Food and Water at Night for Goslings

[plantcityhomestead]

My goslings are nearly 2 months old now, and have reached that terribly messy stage. I have been leaving food and water in their pen at night, but by morning they are absolutely filthy. They are not quite old enough for the big pen, where the adults are locked away from food and water at night. They are out free ranging 12 hours a day now, and are exhausted by bedtime. Do you think it would be alright to leave them without food and water overnight?

Cindy

 

[Goose and Fig]

I take the nighttime feed away from mine away as soon as they move outside- about 2 weeks old, usually. My compost pile is big enough without that mess!

 

[plantcityhomestead]

I take the nighttime feed away from mine away as soon as they move outside- about 2 weeks old, usually. My compost pile is big enough without that mess!

Thank you for taking away my guilty feelings.

Had to laugh at the compost pile. Mine always grows fastest when I have goslings, but boy does it produce good compost. It is amazing how much waste those little guys produce, but they are eating all day long.

 

[1MrsMagoo]

Yep: They sure make some nice compost...lol. I actually take the litter/bedding from my duck and goose housing and mulch my fruit trees with it: It keeps down weeds, helps keep in moisture, and they have grown like mad since I started doing it.

I also take away food and water at night after two weeks of age. They have all survived this treatment to date. It keeps their house A LOT cleaner for a lot longer.

 

[plantcityhomestead]

So glad to get more reassurance. I will definitely remove food and water earlier next year. Now if I could just keep the geese from eating my garden all that compost would have something to grow.

Between geese and chickens, somebody always ends up eating the garden. I need to learn to close the gate every time.

 

[Miss Lydia]

So glad to get more reassurance. I will definitely remove food and water earlier next year. Now if I could just keep the geese from eating my garden all that compost would have something to grow.

Between geese and chickens, somebody always ends up eating the garden. I need to learn to close the gate every time.

I have had to buy the plastic chicken wire from Lowes to keep things I really want to save from being eaten or trampled by the goose, ducks and chickens. It's easy for me to put up myself and doesn't look bad either.

 

[plantcityhomestead]

I have had to buy the plastic chicken wire from Lowes to keep things I really want to save from being eaten or trampled by the goose, ducks and chickens. It's easy for me to put up myself and doesn't look bad either.

Miss Lydia, I have a fence around the garden. I learned the hard way the first year I had poultry to fence it in, but I keep leaving the gate open and it seems like word spreads quickly among the birds when I forget to close it. I am sure they have a special call just for the garden gate.

 

[Pgw]

You guys are free ranging? Do you not need to worry about hawks or owls? I guess a full adult goose is too large? My goslings are 51/2 weeks old and want to let them out to free range even with me there but am worried about hawks and owls. I have every predator except bears and mountain lions.

 

[Pgw]

Great advice on food take away at night! It's been so hot here I do leave water.