What kind of feed is good for goslings?

[crj]

I have to say, they are great with the baby chicks. The female nibbles on the males back and makes it wet and now it's getting dry. Should I do anything for him? She loves hair, doesn't matter if it's mine or the dogs she will chew on it. Neither have bothered the chicks so hopefully that will continue. I know, wishful thinking. The female gobbles up the grass as if there is a limited supply. My ground is also sand, no dirt. That can be a plus at times.

They are eating Purina Start and Grow. Says:

Free-range and confined chickens: 1-18 weeks
Backyard egg producers
Small to medium breeds
Fancy and exotic breeds

The other feed would be Flock raiser

Free-range and confined chickens, ducks and geese: 1-18 weeks
Backyard flock
Meat birds
Medium to heavy breeds.

I suppose I will have to get the flock raiser next. Since I have ducks eating this too I should go through it pretty quickly. After 18 weeks they can start on layer pellets. I usually get Nutrena but the one feed store I get all my feed doesn't carry non medicated starter grower and that's why I've got them on the Purina.

As for the angel wing. The woman that owns the geese said she fed them to much protien. Two of the 4 geese have it. I'm hoping mine won't. Strange, the bag doesn't have how much protien is in the feed. The tag on the bottom is gone so I can't check that.

I'm amazed at how loving the geese are. They love to hug and sit on your chest and stretch out. Cracks me up. It's almost like holding a baby.

 

[scratch'n'peck]

Aren't goslings adorable?

Purina has a good web site, the flock raiser is 20% which is great for game birds and turkeys but not so great for waterfowl (at least if you are not raising them as meat birds, which we are NOT) you would need to "dilute" that down by 25% to get 15% protein.

If you can't find anything like duck starter pellets, I guess i would continued to use the chick starter/grower (18% protein) and ad 20% cracked corn and add a little brewers yeast, which folks on BYC say is a good source of Niacin.

I'm starting to think about feed issues again because we are getting a pair of black swan cygnets soon, and I want to have their food ready for them.

 

[bel]

I fed our goslings flock raiser (and greens) worked great, same with the ducks and no one is overweight everyone is healthy.

The geese moved to the ranch but the ducks freerange our yard and are eating less feed, more weeds, grasses and snails. The next goslings will get flock raiser too.

 

[peeppeep]

At least 28% protien. NEVER give water foul mediacated feed. And enough green leafy plants too.

 

[Cottage Rose]

Sorry to differ with one of the posters but DO NOT feed corn!
Feed a chick starter formula for the first 2 - 3 weeks then switch to a grower.
You can also feed up to 20% steam rolled oats.
See if your feed dealer can get you duck grower.
Purina make a nice duck grower pellet.
Plus all the grass they will eat.
Dandelion greens are excellent too.
Lots of greens, fresh water and exercise will help prevent angel wing.
See more info on my website.
Good luck!

 

[scratch'n'peck]

I agree if you can find waterfowl/duck grower pellets that is the best option and I would trust Cottage Rose's experience and opt for adding rolled oats if you want to moderate the protein levels. Since you have just 2 goslings it is probably easier to add that if needed anyhow.

 

[crj]

I checked the feed stores and they have flock raiser but in pellet form. I don't know if that's too big for the geese to eat. Funny, I just stopped buying the flock raiser to save money. I have all my adult birds on layer pellets. Is rolled oats the same thing? I've never seen anything marked as steamed oats. Yes, the two little ones get plenty of grass throughout the day. As a matter of fact I have to move there pen because they eat so much of the grass..... LOL.

 

[Cottage Rose]

Quote:
I've found goslings can eat pellets around 3 weeks old.
I switch mine to pellets by mixing it 50/50 with their starter feed.
Flock raisers are typically grower formulas (see info on bag to make sure).
Rolled oats and steam rolled oats are the same thing.
Rolled oats are a good starter feed for hatchlings.
They are fed dry from the bag, not cooked like you would prepare oatmeal for yourself.
Most feed dealers can special order products even if they don't regularly carry what you might be looking for.