How much hay should I buy?

[flockman]

I live in Northern IN. Now this last year we had an exceptionally warm winter. Most years we are frozen for weeks at a time with snow. You never know what you will get.

My question is how much hay would a pair of geese need for the winter. Winter being from the time grass is covered by snow till new grass grows. Up to 6 months in a cold year. This will be my first winter with geese. This is my biggest concern for the winter.

I plan to plant winter wheat or oats to lengthen the grazing season.

If you have any idea please let me know.
Thanks!

 

[Kevin565]

How big is your pen?

 

[flockman]

The indoor space for the geese is about 14 by 16 a stall in a bank barn. The outdoor area/pasture is an acre.

 

[flockman]

How much hay do you put out for your geese each day? Having had horses and donkeys in the past I know how much to feed them but geese are new. I have seen that I should not buy alfalfa hay. Is that because geese don't like it? Too much stems? Or is it bad for them? Thank you for any input.

 

[Oregon Blues]

Are you sure your geese will eat hay? Mine won't eat it. You might want to buy a test bale to see if they like it before you purchase an entire winter's worth.

I buy orchard grass hay for my geese. Not to eat. It makes great bedding for their nests during laying season.

 

[flockman]

Good point. What else should I feed with their feed? Alfalfa pellets? Other suggestions? I will try some hay first.

 

[flockman]

I also am planning to supplement with greens and maybe sprouted oats.

 

[zooweemama]

Good topic. We do not get snow- just rain and we do get some greens sprout up a wee bit but I am definitely going to need to supplement. Watering parts of the yard a lot has brought on sprouting grass yay! And I supplement with greens I buy from Costco. Romaine chopped but now they are carrying huge bags of organic baby kale for like $4? I bought several bags and give them a few giant handfuls in their pool everyday. This method would be extremely costly for more than 2 geese though.

 

[Cottage Rose]

You don't have to feed your geese any hay during the winter months and mine never liked alfafa pellets.
If you feed alfalfa hay most of it goes to waste because they bascially only eat the leaves.
If you can find some nice grass hay that will work better with less waste.
I do feed hay on and off throughout the winter months but it's more like a treat and for them to have something to nibble on.
Your geese will be just fine on prepared rations and whole grains. No hay is needed.
I feed 1 part Kent multi flock pellets and 1 part whole oats duing the winter months.
If the weather if really cold a HANDFUL of sunflower seeds, cracked corn or scratch feed at night is OK
but go easy on the corn. See my websites tip page for more info on feedingwaterfowl. Hope this helps!

 

[zooweemama]

You don't have to feed your geese any hay during the winter months and mine never liked alfafa pellets.
If you feed alfalfa hay most of it goes to waste because they bascially only eat the leaves.
If you can find some nice grass hay that will work better with less waste.
I do feed hay on and off throughout the winter months but it's more like a treat and for them to have something to nibble on.
Your geese will be just fine on prepared rations and whole grains. No hay is needed.
I feed 1 part Kent multi flock pellets and 1 part whole oats duing the winter months.
If the weather if really cold a HANDFUL of sunflower seeds, cracked corn or scratch feed at night is OK
but go easy on the corn. See my websites tip page for more info on feedingwaterfowl. Hope this helps!

I feed Mazuri Maintenance which is already fairly low in protein. In the winter should I just feed that and offer them anything else for extra protein or greens? I am afraid if I cut the Maintenance the protein levels will get too low. I know they will wander around finding some tidbits on their own- we have 2 acres they will roam around on.