Goose food

[AliciaM]

Can 5-6 week old gosslings eat chicken layer pellet?

Ive just moved my baby geese to the chicken yard since they outgrew there brooder pen. The chickens took to them great and they follow the chickens all around learning the ropes. The chickens have layer pellets and calcium out at all times. Is it ok if the geese eat layer pellets?
When I put them up at night, the geese are going into a seperate small pen, but during the day will be free ranging.. Im debating on letting them spend the night in the chicken coop with the rest of the flock..
THe flock consists of about 12 adult hens, 1 rooster, 6 young silkies and 8 pullets around 3 months old. The coop/shed is plenty big enough for all with room to spare.. Oh, and let me not forget the 5 call ducks.. but there not allowed to free range until I clip wings..

Anyway.. about the layer pellets?

Thanks.

 

[Denninmi]

As long as its not medicated started food, chicken food is ok at least short term. Long term they need a little more protein -- chicken layer is usually 16%, the goose and duck grower/maintenance pellets sold here are 18%. But more importantly, waterfowl need more niacin -- once again, short term, a week or two, certainly won't hurt them. If I run out of somebody's food, I just use someone else's until I can get to the feed store. And, I think my older hens are laying better on turkey grower 22% protein with free access to oyster shell than they did on the 16% layer pellets.

 

[Gator113]

Quote:
Where are you folks getting the niacin? Does it come in the feed or are you buying a separate product?

 

[Balbinka]

Quote:
Where are you folks getting the niacin? Does it come in the feed or are you buying a separate product?

Both.

I feed Purina Flock Raiser which has niacin in it, but I add a variety of fresh grass and greens every day.
Balbinka also gets scratch grains and fruit.

Something more typical for one to add, however, is brewers yeast (its incredibly high in niacin) if you cannot offer your geese a lot of variety.

 

[GarlicEater]

They like grass, grass, grass, grass, grass, ..... and Styrofoam.