Feeding Oats To Geese

[Oregon Blues]

I bought rolled oats for the ducks. So I gave some to the geese. They just picked them out of their feeder and dropped them on the ground.

I steamed some oats for the ducks and gave a couple of spoonfuls to the geese and they gobbled down every last one.

A scoop of oats in a bowl, cover with boiling water. Allow to cool completely and feed.

By the way, the ducks cleaned up every last drop, too.

 

[goosedragon]

Thats great if you want to cook for your birds every day. If it were me I would try adding regular uncooked oats to the cooked ones. If they gobble them down they might not notice, then change the ratio a bit each day until you are not cooking. Just soaking the oats has worked for me and if the soaked oats don't turn them on let them sprout never saw a goose that could resist sprouted oats. (heck I have seen wild Canadas eat acres of winter oats LOL),

 

[gofasterstripe]

I give mine whole oats. They didnt eat it at 1st but now they pick the oats out and eat them all first

 

[JaxBirchmuck]

We add rolled oats to our Tufted Roman Flock's diet every three days, just a scoop or two and they love it! We also add sweet feed for a special treat and they have never not finished either. The flock loves to eat oats in the field as well, so we make sure we plant an extra patch just for the geese to go through.

 

[Oneacre Homestead]

OB, are you talking about rolled oats from the grocery store or from the feed store? I got some at the feed store and they were not like I thought they would be. I have been partially grinding them up along with dried peas. They liked them ground, but are not as thrilled with whole. I will try the hot water.

 

[3dogs]

I buy 50 pound bags of oats from the feedstore. I think they are called steamed flat oats, or something similar. I've had a problem finding suitable feed for the geese so ended up mixing 20% protein game and turkey feed with the oats to lessen the protein. They eat it right up. I've started feeding the chickens the same mix, and they seem happy with it. The chickens get oyster shell on the side.

The only pelleted feed I can find locally is laying feed for chickens or a ratite maintenance feed - both about 16% protein. My chickens didn't like the laying feed (!), and I wasn't sure about the suitability of the ratite feed for my birds. If anyone wants to offer an opinion on the ratite feed, it is described at http://starmilling.com.

 

[Oregon Blues]

Rolled oats from the feedstore, oneacre. The ducks like them just fine. The geese aren't impressed.

My next attempt is going to be to see if I can sprout whole oats so that I can have a source of fresh grass for the geese over the winter.

 

[goosemama]

I bought rolled oats from the feed store as well and my Pilgrims were not impressed - although the chickens and turkeys ate it. I had scattered some on the ground near the goose kiddy pool and when I cleaned out the old water for fresh I made sure the oats got a good soaking. However, they didn't sprout - but it may be because its been so hot and I didn't keep soaking them. I have 20% poultry pellets and I lessen the protein by adding some rolled oats and also cracked corn for the geese. I also add Brewer's Yeast for added niacin which I've read geese need. I can hardly muster the energy to cook for ourselves so am not about to start cooking for my geese (although I love them dearly).

 

[3dogs]

ptwoody, I used to live in upstate NY and was able to get a feed at Agway that my chickens, ducks and geese ate. It was a pelleted game and turkey feed with 16% protein. I wish it was available here!

 

[goosedragon]

Quote:
Think ptwoody! Did you really expect ROLLED oats to sprout! (If anybody thinks I am being hard on ptwoody it is because we have had a bit of email flowing on the subject of geese) If you want to sprout oats get the whole oats usually given to horses, Not crimpted, not rolled. I used to sprout oats for winter treats for geese and also for my mothers inside only cat year around. (cat lovers that cat grass seed you buy in the pet store is usually plain old oats in a fancy pack at a fancy price. Do NOT use oats sold for field seeding since that is usually treated and can be deadly)
Put feed for geese in a feeder or bowl not scattered on the ground as you would for chickens that love to strach. A goose bill isn't right for scratching and they have to be really hungry to start searching for seeds. ~gd