Lets talk feed.

[GrumpyOldMan]

Local feed store recommends Purina Start & Grow

exclusively until our 10 week old goslings reach 18 weeks of age. They have been on it for 4 weeks and their poop isn’t firm. They are allowed to run around the yard all day so they get St. Augustine grass also. Green feed and green grass = green poop. They are growing fast a look perfectly healthy other than the loose poop. Any suggestions / comments are welcome.

 

[chickensducks&agoose]

i want to see the poop.

 

[GrumpyOldMan]

chickensducks&agoose :

i want to see the poop.

It looks like guacamole. I have no idea if it tastes like it and I’m not going find out.

 

[arherp]

I would put them on flock raiser... don't want to get angel wing!

 

[GrumpyOldMan]

Quote:
I thought too much protean was believed to be the trigger for angle wing? If that’s the case Flock Raiser is higher in protean than Start and Grow. Are am I mistaken?

"The disease manifests as an incurable anatomical condition which is acquired in young birds. Due to a high-calorie diet, especially one high in proteins and/or low in vitamin D, vitamin E"

Flock Raiser
A 20%-protein nutrient-rich ration that provides top starting, growing and finishing nutrition for a mixed flock of chickens, ducks and geese from hatch until laying age (18-20 weeks) and for turkeys from 8-10 weeks until laying age of 18-20 weeks.

Start & Grow
An 18%-protein ration perfect for raising laying chicks from hatch to laying age (18-20 weeks).

 

[bock]

I fed my geese and ducks Flock Raiser and they did great. I tried to add oats to reduce the protein, but I ran out and kind of forgot about it after 3 weeks. They did OK though.

 

[GrumpyOldMan]

Thanks for the help guys. Right now my learning curve is straight up so I’m soaking up information like a sponge and trying to separate the good from the not so good. Flock raiser it will be.

I’ve started giving them Oat Groats as a hand fed treat, a hand full or so a day, they love it. Only problem is I need to find a decent size bag / sack. Local fees store sells a quart size zip lock plastic bags for $6.00 Seems high to me.

Edited to add: Ps. Bock, I just read your BYC page and I have news for you…You don’t have a want to be farm... You have a farm!

 

[Goosehaven]

You're right about the protein. After geese are 3 weeks old the protein level should be dropped anywhere from around 14-18 percent. I use a combo of 17 percent plain old chick grower from a grain store and combine it with Mazuri waterfowl maintenance food which is around 14 percent. I was trying to convert them totally over to that but they mine are taking to that too fast. Honestly I'm thinking the chick grower is just as good and much, much less expensive. I wouldn't know why your geese wouldn't have more formed poop some of the time but if they eat well and act fine I wouldn't worry about it. Just a little messier for you in the yard. Geese go back and forth anyway between big splats of gummy poop to formed. They all have green poop when they start on grasses so that part is normal. Maybe the type of grass you mention causes it to be loose because of the richness of the grass?? I've never heard of St Augustine grass so I have no idea. Either way your geese are beautiful and appear to be quite healthy

 

[zazouse]

Quote:
It looks like guacamole. I have no idea if it tastes like it and I’m not going find out.

I use flock raiser exclusively for my ducks,guineas,chickens and geese, they are totally free range and i have never had a case of angle wing;

I see from your location you may be having allot of rain like we are, the extra water gets them digging in the puddles this extra intake of fluids with increase the liquid in the poop, it's normal

 

[GrumpyOldMan]

Quote:
Actually some times it is but most often it isn’t. Thanks for the reply it reinforced what I was thinking and makes me feel better about their health.

St. Augustine grass is similar to Centipede grass. It’s a runner type with wider longer blades than Centipede that grows faster than Centipede. Its widely used around here for lawns.