What Greens for Goslings?

[paul tennant]

Dear friends:

Still being new to this hatching lark I'd welcome some advice on feeding my Embden goslings greens. Currently I have four at 14, 13, 12 and 2 days. The three elders are in one pen the youngest is currently sharing a pen with 7 mallards born the same day, the elders did not take to their younger sibling. The two pens are in our conservatory. The wife reckons its too cold to put them outside.

I have been hanging grass down for the elder goslings, but I want to give them more green feed. I've been searching the paddock but cannot find any dandelions leaves, so I was wondering if lettuce leaves etc chopped up would be OK? Once it gets a bit warmer, I will be putting them out on the back lawn supervised but until then I just want to keep them on a decent diet.

Currently their main diet is goose starter crumbs before transferring slowly for the elders to grower pellets. As usual all advice gratefully received. Paul T

 

[Miss Lydia]

Dear friends:

Still being new to this hatching lark I'd welcome some advice on feeding my Embden goslings greens. Currently I have four at 14, 13, 12 and 2 days. The three elders are in one pen the youngest is currently sharing a pen with 7 mallards born the same day, the elders did not take to their younger sibling. The two pens are in our conservatory. The wife reckons its too cold to put them outside.

I have been hanging grass down for the elder goslings, but I want to give them more green feed. I've been searching the paddock but cannot find any dandelions leaves, so I was wondering if lettuce leaves etc chopped up would be OK? Once it gets a bit warmer, I will be putting them out on the back lawn supervised but until then I just want to keep them on a decent diet.

Currently their main diet is goose starter crumbs before transferring slowly for the elders to grower pellets. As usual all advice gratefully received. Paul T

Chopped Romaine or other dark leafy lettuce would be good for them, be sure to put out grit when feeding anything other than their starter. And how adorable Congrats on the hatch.

 

[Iain Utah]

Precious babies! Congrats! My favorite greens to give babies are fresh grass, kale, broccoli, and dark green lettuces (no spinach!).

 

[FrankiesMom]

Precious babies! Congrats! My favorite greens to give babies are fresh grass, kale, broccoli, and dark green lettuces (no spinach!).

They are gorgeous, Paul T!!

Iain - I didn't know they couldn't have spinach. My adult goose Lucy (now at a new home) used to love it! Is it just a gosling thing?

I swear I learn something new with each and every post on here! Now, off to do more research...

 

[paul tennant]

Thanks for the guidance all,the elders are going outside for the first time this weekend, the littlest gosling now has two siblings to keep an eye on the pesky mallards, they seem to think they can burrow like rats through the straw and I thought they are supposed to drink the water, not spray it all around the pen!! But they are funny

 

[pete55]

They'll really start to grow once they can go outside. the sunshine and fresh air will do them the world of good. A pen with some grass or clover will also be very beneficial to them.

I have to admit our adults get excited when I throw dandelion in for them but after a few nibbles they reject it. Too fussy but to be fair its also very bitter

 

[Cottage Rose]

Kale, clover, dandelion greens and grass as available are the main greens I give my goslings daily as soon as they start to eat.
Pete my adults don't like chopped greens either but my goslings gobble up the chopped greens I offer them.

 

[Magriet]

Speaking of greens can I give my goslings too much chopped kale? They love it and except for some grass it is pretty much the only greens around.
I am also worried about my goose and gander not eating enough of the duck pellets they used to love. Once again that is pretty much the only water fowl feed I can get