grazing time?

[Billy-jean]

Is it ok to allow my 2 geese out for a couple hours a day to graze,and that's it? here's my problem...I have a huge lawn,but I keep my birds in a huge enclosure,and never have allowed them out of there, I don't want poop all over our lawn as we have 2 young children and I just don't want that mess. Also,our dogs would not leave them alone if they came out!! So I want to get a portable fencing that I can allow the 2 geese to come out,and graze for a couple hours a day. Is this enough for them? I really don't wasn't to give them up because they don't get enough grass in their diet. They seem perfectly happy, and love me, and are so affectionate..I REALLY don't want to give them to someone else (
But at the same time,we don't want a huge mess of poop all over the place, as they have a huge area already that is given to them..my husband feels like my hobby/interest in my birds will soon consume the whole yard,and it's just not fair to the kids.
So,,,anyone have advice? If I have to give hem up,It would break my heart,but if an hour or 2 of grass isn't enough,then I will have no choice ((((

 

[larkflying]

I believe that adult geese are supposed to have most of their diet in grass and greens -- they are more like cows then they are chickens, so more time eating grass would be better. My geese love the stuff. You can also feed them leftover lettuce, watermelon rinds and other greens in their pen and that will help with some of their feed requirements too. It is possible that you could block off some areas in their pen, plant grass, and then rotate when the geese can get in to eat it -- that way they always have some fresh greens.

I use a portable electric netting for poultry -- keeps my geese/chickens/ducks where they are supposed to be. You can find cheap, non electric versions at feed and hardware stores, but it isn't good for protection from predators such as stray dogs. I have a lot of stray dogs around here, which is why I had to use the electrified stuff -- more spendy, but nice for peace of mind.
Once you have it set up, I'd think your birds could use it all day. I just move it every few days when the geese have eaten the grass down a bit.

 

[Goose and Fig]

Goose poop is way better than dog poop! You just hit it with the hose and its instant lawn patch.

We have little kids too, and no issues with them sharing the grass, except maybe in breeding season when the ganders get crabby.

 

[CelticOaksFarm]

Our geese have full run of all green space here. We have an 18 month old who goes outside and helps with chores ect. No issue with the poo since it washes away.

Geese need 90% of their diet to be grazing, so keeping them locked up and not providing that may effect their over all appearance, health and life span as well.

 

[ChristineR]

You could always get the portable fencing and move it around the yard as it gets grazed down. Then the geese would always have grass and the dogs and kids would be separate.

 

[Billy-jean]

ok,,thanks for the replies
I want to make sure \i'm doing the right thing. What do you guys do in the winter when there's no grass? that's another concern of mine ..

 

[Goose and Fig]

I grow raised beds of wheat grass and turnip greens, grow sprouts in my southern windows, and buy lots of greens from the produce dept during winter. By then they will all have their nice feathers and will be storing up to start laying eggs.

I think the most critical time for them to be grazing is as soon as they hatch and through summer and fall when they are growing and getting those feathers. Its only natural that they can get by on less pasture in the winter, or nobody with seasons would be able to keep them.

 

[CelticOaksFarm]

Can't help you on winter, we have thick green grass year round.

 

[Billy-jean]

I could use alfalfa hay in the winter as well,,,,plus added store bought greens...

 

[zooweemama]

We also do not have grass all year. Basically from about March- May and that's it. The rest of the year we have dead brown grass and dirt dirt dirt. The geese are finding little patches here and there right now, I daily give them a salad (whatever greens I have on hand- turnip, kale, chard, mustard, lettuces- all dark green kinds and sometimes even micro greens if I happen to have some- even basil and leftover herbs they plow through) and then their Mazuri feed. I figured if I couldn't provide them with as much grass as most other states seem to be able to naturally I needed to buy the good feed and offer extra salads. But they have been finding little patches of green here and there.