First goose

[Lynn Manes]

We found a female goose yesterday. Have no idea what kind-no doubt mixed, but she is huge-about 18-20 lb-not overly fat, just a big goose. Anyway, we need to know what to feed her. We raise chickens,ducks & quail so figured the game bird feed would work for her. She didn't touch it. Tried giving her live redworms & mealworms last night - won't eat them. TSC suggested giving her chicken scratch bc of the corn in it. I accidentally gave her layer crumbles instead as I thought that's what they said.(my fiance called,not me). So I am trying the layer first but will throw her some scratch with dried mealworms . She's so gentle, sweet and playful with us, & seems to be much happier today, as she was obviously sad,& confused of her whereabouts yesterday.We think she might have been someone's pet that was dumped. She would not leave our sides at all. She definitely knows humans.But I'm worried bc she won't accept the foods we've offered her.All positive advice welcome. Thank you.

 

[Miss Lydia]

We found a female goose yesterday. Have no idea what kind-no doubt mixed, but she is huge-about 18-20 lb-not overly fat, just a big goose. Anyway, we need to know what to feed her. We raise chickens,ducks & quail so figured the game bird feed would work for her. She didn't touch it. Tried giving her live redworms & mealworms last night - won't eat them. TSC suggested giving her chicken scratch bc of the corn in it. I accidentally gave her layer crumbles instead as I thought that's what they said.(my fiance called,not me). So I am trying the layer first but will throw her some scratch with dried mealworms . She's so gentle, sweet and playful with us, & seems to be much happier today, as she was obviously sad,& confused of her whereabouts yesterday.We think she might have been someone's pet that was dumped. She would not leave our sides at all. She definitely knows humans.But I'm worried bc she won't accept the foods we've offered her.All positive advice welcome. Thank you.

Geese are basically grazers do you have grass? she will also love the scratch because of the corn but that isn't a complete diet other things geese like are greens like chopped kale chopped romaine lettuce but no telling what she has been fed. I'd hug your neck if I could taking her in most likely saved her life. please post pics when you can. Do you have her with the ducks? or close by them maybe seeing them eating will stimulate her to start also. I have 2 geese who like mealworms the other 2 do not.

 

[Lynn Manes]

Geese are basically grazers do you have grass? she will also love the scratch because of the corn but that isn't a complete diet other things geese like are greens like chopped kale chopped romaine lettuce but no telling what she has been fed. I'd hug your neck if I could taking her in most likely saved her life. please post pics when you can. Do you have her with the ducks? or close by them maybe seeing them eating will stimulate her to start also. I have 2 geese who like mealworms the other 2 do not.

Thank you for your input. No we don't have grass out there. We are in drought stricken California so the grass died out and we chose to not replant to conserve water usage for the animals and garden. Michael threw her some grass seed though but not long ago and I've not checked on her yet again as I took a little nap that lasted too long. Lol
Right now our duck enclosure is too small to add her in and bc both my females are sitting on eggs, I didn't want to jeopardize them. Plus I am quarantining her from the rest of my flocks since we don't know if she has any serious health problems. However she looks healthy but yesterday she was pooping loose and white foamy poo. Not here overnight or today though. I think it was bc she was so scared and upset.
We just could not bear to leave her where she was.I don't think she would have survived, bc there are coyotes around there and even though it was near water, she wouldn't go near it. We put her in our 10x10' dog pen for now. We have a kiddie pool in it and a constant water feed bowl. She got right in the pool when we put her in. So she does love water-just not where she was found.We need to build a permanent duck area yet, so if she'd be happy to be with them, we'll make it bigger to accommodate Lucy too. But we can't do that til those eggs hatch out hopefully within the next week. I'll need my dog pen back for my 7 furkids (Yorkies & Maltese), but she can use it til the ducklings are hatched as they are tiny house dogs anyway. We don't have the space for free ranging unfortunately.I told Michael I swear we could put a harness on Lucy and she'd walk down the street with us. Lol. That's how tame she is
Weird bc I tried twice putting a pic of her on here with my first post and noticed it didn't post. I'll try again on a separate post. Again, thank you.

 

[Lynn Manes]

Here is Lucy Goosey's photo. Pretty, isn't she? Any idea what breed?

 

[Miss Lydia]

Here is Lucy Goosey's photo. Pretty, isn't she? Any idea what breed?

She is either Toulouse or at least mixed with it. so pretty . I wouldn't give her grass seed most of it is treated with chemicals and that wouldn't be good for her. Try different kinds of greens I even hang heads of cabbage out for mine in winter. Our grass is sparse since we live in mountainous terrain and it's so rocky hard for grass to take root so mine get a little grass but they do eat feed and greens I buy at the store. That is such a shame someone dumped her and how awesome you were there to rescue her. I'm sure you saved her life. As for the ducks I'd do a trial run by putting her pen if you can close to the ducks pen. let them all get use to each other geese being flock animals and having the need to be with other water fowl she may take to them and them her pretty good but intros need to be done slowly and after ducklings have gotten some size to them and mamas are beginning to lose interest in them that way Lucy won't be as much of a threat. Please keep us updated on her and how things go with intro.The one goose in my avatar is Toulouse

