What is wrong with my baby geese.

[JamesA]

I appreciate everyones help.I guess I should have done more leg work before I hatched these goslings.They really seem to be doing good except for their bloody bottoms.I let them take a bath and they seems to clean themselves up and look better.I will not be giving them anymore medicated feed and will keep letting them eat the grass.I guess putting them in with the chicks want happen again either.They are so adorable and have grown so fast.thanks again for all the help.

 

[Calebs Acre]

Assuming that the question is asked in earnest, as opposed to a challenge, I feed my guys (I have over 40 adult geese...Sebastopols, Giant Dewlaps in buff and grey and Shetlands) veggies according to what I can get from my local produce wholesaler who delivers to my house on a weekly or bi-weekly basis.

I give them most types of lettuce, though romaine is usually the easiest to get. Sometimes spinach, kale, corn on the cob as a treat and sparingly, shaved carrots, sometimes even salad "mixes". I have also served carrot tops and dandelion greens. There were several types of greens, like mustard greens, that they did not like. (I know that corn on the cob is not a green, nor are shaved carrots.) Because the cost here on the Island is prohibitive for the large number of birds, I go by what my supplier can give me at a good price.

I got some last day for sale apples and made some applesauce last year and it was popular for my horses, goats and fowl.

Truthfully, I give my adults boiled eggs with the shells on, but I mash the boiled eggs, peeled for the babies. I'm concerned about them eating the shells. I chop them and then mash them up. The baby ducks love the same menu.

I'm sure there are other things that I just can't remember, my mind forgets a lot lately. I forgot that he said the geese were six weeks old, for example.

One of my friends is a regional 4H staffer and works for Cornell Extension. She's been helpful in putting me in touch with some excellent sources through Cornell and the Cornell Duck Research Lab (I wrongly called it the Long Island Duck Research lab in the other post). They've been pretty helpful with both my ducks and geese. Dennis Fuller at Wapsi Waterfowl suggested that I start my flock on dried kelp, which I purchase through Brice Wonders. I bought some of my dewlap goslings from Dennis.

I still make tons of mistakes, but the geese love to see the silver pot coming outside! They know it's full of good stuff! I have tried Miss Prissy's yogurt a few times, but so far, the babies haven't loved it. Maybe I'm just a bad cook.

 

[M@M@2four]

Quote:
Of course, my question was, "asked in earnest" and not, "opposed to a challenge!" I'm honestly learning as I go and appreciate the feedback and help of others as I try to help others as well... Honestly not sure why you're being so defensive...

Either way, thanks for the good info.

 

[Calebs Acre]

I'm probably defensive because I've been on other Forums for such a LONG time, with such horrible sniping that I guess that I've been conditioned to be that way...sorry! I read the wrong tone.

Miss Prissy has such great information on goose feeding. It seems like there is a lot of mixed opinions on things. Some people will tell you NO turkey or game bird feed.

I did also read that we should avoid the common "grower" feeds used to fatten ducks, chickens and turkeys for meat because it makes the geese too fat. With dewlaps, especially during breeding season, I need to try to minimize those dragging tummies on my males, if you know what I mean? LOL.

I'm FAR from done with my incessant search to build the best menu for my kids. I am at a severe disadvantage because I do not have pasture for them, so, except for bugs, their diet is provided by me.

So, I'm with you on the learning, learning, learning. I do not know about the shells for babies....do you give shells to them?

Sorry again for the attitude!

 

[Cottage Rose]

Nancy when you stated "dried kelp" is that the fine granular stuff? I have "kelp meal" which is the consisting of sugar which I sprinkle on my birds feed
but I can't imagine feeding that as their main feed.
Is there another type of kelp maybe?
Steam rolled oats can also be fed to goslings along with a starter feed but you might have to feed them regular people quick oats when they're hatchlings because the steam rolled oats for livestock is pretty big and course.
I never heard about not giving them duck grower.
Thats what I feed my goslings and so far none of them have been too fat. Th Muzuri feed is too expensive if you have more than just a few geese.
I'd bet money those dang chickens were pecking the gosling's butts. I wouldn't raise goslings with chickens or any older birds for that matter unless they're older geese or ducks who like to babysit.

 

[M@M@2four]

Quote:
No offense taken and thanks for the apology!

I love coming here to learn from others as well as try to help in the process. Thanks for all your good info again!

 

[Calebs Acre]

The dried kelp that I use as a supplement (sprinkling it in the feed ration) is a very fine consistency, as you described, like tiny granules of sugar.

It's difficult here on Long Island to consistently get the same feed over and over sometimes. Have you heard much about adding wheat to their feed? I was reading someplace that wheat was a good additive to chicken feed for geese.

I've been spending the money to add Mazuri to my feed, believe it or not. YES, it IS too expensive. A 50 pound bag for the adults is over $40.

When you give them the quick oats, do you cook it or feed it dry? I have a bunch of quick oats and regular Quaker Oats in the old fashioned round container. I have been confused about that.

I bet if I go to the feed mill in Eastport, close to and owned by the biggest duck farm left here on Long Island, I should be able to find steamed rolled oats. Most of our feed stores just carry prepared commercial feeds and cracked corn.

Thanks for the input....please keep it coming! LOL.

 

[Cottage Rose]

Quote:
You feed it dry but not as a total ration.
I think in Dave Holderread's duck book he says to sprinkle it on their starter feed.
I will try to look it up again.

 

[Calebs Acre]

Yeah, I wouldn't expect it as a total ration because from all I've read, it seems like both geese and ducks need a variety diet to get everything they need.

Dave's book is THE Bible and I still don't have it. I never find it in the stores and I keep forgetting to order it. I probably don't need much else if I had that book.

 

[Cottage Rose]

I think I found mine at a TSC store but try Amazon.
They usually have the best prices on books.
I want to get DH geese book too but I'm waiting for him to revise it which I think he said will be coming up in 2010.