Looking for some advice ....

[squirrelbug]

Hi,

I am just thinking ahead and have a couple of "dumb" questions (I am sure), but am trying to be prepared! This year, my geese have their new night time pen which has a wood floor so they do not have any water or food. So today I got to thinking about what I was going to do when we have goslings....last year they had food and water all night long in their cage, but it was on dirt.

My main question at this time is, do they need food and water all night? I am thinking yes, they do. If so, do you think it would work to make an area that they can get into but that the adults couldn't get into or would it be easier just to have it accessible to everyone? And at what age can I go back to not having feed in their overnight cage?

Thanks a bunch!

Joanne

 

[Going Bhonkers]

My main question at this time is, do they need food and water all night? I am thinking yes, they do. If so, do you think it would work to make an area that they can get into but that the adults couldn't get into or would it be easier just to have it accessible to everyone? And at what age can I go back to not having feed in their overnight cage?

Thanks a bunch!

Joanne

I started out with week old goslings, (so no idea on what to do with anything younger) they had a cup of food in their bedtime shelter (which i suppose could be comparable to a brooder, minus a heat lamp) and 1 cup of water - the water container was larger than the food container. We left them with that until morning, food would be gone, water would be half empty (most of it spilled), then we'd give them fresh water & take them out to graze, with access to more of their food if they wanted it


^ bedtime box.

As far as, "do you think it would work to make an area that they can get into but that the adults couldn't get into or would it be easier just to have it accessible to everyone?" You could do either. I've read that some people have done your first option, the latter will probably be more messy... then again, with goslings ANYTHING is messy.

Also, regarding "at what age can I go back to not having feed in their overnight cage?" my geese still get food & water at bedtime, and they'll be a year old in April. They get only get as much as they'll finish - anything more and we end up with leftovers the next morning, we've worked it out to the exact number of scoops- and they get water over night. My geese arent terribly sloppy with their water, I guess I'm lucky because I've read so many posts describing how water goes everywhere at night

 

[CelticOaksFarm]

for the first 30 days give the goslings a nighttime box (rubber tote) with one side trimmed down so they can get in out. Place the food and water in it. This way the water mess is also contained. Once they hit 30 days old they dont really need food/water all night.

 

[squirrelbug]

Thank you so much!

Joanne