thrive... And every bird is different on what they can take so maybe one or two have failure to thrive while the other one looks fine for now but who knows how this early nutrition is going to hurt him later as an adult even if he makes it through till then... My advice is to feed and animal the proper feed... You wouldn't feed a horse goat feed would you? Chickens and waterfowl are two totally different species with their own nutritional needs that are different or the stores would sale both as the same feed..... Hope you decide to change what you are doing for the one that's left...

 

[goosedragon]

Quote:
I think you will find that Holderread is the cheapest source. I checked some online booksellers earlier in the week and found they were asking $32+ for used paperbacks or you can read it online at http://www.fastonline.org/CD3WD_40/JF/414/05-234.pdf you will need Adobe Reader (program to read .pdf files) I think most computers come with it installed but if you don't have it many sites that use .pdf documents offer a free download.

 

[[email protected]]

OMG, you are kidding!!! They love spinach and I have been giving them lots of it. Gimminy! I wish I had found this out before.... have I done any harm, they are about 2.5 weeks? jennifer

OK, so I just read in Holderread's book that spinach is good for them, where did you get that it's bad? j

 

[TennesseeTruly]

As someone who has bred birds for 30 years, its knowledge that I have acquired over the 30 years. Spinach is good...the key is MODERATION. If you're going to give them a piece of spinach....good. If you're going to give them more than that...not good.

Remember...you're adding extra niacin or brewers yeast to help their bone and muscle growth. You don't want to feed something like spinach that will rob the calcium away from that bone growth.

Spinach has all kinds of great nutrients in it! Its a great nutritious green! I agree, I eat alot of it myself. But..it has oxalates in it and it WILL rob the bones of calcium. Its not something that especially growing ducklings and geese should be eating.

Do some research for yourself. Alot of sites will tell you all the virtues of spinach. I agree that its a great green and would be better if it didn't have oxalates in it. Why feed something that can do damage when you're trying to prevent that by giving niacian or brewers yeast to your fowl.

This isn't supposition on my part. Believe me. I've studied diets in parrots for a very long time. If someone can prove that the oxalic acid doesn't have the same effect on ducks and geese, fine. But I stand by my statement.

Your fowl, your choice! And I read Dave Holderread's book too!

Laurie

 

[vicki2x2]

I love Holderreads book too, and definitely buy it from his site, otherwise it is outrageous anywhere else!

 

[[email protected]]

Well, great, I love getting all the knowledge I can get. I'll get Kale instead. I just haven't been able to find and Brewers yeast and the Niacin diffency is what I'm really concerned about. I don't think they have too little niacin now, but as goslings, aren't they kind of wombly anyway, when walking in grass??

Anyway, keep the good advise coming, and send me all the info you can think of... jennifer

 

[TennesseeTruly]

If you have a Walmart near you, Walmart sells 3 lb bags of the fresh chopped kale for $3.86. You can buy the Niacin and the Brewers Yeast at Walmart too. I have a mortar & pestle and I just grind mine up to give to them.

When goslings first start walking, they're a little wobbly on their feet. Especially because their heads weigh so much! lol They quickly get the hang of it though!

Laurie

 

[Tinted]

Printed the book!

Thanks so much for the link!

Also why do his goslings/duckings cost so darn much? They are nearly 10X the normal price, thats a little much even for good quality animals. IMO