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

[flockman]

I am sprouting oats right now. I start a new batch each morning. After 7 days it is ready to feed to the geese.

 

[Miss Lydia]

I am sprouting oats right now. I start a new batch each morning. After 7 days it is ready to feed to the geese.

I am going to try whole oats then, I sprouted BOSS last week and the ducks and geese turned their noses up at them, the chickens finally ate them.

 

[Goose and Fig]

I opened up a fresh plot of wheat grass, seen as how the toulouse are about to start laying again. We are going through grain like crazy. Looks like a good time to get going on the sprouts here too!

 

[MsMelvin]

...what a great source of information you all put together; and thank you for the links.

Found a farmer not far that has 2nd cutting bales of rye-timothy-clover mixed (4.50) have appointment this morning to meet. FINGERS CROSSED THEY LIKE IT! Turned their noses up at soaked alfalfa cubes....

Meanwhile I will definately be researching "sprouting"!

 

[Cottage Rose]

...what a great source of information you all put together; and thank you for the links.

Found a farmer not far that has 2nd cutting bales of rye-timothy-clover mixed (4.50) have appointment this morning to meet. FINGERS CROSSED THEY LIKE IT! Turned their noses up at soaked alfalfa cubes....

Meanwhile I will definately be researching "sprouting"!

My geese didn't like the Alfalfa cubes wet or dry and I've heard a lot of other people say the same thing.
Mine love hay but there's a lot waste with Alfalfa hay because they tend to not eat the stems.
I'd say easy 50% loss.
Years ago we use to be able to get Clover hay (for our goats) but I haven't seen any for years.
It even hard to find grass hay. Alfalfa is the major hay crop in Michigan.
You're lucky to be able to get clover/mixed hay. I always liked it because the leaves were bigger and didn't seem t shatter as easy.
It should be noted that geese do not have to be fed hay but its certainly is beneficial to offer it to them.
Mine love it.

 

[MsMelvin]

They started tugging on the bale as soon as I set it down...not for long though...cut the twine and shook some loose - lost interest quickly.

It is green and smells good..although I don't really see clover leaves.

The farmer recommended heating one part honey to two parts water (cool) and sprinkle some on the hay. "Honey is a natural end product from the fields anyway" he said with a smile. (light on

)

Mixing a batch this morning.

Have you tried sprouting C. Rose?

 

[Cottage Rose]

I wouldn't give up on the hay.
They might like it after awhile especially if they have no access to their main feed during the day.
My geese are only fed at night after I close them in for the night.
During the day all I offer them is hay during the winter months and grass during their growing season.
I have tried sprouting for my geese (oats) and they didn't eat them.
They tend to not like greens as well.
Mostly for treats they prefer apples, tomatoes and melons.

 

[MsMelvin]

10-4 on the apples and melons !

Usually, the girls (2 am. buffs) are allowed free range all day then in at night. Problem is; the grass is greener in the neighbors yard - across the road! So you know how stubborn/smart geese can be...even if I fenced across there, they will figure out a way. I know it is hunger for the fresh green that drives them.

The pellet feeder gets hung as soon as they come out of coop. Eat some then off adventuring...bath in the creek, then across the road for u know what.

Unfortunately, until I figure a way to fill their bellies I am going to have to keep them locked up...I open the door to thier caged water deck but that's it. I have that hay out there now...oh, the honey idea flopped as well.

Need this snow to melt fast! Come on SPRING!! (or sprouts)

Where you people buying your sprout seeds...besides mail order...does TSC or Agway have what I need to get started?

 

[Miss Lydia]

10-4 on the apples and melons !

Usually, the girls (2 am. buffs) are allowed free range all day then in at night. Problem is; the grass is greener in the neighbors yard - across the road! So you know how stubborn/smart geese can be...even if I fenced across there, they will figure out a way. I know it is hunger for the fresh green that drives them.

The pellet feeder gets hung as soon as they come out of coop. Eat some then off adventuring...bath in the creek, then across the road for u know what.

Unfortunately, until I figure a way to fill their bellies I am going to have to keep them locked up...I open the door to thier caged water deck but that's it. I have that hay out there now...oh, the honey idea flopped as well.

Need this snow to melt fast! Come on SPRING!! (or sprouts)

Where you people buying your sprout seeds...besides mail order...does TSC or Agway have what I need to get started?

Try whole oats for sprouting, the BOSS was a flop here with my geese, so my nest adventure is whole oats since I can get them at the feed store. And the hay is kinda mediocre here too, they nibble but it isn't a big deal like when I first brought it home.

 

[Mrs. Fluffy Puffy]

My White Sebastopols, American Buffs, and Sebastopol projects all love alfalfa hay, but my four new Sebs from Shellie do not seem to care for it too much. I will be doing some fodder soon, I think it would be the best greenery, since all our grass is yellow and crunchy. It seems like a no brainer for me.

~ Aspen