 

[Lynn Manes]

She is either Toulouse or at least mixed with it. so pretty . I wouldn't give her grass seed most of it is treated with chemicals and that wouldn't be good for her. Try different kinds of greens I even hang heads of cabbage out for mine in winter. Our grass is sparse since we live in mountainous terrain and it's so rocky hard for grass to take root so mine get a little grass but they do eat feed and greens I buy at the store. That is such a shame someone dumped her and how awesome you were there to rescue her. I'm sure you saved her life. As for the ducks I'd do a trial run by putting her pen if you can close to the ducks pen. let them all get use to each other geese being flock animals and having the need to be with other water fowl she may take to them and them her pretty good but intros need to be done slowly and after ducklings have gotten some size to them and mamas are beginning to lose interest in them that way Lucy won't be as much of a threat. Please keep us updated on her and how things go with intro.The one goose in my avatar is Toulouse

Thank you for your helpful advise. We just googled for a pic of a Toulouse and it does look just like our Lucy-same color, same feather pattern
Do you still suggest we give her cabbage since we live in a hot climate. It's already going to be in mid 90's here this week. I would have thought it would create digestive issues, but if you've had no problems, I'm willing to give her a bit to see if she likes it. And we will definitely nix the grass seed.

 

[Miss Lydia]

Thank you for your helpful advise. We just googled for a pic of a Toulouse and it does look just like our Lucy-same color, same feather pattern
Do you still suggest we give her cabbage since we live in a hot climate. It's already going to be in mid 90's here this week. I would have thought it would create digestive issues, but if you've had no problems, I'm willing to give her a bit to see if she likes it. And we will definitely nix the grass seed.

I am giving a head of cabbage to 4 geese 9 ducks and 13 chickens so I'd try her on a small amount chopped and see how she does. I do the head in winter because it not only is some green but also gives them something to do to relieve boredom. What mine love the most is romaine lettuce heads I get them at Sams.

 

[jtn42248]

Thank you for your helpful advise. We just googled for a pic of a Toulouse and it does look just like our Lucy-same color, same feather pattern
Do you still suggest we give her cabbage since we live in a hot climate. It's already going to be in mid 90's here this week. I would have thought it would create digestive issues, but if you've had no problems, I'm willing to give her a bit to see if she likes it. And we will definitely nix the grass seed.

ROMAINE is like goose crack. Mine see me come out of the house with some and they come running and begging me to hurry up and give it to them. Cabbage? My chickens live it but my ducks and geese just can't be bothered but that may just be mine. Also, if it is in season where you live, corn on the cob and watermelon just drive mine to distraction.

 

[Lynn Manes]

ROMAINE is like goose crack. Mine see me come out of the house with some and they come running and begging me to hurry up and give it to them. Cabbage? My chickens live it but my ducks and geese just can't be bothered but that may just be mine. Also, if it is in season where you live, corn on the cob and watermelon just drive mine to distraction.

we went on a produce shopping spree yesterday. Romaine was at the top of the list.
Lucy wouldn't touch it Heaven only knows what she was used to being fed. I threw out some green bean tips too but no go. She seems to be eating the dried meal worms and chicken scratch okay although I understand this is not a good diet and she'll need the greens also. We purchased a 10x10ft pen for her also, and put sod down for her to have grass. She seems to be very happy with the soft touch under her feet, plus this will provide her grass to nibble on. I made sure before buying the sod there were no harmful pesticides in it. Watermelon is one item we bought too for all the fowl to share. Will give that a try today. Corn on the cob is still a bit pricey here, but we will be adding that crop to our own organic garden this week, so providing we get a good yield, we can share it with her too. We won't give up until we find her a healthy diet It surprises me that manufacturers make feed for all other domestic fowl, yet there is none for our geese. Thank you for your input.

 

[jtn42248]

we went on a produce shopping spree yesterday. Romaine was at the top of the list.
Lucy wouldn't touch it Heaven only knows what she was used to being fed. I threw out some green bean tips too but no go. She seems to be eating the dried meal worms and chicken scratch okay although I understand this is not a good diet and she'll need the greens also. We purchased a 10x10ft pen for her also, and put sod down for her to have grass. She seems to be very happy with the soft touch under her feet, plus this will provide her grass to nibble on. I made sure before buying the sod there were no harmful pesticides in it. Watermelon is one item we bought too for all the fowl to share. Will give that a try today. Corn on the cob is still a bit pricey here, but we will be adding that crop to our own organic garden this week, so providing we get a good yield, we can share it with her too. We won't give up until we find her a healthy diet It surprises me that manufacturers make feed for all other domestic fowl, yet there is none for our geese. Thank you for your input.

In addition to the Romaine, Watermelon and Corn on the Cob...which are more for treats then regular diet, mine are free range on 3 acres pretty much all day. So, 3 adult geese and 8 goslings wandering around chowing down on the farm. We do put out Purina Flock Raiser for the babies and the adults as well as cracked corn for the adults. So far so good on them not being picky. In another couple of weeks we will try the treats with the goslings which should be fun. The adults will know what it is and go crazy eating it. The goslings will probably have to figure things out.