Feeding geese in winter

[JRies]

Yeah I just like to add clarification for lurkers, most people here I generally assume know what’s what but posts and random quotes from here sometimes pop up on search engines and then make their way to where brain cells go to die on the book of faces….after witnessing the kinds of people that take random comments with no context obtusely literal it’s turned me into an unasked for encyclopedia.

Like you see someone who heard spinach was a super food and now that’s all they feed their birds vs the “I heard spinach is bad” crowd and now they think if their birds eat it once their bones will disintegrate into dust.

View attachment 4000117

Yeah I just like to add clarification for lurkers, most people here I generally assume know what’s what but posts and random quotes from here sometimes pop up on search engines and then make their way to where brain cells go to die on the book of faces….after witnessing the kinds of people that take random comments with no context obtusely literal it’s turned me into an unasked for encyclopedia.

Like you see someone who heard spinach was a super food and now that’s all they feed their birds vs the “I heard spinach is bad” crowd and now they think if their birds eat it once their bones will disintegrate into dust.

View attachment 4000117

this is from open sanctuary haven't looked up study's actually cant find any. Dose not say it will kill a goose
Spinach: Spinach also contains oxalate like rhubarb and can interfere with calcium absorption and contribute to egg-binding. Small amounts occasionally may be fine. Discuss with your veterinarian before offering to residents.

 

[Goosebaby]

So funny if you gave my flock a choice they would eat nothing but cracked corn. silly thing it its like raising kids. What they like is not whats best for them. Its like "french fries"
Always remember we are the keepers. Picking there feed even under protest from a young flock is our job.
Feed company's work hard at putting a feed together but the do forget to ask the birds if they are willing to eat it.
Every grain has its own input on what it can offer.
but getting there vitamins to them is really important. Grain dose not give them all there vitamins.
Every year is a new (now what to I do?)

I know Parsnip would only eat blueberries if he could.

 

[Moments]

So funny if you gave my flock a choice they would eat nothing but cracked corn. silly thing it its like raising kids. What they like is not whats best for them. Its like "french fries"
Always remember we are the keepers. Picking there feed even under protest from a young flock is our job.
Feed company's work hard at putting a feed together but the do forget to ask the birds if they are willing to eat it.
Every grain has its own input on what it can offer.
but getting there vitamins to them is really important. Grain dose not give them all there vitamins.
Every year is a new (now what to I do?)

My goose really enjoys duck feed but does graze a lot as a goose should. During the winter I am adding a bit of cracked corn to the mix for all of them as they eat together. Also, a bit of hard oats but not every day. She won't eat hay, will only use it for nesting. She didn't like cabbage but is starting to develop a taste for it. I also offer greens, etc. She's a fussy goose. If she could eat dandelion greens all day long she'd be a happy girl but sadly we're in the Northeast. She's fussy so there's been a lot of trial and error with this one. Also offering grit for the ducks to aid in digestion cause foraging is getting sparce now. I would never give only cracked corn as their diet because I've been a big researcher in the time I've had my flock in order to provide them the best diet possible.

 

[JRies]

My goose really enjoys duck feed but does graze a lot as a goose should. During the winter I am adding a bit of cracked corn to the mix for all of them as they eat together. Also, a bit of hard oats but not every day. She won't eat hay, will only use it for nesting. She didn't like cabbage but is starting to develop a taste for it. I also offer greens, etc. She's a fussy goose. If she could eat dandelion greens all day long she'd be a happy girl but sadly we're in the Northeast. She's fussy so there's been a lot of trial and error with this one. Also offering grit for the ducks to aid in digestion cause foraging is getting sparce now. I would never give only cracked corn as their diet because I've been a big researcher in the time I've had my flock in order to provide them the best diet possible.

Im sure you don't offer just corn. Sounds like you try harder than they do. Yep all geese are fussy. Mine would touch cabbage or even zucchini but my ducks love it.
I get pasture here for about 6 weeks. Welcome to my dry sandy hill in Colorado. Have a bail of brome grass hanging in there night pen. Yep just want to use it to nest or play with. Kills the nighttime boredom I guess.
So I totally get it. Since with this many geese Im on a budget There heath is really important also. So grocery store is out of the question.
Geese are incredible. I think your doing a great job.

 

[Moments]

this is from open sanctuary haven't looked up study's actually cant find any. Dose not say it will kill a goose
Spinach: Spinach also contains oxalate like rhubarb and can interfere with calcium absorption and contribute to egg-binding. Small amounts occasionally may be fine. Discuss with your veterinarian before offering to residents.

I give only occasionally and only a little bit when I do give it. If offering greens it's usually kale or romaine lettuce. They also LOVE LOVE cilantro and it's so good for them.

Im sure you don't offer just corn. Sounds like you try harder than they do. Yep all geese are fussy. Mine would touch cabbage or even zucchini but my ducks love it.
I get pasture here for about 6 weeks. Welcome to my dry sandy hill in Colorado. Have a bail of brome grass hanging in there night pen. Yep just want to use it to nest or play with. Kills the nighttime boredom I guess.
So I totally get it. Since with this many geese Im on a budget There heath is really important also. So grocery store is out of the question.
Geese are incredible. I think your doing a great job.

Even my ducks are fussy... it's terrible. And here I thought nothing could be fussier than my son.... yet here we are lol. Love them all the same though.

 

[JRies]

I give only occasionally and only a little bit when I do give it. If offering greens it's usually kale or romaine lettuce. They also LOVE LOVE cilantro and it's so good for them.

Even my ducks are fussy... it's terrible. And here I thought nothing could be fussier than my son.... yet here we are lol. Love them all the same though.

I think when you mentioned them using grass hay as nesting material it touched my heart. Come nesting time I buy 3 bails of grass hay and fill every nesting box. When I finally let them go broody at the end of the season they have a snack. One thing I have found to help them get a little more green in there digestive system in the winter is certified timothy pellets soaked overnight then mixing there protein feed into it.

 

[Moments]

I think when you mentioned them using grass hay as nesting material it touched my heart. Come nesting time I buy 3 bails of grass hay and fill every nesting box. When I finally let them go broody at the end of the season they have a snack. One thing I have found to help them get a little more green in there digestive system in the winter is certified timothy pellets soaked overnight then mixing there protein feed into it.

She definitely has gotten into broody mode.... with unfertilized eggs