Raising geese in the southwest?

[nao57]

So... Had a few geese questions. I don't have geese right now. But I would like to do them someday.

One thing I have to ask about... is it possible to raise geese and train them to eat sage brush and southwest deserty plants? (And yes, assuming there is a water source elsewhere).

I want to ask this because people can and HAVE done this with sheep and cows. So if one kind of livestock can do it... couldn't another one also do it?

Well... I'd like to see if someone has tried this. Like the kind of terrain you'd see in like AZ, NM kind of rural terrain in harsher areas.

Thank you

 

[IvysAnimals]

Geese are waterfowl, so they will need a constant supply of fresh water, especially if it's a warm desert. Desert plants won't provide enough nutrition for geese, since a goose's diet consists of mostly grasses and plants found in grassy and wooded habitats. Geese aren't naturally found in dry, hot deserts, so they will need to be given extra care. They will need feed that is specially made for waterfowl, plenty of shade and water, and a safe place to rest.

 

[JRies]

So... Had a few geese questions. I don't have geese right now. But I would like to do them someday.

One thing I have to ask about... is it possible to raise geese and train them to eat sage brush and southwest deserty plants? (And yes, assuming there is a water source elsewhere).

I want to ask this because people can and HAVE done this with sheep and cows. So if one kind of livestock can do it... couldn't another one also do it?

Well... I'd like to see if someone has tried this. Like the kind of terrain you'd see in like AZ, NM kind of rural terrain in harsher areas.

Thank you

Im in Colorado on a windy dry sandy hill that dont grow much. Well at lest through the drought we have had for 2 years. I sprout for mine, get clean grass clippings from a friend who cuts yards and knows no chemicals have been put on them. They do get some pasture grass for a few months in the spring and fall. They wouldn't touch tumbleweed But when i get it there is allways grass growing under it (rabbits wouldnt go near it) so I pull it they love following me when I pull it up. Sagebrush no way if you ask mine. If you really want geese there are ways to create a diet plan for them but western weeders there not. Mine have learned to love Bindweed root. Wouldn't touch the plant but dig for the root. Lots of holes in the yard.

 

[nao57]

Im in Colorado on a windy dry sandy hill that dont grow much. Well at lest through the drought we have had for 2 years. I sprout for mine, get clean grass clippings from a friend who cuts yards and knows no chemicals have been put on them. They do get some pasture grass for a few months in the spring and fall. They wouldn't touch tumbleweed But when i get it there is allways grass growing under it (rabbits wouldnt go near it) so I pull it they love following me when I pull it up. Sagebrush no way if you ask mine. If you really want geese there are ways to create a diet plan for them but western weeders there not. Mine have learned to love Bindweed root. Wouldn't touch the plant but dig for the root. Lots of holes in the yard.

Wow thank you. Yes... it would work with something like making sprouts for them! You have a workable solution!

On sprouts. I know how to do that. But what I'm not sure of also is... how much variety of sprouts do you need? Could you get by with maybe a barley sprouts with maybe 10 or 20% sunflower seeds? Or do you need more than that? I'm curious how much more diverse you'd need to go with them?

This is cool what you did.

 

[nao57]

Geese are waterfowl, so they will need a constant supply of fresh water, especially if it's a warm desert. Desert plants won't provide enough nutrition for geese, since a goose's diet consists of mostly grasses and plants found in grassy and wooded habitats. Geese aren't naturally found in dry, hot deserts, so they will need to be given extra care. They will need feed that is specially made for waterfowl, plenty of shade and water, and a safe place to rest.

Thank you. Yes. Your comment ... makes me think that by itself it wouldn't be good enough. And southwest is terribly dry and raw heat.

Adaptations would be needed. Thank you for speaking up.

 

[JRies]

Wow thank you. Yes... it would work with something like making sprouts for them! You have a workable solution!

On sprouts. I know how to do that. But what I'm not sure of also is... how much variety of sprouts do you need? Could you get by with maybe a barley sprouts with maybe 10 or 20% sunflower seeds? Or do you need more than that? I'm curious how much more diverse you'd need to go with them?

This is cool what you did.

Mine prefer barley but I cant always get it the feed store orders it for me occasionally I have to wait a few weeks. They prefer it on day 3-4 with no waste. and the wonderful smell it makes in my house. when I cant get barley I do whole wheat. I read allot about the malting process of grains and how they change. Day 3-4 gives them the best quality the grain has to offer in vitamins and nutrition without the benefit of soil.. the evening before I feed the sprout I add sunflower and or safflower shelled seeds But only during laying and breeding season or molt. It ups there protein and E but you dont want to give allot just a sprinkle. Barley is 18% protein I also crush a Niacin tablet and mix it in. Im feeding 19 geese (1 500mg tablet) in the winter and close to 30-40 (2 500mg tablets) in the summers. The also have free choice to duck pellets grass hay and grain mixture of crimped oats and wheat.
My system takes me about 5 min a day.

 

[nao57]

Very cool.

Well I haven't looked at barley prices this year. But LAST year, barley was typically about 1/3 the cost of wheat when you'd go buy those like, 40 or 50 pound bags. Sunflower seeds were always a lot more than barley seed for sprouts also. But I'd found sunflower seeds don't sprout uniform in timely fashion at the same time like barley and wheat does.

Thank you.

 

[JRies]

Very cool.

Well I haven't looked at barley prices this year. But LAST year, barley was typically about 1/3 the cost of wheat when you'd go buy those like, 40 or 50 pound bags. Sunflower seeds were always a lot more than barley seed for sprouts also. But I'd found sunflower seeds don't sprout uniform in timely fashion at the same time like barley and wheat does.

Thank you.

I tried sprouting sunflower seeds they still wouldn't touch them. you buy the shelled to add them only when you need them breeding season and molt. Most feed places carry them in the wild bird food area. But there really not necessary. I raise heavyweight geese who have lower fertility than the smaller breeds. I just haven't found a better way of getting vitamin E to my ganders for breeding season. I bought a 50 pound bag last fall and I still have about 10 pounds left. It dose not take much. Barley where I am at is 1/3 more than the cost of wheat. I can still get wheat for 14 dollars the barley is 22 for 50 pounds.
There are many breeds of geese my guess is you will find the one you want to raise and do great by them.