- Jun 27, 2012
- 7
- 0
- 7
Hello. I am new to raising poultry and I got 17 chickens, 6 Khaki ducks, and 4 toulouse geese this past June. The chickens are in one coop and the ducks & geese in another, both have access to artificial lighting. I live in Alaska and the weather is starting to get cold(1 degree at night). Anyway, I am feeding the chickens laying pellets, corn and oyster shells plus they free range all day and get fruit/veggie scraps, while the ducks & geese get duck & goose maintenance pellets along with free ranging all day with fruit/veggie scraps.
The chickens started laying, but the ducks/geese have not started. Am I suppose to give them some of the chicken layer pellets? Also, do I need to give the geese/ducks anything extra for the winter- oats, barley, alfalfa, corn? Currently all poultry have access to pellets all day- but they are always free ranging so they only eat the pellets at night. I have read that you should not let them have access to pellets 100% of the time. Is this true? If so what is the reasoning?
Another question- I give all the poultry water in the morning & again at night- is this good or should I get a heated bowl?
I would appreciate any insight... I will keep researching online. THANKS in advance.
The chickens started laying, but the ducks/geese have not started. Am I suppose to give them some of the chicken layer pellets? Also, do I need to give the geese/ducks anything extra for the winter- oats, barley, alfalfa, corn? Currently all poultry have access to pellets all day- but they are always free ranging so they only eat the pellets at night. I have read that you should not let them have access to pellets 100% of the time. Is this true? If so what is the reasoning?
Another question- I give all the poultry water in the morning & again at night- is this good or should I get a heated bowl?
I would appreciate any insight... I will keep researching online. THANKS in advance.