Question on feeding geese

[SkyWarrior]

Okay, complete noob here. I'm going to ask stupid questions.

I have a couple of mystery gosling chicks right now who are eating crumbles with my baby chicks. I also give them lettuce, grass clippings, dandelion leaves and leftover salad. I just read that Layena is BAD for geese but I really would like to keep my geese in with my chickens because 1. They like the chicks and 2. They're growing up to be guard geese.

Here are my questions:

So, when I switch to a flock feeder, will that be okay for the geese?
When I switch to a laying ration for the hens, what should I feed the geese and how should I keep them out of the chickens' feed?

What do you suggest?

Thanks in advance!!

 

[marathonmultiplesmom]

Quote:
Hey there... first off, medicated feed crumbles are not good for geese so if your chicks are getting medicated, separate them. Well, its a good idea to separate them anyway because geese are water fowl and need a water dish that they can completely submerge their heads in. If you put that in with chickens, your chicks will drown. I am feeding my goslings "flock raiser" with grass and clover sprinkled on top. If you want them to be familiar with the chicks then maybe you can put a wire screen between them in the brooder so that each bird gets its own needs met.


On a side note... I love your pic... zachary quinto as spock is my secret crush

 

[SkyWarrior]

Quote:
The chick crumbles they are eating are not

medicated, so the food should be okay in terms of the medication/not medicated thing. People around here are paranoid about adding medications to their animals because a lot of them are raising organic or at least no antibiotics/no hormones animals.

So far, other than completely submerging their heads in water, perhaps they're okay for now?

And thank you!

 

[marathonmultiplesmom]

yeah, they are probably fine. Maybe just take them out for a swim once a day and it will work. I let my goslings swim in the koi pond but a bath tub will work.

 

[SkyWarrior]

Quote:
LOL!

Little cold for that here in Montana! We got snow on the 13th:

http://www.associatedcontent.com/video/674464/missoula_montana_spring_snowstorm_on.html?cat=8

It's a bit chilly to take the kids out to a kiddy pool. I'm thinking when we get temperatures consistently above 70F I'll have a pool for them to splash around in.

 

[marathonmultiplesmom]

Wow! You're not kiddin'

We had a really mild winter in my area in Washington State. I just automatically figure if you've got goslings then it must be Spring-Like... LOL! Well, you're bath tub is warm at least?
We like to pan for gold sometimes and I've got one of my gold pans out there in the brooder full of water for goslings. Its the perfect size and shape for them to get in and out ok. I was thinking maybe a litter box but the edges are steep and hard for little legs to get in and out of... especially the first day or so when they are still weak and flopping around.

 

[danielle82]

My Geese were raised with my chickens and they are still together. They are fine. I used to let the goslings go in the bathtub before they were living outside, and it was sooooo cute to watch them play "water monster" with eachother. (If letting them in your bathtub, be forewarned...big clean-up job when they are done! LOL)

 

[SkyWarrior]

Quote:
Just out of curiosity -- how do you keep their feed separate (if you have laying hens)? Would love to know!

 

[SkyWarrior]

Quote:
Our temperatures have been all over the board. We've had near 70s and then drops to 20s at night with 30s in the daytime. So, it's really just standard springtime in the Rockies.

I've got all the little guys in the unheated barn with the brooder lamp and they're more or less happy.

Unfortunately, I have a sneezing turkey chick, so I've got to go into town tomorrow and buy antibiotics for the whole brood since they've all been exposed to the little guy.

It might just be allergies, but I really can't chance it.