I have two 10 week old geese, unsexed. I would like to know what normal growth rates are for them.
Background:
Same dad, probably different mothers. They were sold to me as pilgrim geese, I don't know how accurate that is because the seller's flock was not colour true and she inherited the geese with the property, no history. My geese resemble their dad. We don't have many goose breeds in New Zealand though so maybe they are indeed pilgrims.
Issue:
While reasonably similar in stature, one of them has gained 300 grams over the past two weeks, now weighing 2.9kg. The other has gained 1.1kg, now weighing 4.6kg. This significant difference is why I'm concerned. They had a vet check two weeks ago and he said they were both in excellent health. He could not find a reason for their weight difference back then and said that the lighter one was well covered with fat and muscle. They are both still well covered.
So what is a normal growth rate for a pilgrim goose?
Before you ask:
They were the same size at hatching, one started growing faster than the other at about 2 weeks. They get three cooked meals a day which include maize meal, oats, boiled egg, mixed vegetables, and rice; I make enough that there will always be leftovers to reduce competition. They also get Sharpes duckling food and I give them a daily Niacin supplement. During the day they forage a mixed sward of edible plants and at night they sleep inside in a crate . None of them have shown any sign of ill health and I have had them since they were less than 24 hours old.
Background:
Same dad, probably different mothers. They were sold to me as pilgrim geese, I don't know how accurate that is because the seller's flock was not colour true and she inherited the geese with the property, no history. My geese resemble their dad. We don't have many goose breeds in New Zealand though so maybe they are indeed pilgrims.
Issue:
While reasonably similar in stature, one of them has gained 300 grams over the past two weeks, now weighing 2.9kg. The other has gained 1.1kg, now weighing 4.6kg. This significant difference is why I'm concerned. They had a vet check two weeks ago and he said they were both in excellent health. He could not find a reason for their weight difference back then and said that the lighter one was well covered with fat and muscle. They are both still well covered.
So what is a normal growth rate for a pilgrim goose?
Before you ask:
They were the same size at hatching, one started growing faster than the other at about 2 weeks. They get three cooked meals a day which include maize meal, oats, boiled egg, mixed vegetables, and rice; I make enough that there will always be leftovers to reduce competition. They also get Sharpes duckling food and I give them a daily Niacin supplement. During the day they forage a mixed sward of edible plants and at night they sleep inside in a crate . None of them have shown any sign of ill health and I have had them since they were less than 24 hours old.
sweet babies
