feed ? goslings?

[spamee34]

I bought 6 brown chinese goslings from a breeder in my area and I asked if starter for chicks was ok he said yes. SO I was out of starter and I had layer crumbles so I have been feeding them this since saturday . They are picking on one another eating on each other till the hide is bleeding WHAT DO I DO? PLEASE HELP!

 

[ldaziens]

First off, I am not a goose expert -- I am a goose beginner, so hopefully others will respond. I have 10 goslings that are now 2 weeks old, and here is what I have learned. Ducks and Geese should NOT be fed medicated chick starter. They really need waterfowl starter -- Mazuri makes a waterfowl starter, and your feedstore should be able to order it. Make sure they order the STARTER -- my feed store ordered the maintenance initially, which is not nutritionally correct. In the meantime, non-medicated chick starter should be okay -- especially if you can supplement it with niacin and lots of shredded greens (AFTER they've had grit & sand). I had a terrible time getting my goslings interested in any kind of starter, and because it is warm here in Southern Mississippi, I started taking them out to the grass - -- in a pen and with a draft guard and heat lamp. Geese are herbivores, so they have different dietary needs than ducks and chicks. IMPORTANT -- they need to eat grit AND SAND (according to Chris Ashton in "Domestic Geese") in order to eat and digest grass. I now have mine out on grass during the day, and then they come inside and have access to their waterfowl starter (and water) all night. I mix probiotic powder (for birds), diatomaceous earth (to prevent internal parasites), and chick grit in with their starter. I have read that layer feed is bad for them because it has too much calcium, and that they do not need oyster shell.

SO, my thoughts would be --
#1 -- get the feed straightened out ASAP. As an emergency measure, you might try hard boiling some eggs and feeding them the white and yolk as well as lots of fresh, chopped greens -- I put mine through a food processor IF they have been eating grit & sand. I believe I read in Holderread that chick starter does not have enough niacin, https://www.backyardchickens.com/forum/viewtopic.php?pid=2085511, so until you get the waterfowl starter, you should supplement. Make sure you are putting out their food and water in a way that they can all access it easily at the same time without squabbling. Everyone at the local feed stores here tried to tell me that chick starter is fine for ducks and goslings -- IT'S NOT!!!

#2 -- Space -- Do the goslings have enough space?

#3 -- Are they too hot? Make sure that they can get away from the heat source. I noticed that mine liked to sleep together in a pile - but away from the heat. They don't need as much heat as chicks.

#4 -- Are they bored? One thing that might help is to cut out a big chunk of grass -- like sod -- that has NOT been treated with any pesticides or fertilizers -- and is free of any "hardware" or other edible dangers, and put that in with them AFTER they have had grit & sand -- w/o the grit and sand, they'll get clogged up.

#5 -- Bedding -- mine are a lot happier on hay / straw -- just make sure that they have had the grit & sand for a day or so prior.

#6 -- Bathing water -- I put lukewarm water in a shallow pan and let them splash around - supervised and then dry them off.

#7 -- drinking water -- make sure it's clean and that they can submerge their entire head. If you use any of the vitamin / electrolyte powders -- like Broiler Booster or Quick Chick, they need to be diluted more since they drink more water than chicks -- so half or less of the recommended amount.

#8 -- Anti - Peck / Pick products -- I would NOT use anything yet. Definitely separate anyone who's being picked on, but I think your problem is management related - diet / space / heat related.

#8 -- the internet is great for research, but get some books specific to Geese -- Dave Holderread and Chris Ashton have good books, but Ashton is in Great Britain, so some of the recommendations aren't available here.

I am dealing with problem Turkey Poults right now, so, believe me, I understand how frustrating it is when the little critters aren't doing well.

 

[triggfamily5]

I wish I could help you. The only time I have goslings are when my geese hatch their own (one is hatching now and currently has 3). Flock Raiser is the only game feed we have at our local store, so all my geese and goslings get that with some oats and they free range. I have only had one gosling pass in 4 years, but that wasn't from feed, I think the big geese drowned it in the water in a rush to get out for some reason.

 

[[email protected]]

Dumor brand chick starter found at TSC is good for goslings. Mine are on it, but they will need other things too. I cut up spinach and they LOVE it, I also let them graze some during the day. At first I didn't have them on grit, cause I didn't know, but now they are on grit. A lot of postings talk about putting brewers yeast on their food for niacin, so I'm looking for some. Mine didn't like the boiled egg or shredded carrots, but the chicks did - pigs! But share what you do, I'm new to this also and love ideas. Last night the heat lamp broke, so I really hope they didn't get too cold. I freaked this am, but in TX it is usually pretty warm, altho last night was cool.... so, I will keep an eye on them. What is a vent? jennifer
Oh, and goslings need 2 sq ft per bird, so if their digs aren't big enough, they'll peck each other.

 

[marathonmultiplesmom]

I feed mine "flock starter" which is not medicated and is supposed to be okay for turkeys, chickens, ducks, geese... and "mixed flocks"

I give it to the goslings and sprinkle some greens on top, usually grass, clover or leafy lettuce types,
I give it to the turkeys straight - they need the protein...
and I give it to the chicks mixed half with cracked corn

I haven't had any problems... knock on wood

 

[[email protected]]

I have a gosling question---I just had them swimming in the tub, and noticed that one of their skin is hot pink, and the others skin is dark, almost black. They are supposed to both be tufted romans? Also, I could hear their stomachs rumbling, or maybe just one of their stomachs, I have 2 about 2 weeks old. But the rumbling sounded like a cement truck when it goes around, or like rocks bing driven on, like a gravel driveway. I do give them grit, it just seemed odd and I really love these 2. Any ideas/opinions? jennifer

 

[TennesseeTruly]

If the chicks are bored or theres not enough room in the brooder, they'll start picking on one another. I have added safe baby toys to my brooders for them to play with so they're not picking on each other. Stuffed animals that have the eyes removed, rattles, things like that. They love them. Carry them around, tumble on them and they stop picking on each other.

Think about it. They're just like human babies. They need some way to entertain themselves!

As far as the layer, get them off of it!! Get them nonmedicated chick starter and suppliment with niacin or brewers yeast. I feed this for the first 3 weeks, then I put them onto Mazuri Maintenance.

Good luck!

Laurie

 

[[email protected]]

Where did you get the Mazuri Maintenance? Lots of people talk about it... j