Fussy Goose in Winter

[Moments]

Does anyone else's geese get fussy in the winter? Mine is ridiculous. She's an African, 10 months old and she will eat things for a brief time but then get sick of them and won't eat them. I try to give her a variety but she's so fussy that she'll only eat certain things, of certain colors (ex. she won't eat purple lettuce, acts like it's poison). She'll eat kale ... till she doesn't, lives romaine, till she doesn't.... and the list goes on. She's really fussy when it comes to fruits and vegetables, and loves her hard white wheat but that can't be the bulk of her intake. She usually likes the waterfowl feed but has been holding out for wheat and doesn't eat much of it, even if you don't give her the wheat. I thought about trying to grow fodder but the conditions inside this time of year aren't great for that. I've heard others say that geese are fussy but she really takes the cake I feel. I fed her tonight and she still seemed hungry after but I can't force food down her throat if she refuses to eat lol. I'm open to suggestions of things like and try that maybe I haven't. Seems to be holding out for certain things and I'm concerned she's not eating properly because of it.

 

[AGeese]

That's why I don't give them much, other than what they can forage. I provide them with flock raiser feed, about 3-4 scoops a day, and a seed block they work on. I do get a 5 lb bag of apples, but I only pitch them a couple a day.

 

[Goosebaby]

Some of them can be very picky! I wouldn’t worry too much unless she’s losing weight, if she’s losing weight it could be a vitamin deficiency or some kind of illness. Sometimes if something is making them feel ill they won’t want to eat much and only treats can tempt them until it worsens, and vitamin deficiencies can make their appetite vanish.

 

[Moments]

That's why I don't give them much, other than what they can forage. I provide them with flock raiser feed, about 3-4 scoops a day, and a seed block they work on. I do get a 5 lb bag of apples, but I only pitch them a couple a day.

There's no natural foraging here right now, snow and ice everywhere She doesn't care for apples except pink lady. She really is ridiculous. I offer greens cause she's really bummed there's no grass and she was fine with what I was giving her but then she was more just picking at it. When there's a lawn she basically just helps herself to grass and weeds, then eats feed as she wants. I offer treats occasionally. Where did you get your seed block and what type of seeds is it?

 

[Moments]

Some of them can be very picky! I wouldn’t worry too much unless she’s losing weight, if she’s losing weight it could be a vitamin deficiency or some kind of illness. Sometimes if something is making them feel ill they won’t want to eat much and only treats can tempt them until it worsens, and vitamin deficiencies can make their appetite vanish.

She's seeming more fussy with her behavior. She gets supplements for immune support, etc

 

[AGeese]

There's no natural foraging here right now, snow and ice everywhere She doesn't care for apples except pink lady. She really is ridiculous. I offer greens cause she's really bummed there's no grass and she was fine with what I was giving her but then she was more just picking at it. When there's a lawn she basically just helps herself to grass and weeds, then eats feed as she wants. I offer treats occasionally. Where did you get your seed block and what type of seeds is it?

I get the seed block from Theisen's, but you can order them too: https://www.kalmbachfeeds.com/products/henhouse-reserve-block

I would probably get started with fodder and see if that helps get her interest. I don't understand why you need specific conditions. You soak it twice a day and it grows in the dark.

 

[Moments]

I get the seed block from Theisen's, but you can order them too: https://www.kalmbachfeeds.com/products/henhouse-reserve-block

I would probably get started with fodder and see if that helps get her interest. I don't understand why you need specific conditions. You soak it twice a day and it grows in the dark.

Because it's very dry in my house this time of year with the type of heat we have (all my plants soil dries out really fast), I've only had room to do small batches and the water evaporates before I know it. I also am now watching my sister's cat who gets into and onto everything so any space I would have to put it on would be ransacked by her. All ways I've tried so far (before the cat) because of the type of heat we have haven't worked. Unless there's a way I can do it to keep her from ruining it/cat proof and can tolerate dry hot heat, maybe something with a cover/jar or something of the sort

 

[AGeese]

Because it's very dry in my house this time of year with the type of heat we have (all my plants soil dries out really fast), I've only had room to do small batches and the water evaporates before I know it. I also am now watching my sister's cat who gets into and onto everything so any space I would have to put it on would be ransacked by her. All ways I've tried so far (before the cat) because of the type of heat we have haven't worked. Unless there's a way I can do it to keep her from ruining it/cat proof and can tolerate dry hot heat, maybe something with a cover/jar or something of the sort

You should be able to get shelves and a cover you can close up to keep the humidity in. My skin is cracking just hearing about your situation.

 

[Moments]

You should be able to get shelves and a cover you can close up to keep the humidity in. My skin is cracking just hearing about your situation.

The only shelves I'd be able to get that don't require being on the wall are ones the cats can get on and the walls in our house are ridiculous. Hard to find sufficient studs in a good area. Yeah, the heat situation is crazy here... it's also the type of heat that causes headaches and it's dusty so there's sneezing... even the cats are... but at least we're warm right?

 

[AGeese]

The only shelves I'd be able to get that don't require being on the wall are ones the cats can get on and the walls in our house are ridiculous. Hard to find sufficient studs in a good area. Yeah, the heat situation is crazy here... it's also the type of heat that causes headaches and it's dusty so there's sneezing... even the cats are... but at least we're warm right?

I mean they have covers for the shelves for this purpose which should keep your cats out and the humidity in. I haven't looked into it, but I've seen them.