Do geese need greens/grass in the winter also?

[ChaosTheory]

Hi! I have another wintering question. Right now in the summer, our geese have an open shelter (inside a large secured run), it's got one side that is wood, as well as the top, the rest are just open, and they go in and out as they please. Should I change this in the winter? Do they need to be locked in (at least overnight) to avoid risk of frostbite, or will they just go in when they get cold? I liVe in southern Canada, and it still gets pretty cold here in the winter.

 

[catnip]

Ideally you should provide them a 3 sided shelter to help block the wind on those really nasty days & nights. Straw bales stacked up around 3 sides of your current shelter may just do the trick. They can go in and out freely and get out of the elements as they want.

 

[redhen]

Quote:
Hi Chaos and welcome!
I do lock mine up in a little house every night..just to be safe. We have too many things that will eat them here...

 

[ChaosTheory]

Hi! Thanks, I will definately get to adding some more sides to my goose house then =] They will definately not enjoy being locked in every night (starting in the fall), so I will probably hear some disgruntled night time honks.

 

[redhen]

Quote:

The'll get used to it though. Its better then being eaten..

 

[slightlyscrambled]

so buying baled alfalfa would work for winter along with a pelleted feed?

 

[ScoobyRoo]

My geese and ducks and chickens and....turkeys free range quite a bit. As long as the grass is not fozen and buried under snow, will they still get the goodies out of the greens?

 

[goosedragon]

Quote:
Geese are grazers. If you have watched them on pasture they usually take bite sized bits then move a little lower and do it again. They will do the same with the parts of the hay they consider edible. they will usually eat the leaves and leave the stalks.

 

[GardenerGal]

My waterfowl - ducks and geese - have gotten hay for years, no problem. They love grass hay especially, but will eat the leaves and seedheads of timothy hay as well.

They get an armload of fresh hay every night when they go into their barn stall for the night, and it's gone in the morning, except for the stems.

 

[greyfields]

The issue is you'll continue to see them graze & eat grass, but the nutritional value of it during the coldest of winter isn't actually enough to keep them going. It's best to supplement with some layer feed so they get adequate protein and energy levels in their diet.