Do I need a heat lamp for goslings? Feed ? too....

[chickenreferee]

I'm ordering 8 assorted goslings from Ideal. I'm assuming they will be chinese and africans since every other breed is sold out. Anyways....day time temps here are in the upper 80's and 90's with lows in the 70's and 60's. It's also pretty darn humid.

Will the goslings need a heat lamp in their brooder pen at night (or day), or will the ambient heat be enough?

Is Purina Flock Raiser okay to start them on or should I go with a higher protein feed?

 

[Kevin565]

Yes at night I would still supplement heat to be safe. However, you need to check to make sure they are not getting over heated when it's on. Yes flock raiser is fine I've been using it for years.

 

[zooweemama]

I think it depends on where you are keeping them. Indoors in your house you have to think of the ambient temp in your home- or where ever you are keeping them. This weekend it was 105 outside but indoors it was 76/78 so I would still need to use heat lamps. I have almost 3 week old chicks and I needed the other heat lamp for my goslings- so I moved my home themostat to 82 and the chicks have been fine with no lamp. BUT 3 week old chicks have oodles of feathers too.

I have a digital thermometer I use. My goslings got here yesterday. I had the heat set to 95 but both the goslings and the chicks (they aren't together) did not like that temp. The chicks actually sat with their mouths open (panting I assume) and the goslings would fidget and fidget and not settle at all. So I move it to 90 and everyone slept so well through the nice- snuggled together but not tight and no panting. So more important than a certain number- I use the thermometer to keep it from getting too high right off the bat and then just so I know where it's at. I only heat the one side so they can go get cool if they need to.

My Flock Raiser is 20%, Metzers recommends 21%. It's really hard to find that exact protein level. I don't see why the 1% would be a huge deal. But I am not certain with that since I have never raised geese.