Geese don’t have a crop like chickens, but their throat can stretch a bit and function a little similarly, however food still doesn’t stay in the crop for long so there isn’t a risk of developing sour crop from being fed at night.
Offering food at night has benefits and drawbacks, they can make a mess so if you’re going to give food in their coop placing their bowl in a bus pan or some other bin can do a lot to keep them from tossing feed everywhere.
They’ll need water while eating, and smaller buckets they’ll easily tip, 5 gallon buckets they can’t tip as easily or take baths in as well, any smaller or larger is messier.
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Non laying geese should not be given feed with added calcium. Calcium is hard for the kidneys to filter and if the body isn’t useing it to produce an egg it can start building up in the bloodstream and cause kidney and pancreatic impairment, and eventually organ failure.
Calcium can actually bind nutrients “as well as toxins” so it has the potential to actually restrict nutrient absorption in the body “if the calcium isn’t being used” also.
Sometimes it’s easier to feed them a standard all flock or multiflock type feed and offer oystershell or crushed eggshells in a separate bowl.
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Appropriate protein percentage can vary by breed and by the time of year. You can get away with feeding geese 20% protein regardless of breed and age year round if they’re getting out to forage and excercise every day, if not you’ll need to monitor their weight and adjust their feed more.
I have mostly large breed geese with a few medium to smallish geese, year round they’re fed Purina flock raiser and nutrena all flock and they do fine.
A more in depth guide.
Larger breeds need a higher protein content than smaller breeds. 20% to 22% protein for breeds like French Toulouse, Embden, Super Africans “17 to 20 pounds.”
Medium breeds can range between 17% to 20% for breeds like American Buff, hatchery Africans, hatchery Toulouse, Pilgrims, “13 to 17 pounds.”
Small breeds range between 17% to 20%, breeds like Chinese, Sebastopol, and Romans “10 to 14 pounds.”
Smaller breeds can put on weight more easily on a high protein feed so they need more monitoring and adjusting.
Goslings require more protein while growing. When birds are molting they’ll need more protein and sometimes calcium. If they’re laying they'll need more protein and calcium. If it’s cold they’ll need more protein. If it’s warm and they aren’t molting or growing they’ll require less protein.
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Higher carbs and protein consumption has been linked to developing angel wing in goslings, but there’s also a genetic factor. You can have a gaggle of siblings all eat the same feed and one may develop it and the rest may not. Some geese can have a more sensitive metabolism than others. Breed can play a factor, sometimes higher protein is to rich for smaller breed or mixed breed goslings, sometimes they do just fine.
Angel wing is caused by developing blood filled quills becoming temporarily too heavy for the muscles and bones to support, leading to the wrist bones twisting. If caught early it is easily corrected by wrapping the affected wings for 3 or 4 days.
“I’ve also suspected that
not enough protein and carbs can also cause angel wing because the bones are weak from malnutrition, but there’s no way to know without it being studied.”
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Ganders do have a different voice than the girls, but it isn’t as drastic as it is in ducks. Ganders tend to have a deeper but louder pitch, the girls have a lighter but more piercing pitch. However Chinese and Africans “Anser cygnoides derived breeds” have a different voice than Anser anser derived breeds “which are what I have” so I couldn’t tell you how to differentiate between Chinese or African voices.
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Geese are generally parasite free so annual worming isn’t necessary unless you know there’s a heavy parasite presence in your yard or you suspect your birds are infected. Ivermectin is a broad spectrum wormer, though I’ve heard reports of it being ineffective for some people, so it’s possible that being around so long there’s some resistance developing.
Other good options are fendbendazole “safeguard horse or goat wormer” and albendazole, though albendazole is a little pricey.
For coccidia periodically treating their water with Corid is a general good idea. Once or twice a year is typical. Note that Corid is ineffective if you’re administering b vitamins while the birds are undergoing treatment.
In my opinion If you have a very ill bird that has coccidia it’s better to treat them with toltrazuril because you can also give them b vitamins because it won’t counteract the toltrazuril. It’s unfortunately pricey also though.
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There aren’t any communication guides out there that I know of unfortunatly.
Here’s some of what I’ve observed and what I think they mean:
Honking is a greeting/ an “all is well,” a way of calling to others, to locate others, and an expression of excitement/joy.
Chattering is...? If they’re chattering it’s usually a sign everything’s all right.
Females can do a high pitched rapid chatter, it’s sort of like a war cry that riles up the ganders into attacking.
Neck quivering is a sign of nervousness and sometimes mild irritation.
Hissing is a threat/ warning
Pointing “head lowered, beak pointing” is a more serious warning and sometimes a threat.
Head raised upwards pointing is suspicion, excitement, “or both” or asking for whatever you’re holding.
Tail wagging is excitement or sometimes just tail adjusting their feathers.
Ruffling the feathers can be just adjusting their feathers, sometimes ganders will do that as aggressive posturing.
Standing alongside, touching the ground or bowing the neck is a romantic display.
A soft “heh or haaaa” chirp while gazing at you is a happy sound/ asking for a treat.
A low “heh heh heh” while staring at something intently is an alert that what they’re staring at is scary, possibly very dangerous.
Tucking a head under the wing is sleepiness.
If standing while head is tucked but eye is open it can mean sleepiness, but from what I’ve seen with mine it’s usually a sign that they are depressed because someone was mean to them or they don’t feel well.
Standing with legs slightly staggered with their neck slightly arched can be a sign they don’t feel well/ stomach discomfort.
