Need help with dropped off geese

[glenntwo]

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I can try and get a few pictures of them. I havent seen them myself. I ran into her at the post office and she was telling me about them. What will the corn do to them? I told her she needed to call around and see if anyone is willing to take them, people who already have ducks and geese. She doesnt have a computer at the house, she goes to the library whenever she uses it. I will try to go over there tomorrow morning and tell her about the feed. She just mentioned that someone dropped them off at her pond and that they were too stupid to do anything. Said they cant swim and wont even eat the corn she gave them. I know with chickens your not suppose to give them corn/scratch in the summer as it heats them up. And you dont want to overheat them. I knew they would need some kind of food, but like I said, I know nothing about geese. I told her to call someone and then go down to TSC and ask about the feed. Not sure what ever happened.

Thanks for everyones help.

Down here around Austin, we use Capitol Feeds for our waterfowl pellets, and you should be able to find it in Waco also. Just call the local feed stores and ask. Its about 13 bucks for a 50# bag. Cheap and they'll love it. Mine eat less than a pound a day, combined with grazing, so no need to put out more than a tray full for them to munch on.

 

[glenntwo]

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Thankfully, with the wet winter and spring we had here in Texas that's not a problem. Up north of me, where these guys are at it should be pretty lush right now. I know mine are loving it, just wandering around eating whenever they want.

 

[Goosehaven]

My Roman gander was a drop off at our house a year and a half ago most likely because we live on a lake. He hadn't been around water either obviously because it took him around 3 weeks or so to actually gain enough courage to get in the lake and swim. He would stand at the waters edge and drink, then started bathing in it prior to that but it took him forever to swim. My other five geese we bought later were not raised around water either but they got in almost immediately because they watched my gander do it. In my experience with my geese I can say they absolutely love the water and swim and bathe in it multiple times per day.

As far as supplemental food, it would be a good idea for her to at least get some 15-17 percent chick grower at the very least since we don't know how good the grazing is. If grass/weeds are tough, long and not mowed the nutritional value is poor and can leave domestic geese malnourished. If she is unwilling or unable to watch over the geese and have a secure area to keep them safe from predators at night it probably is a good idea to look for another home.

 

[RAREROO]

I dont think a previous question that I would also like to know the answer to has been aswered yet, Why should corn never be fed to geese ?

 

[dieselgrl48]

I had Toulouse geese and We fed our's Corn.Along with scratch grain's cracked corn treat's and they free ranged too.Sometime's they would steal free choice grower ration's from the other bird's.Never had any health issue's with them.Geese are fairly natural forager's but if you plan on keeping them penned they need some source of protien if they can't get to natural vegetation/bug's/minnows etc.

 

[sillysister74]

I think more the issue is that a corn only or scatch only diet is dangerous as geese needs more in the way of nutrients. If a goose has access to a variety of grasses and other vegetation, feeding cracked corn would be a good extra.

 

[redhen]

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Why cant they EVER have corn....
My geese like to chew on a cobb of corn every so often.....
Will it kill them or something?? Just wondering...
And my ducks like it too....

 

[RAREROO]

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Thats what I was wondering if it was something along those lines, or if it will poison them or something, like with Japanese Onagadori longtail fowl, they cant be fed corn or any kind of grain really other than brown rice, or they will be poisoned from gluten build up, but I think it takes maybe two years to kill them.

But my ducks free range and I feed them cracked corn sometimes and have never had any problems, and I just got my first geese a few weeks ago and I have given them a little corn also and they seem to like it and I wouldnt think they should be much different than ducks. They also free range too btw and have access to plenty of crass and vegatation.

 

[Goat_Walker]

Ok - i skimmed through this since im about to fall asleep as i type but i have a few questions -


I have three , 3 - 4 month old chinese geese. Mine free range from 8 am - 8 pm but when i put corn out for the ducks they go crazy for it. they also go crazy for the starter/ grower that i put in a bowl out in the yard ( I currently have about 30 ducklings running around with their mom's ).


Just wondering since my geese seem fine and healthy. they run around and flap their wings, talk to me non-stop and are just now getting their little honks in!


So is corn bad??? I love my geese and I guess I just havent learned much yet

Is there anything else i need to be feeding them? I mean im pretty sure they have a nice well rounded diet. and they LOVE the kiddie pools. are in them almost every time i go outside.

 

[sillysister74]

Corn is fine but it makes them fat and lazy and does not provide all the nutrition they need. They get most from grasses and weeds they forage and the occasional bug they gobble down when chewing on mud, dirt and the like. Any fruit and veggie scraps that you have, throw them out there. Bread is a good treat but it is like potato chips so make it for treats. Mine love watermelon and cantelope rind and the scaps off of mangos. I would bust grapes if you put them out there. Apple cores are great. Mini disposals!!! as lond as it is not moldy or rotten it is good. I think the corn warning and scatch warning is mostly if you do not have any other vegetation that you give them. When I see that the four I have have a lot of green grass and weeds then I don't give so much scratch and corn.

I forgot to add they love boiled eggs!!!! I don't too much because of the protien issue but they will eat shell in all if you bust them open.

If you get squirrell corn it is a game to try and get the kernels out. They love toys they can eat!

I would not worry about corn, infact if you have fressh corn the silks are a special treat. Usually God made the goose smart, if they cannot eat it usually they won't.