Toulouse Geese Thread

[Miss Lydia]

Well I brought her home!!!!

Thanks for the fodder lead! I spent an hour or so immersed in information and started putting together materials I already have.

What is niacin? Do you know why they need it?

Adorable, Congrats... https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/...ies-in-goslings-ducklings-growth-leg-problems

 

[pete55]

Essential trace element for waterfowl. Usual sources are greens and brewers yeast. Inadequate amounts in diet will lead to leg weakness.

Do try to supplement with grass dandelions clover etc.

 

[gryeyes]

Well I brought her home!!!! Thanks for the fodder lead! I spent an hour or so immersed in information and started putting together materials I already have. What is niacin? Do you know why they need it?

The easiest way to add niacin is to buy powdered Brewers Yeast and sprinkle some over their feed two or three times a week. Waterfowl need more niacin (a vitamin) than chickens or they can develop weakened legs and muscles. I guess that's really "not develop strong legs and muscles" when it's missing from their diets. Toulouse are really mellow geese. (Except in breeding season and when raising babies, but even then the fights and challenges are less combative than some other breeds.) I just love mine. Your little girl is adorable!

 

[kukupecpec]

Can she get her niacin from fodder greens? Or will I definitely need to supplement?
Should I start it right now?

 

[gryeyes]

Well, I started from second feeding, and it won't hurt her to supplement with it, but if you don't supplement,it MIGHT cause damage. Why risk it? Niacin can also be found in bugs, by the way. Especially in the chitinous or hard shelled kind like beetles. I think that's just so clever of Nature to make insects something necessary for juvenile waterfowl to develop correctly.

 

[Miss Lydia]

Well, I started from second feeding, and it won't hurt her to supplement with it, but if you don't supplement,it MIGHT cause damage. Why risk it?

Niacin can also be found in bugs, by the way. Especially in the chitinous or hard shelled kind like beetles. I think that's just so clever of Nature to make insects something necessary for juvenile waterfowl to develop correctly.

I don't think my geese eat many bugs though. I use brewers yeast also .

 

[kukupecpec]

How cool!
Well I raise meal worms for my chickens, and when I empty a drawer to start fresh they LOVE the beetles. I'll have to see if this little gosling has the same taste for them!!!

 

[Nyssa03]

you all reminded me that last year we had an over- abundance of grasshoppers --- out little goslings went after them like they were the greatest things in the world! LOL

 

[kukupecpec]

So my little gosling hasn't had anything to eat or drink today. I have it out and available for her, and I dipped her bill in to show her what it was, but nothing. What do I need to do??

 

[Miss Lydia]

So my little gosling hasn't had anything to eat or drink today. I have it out and available for her, and I dipped her bill in to show her what it was, but nothing. What do I need to do??

Keep showing her, moisten her feed with warm water. How old is she? put some moistened feed on your finger and try to put a little into her bill. so she tastes it.