Geese eat fish
Do Geese Eat Fish? (Everything To Know)
Geese are a type of waterfowl that can commonly be seen all over the world and come with a large variety of physical features.
While most people may be familiar with the Canada goose, there are vastly more unique-looking geese across the world, such as the Chinese goose or the Emperor goose.
No matter what part of the world they’re in, geese all share similar dietary needs.
Geese may be best known for being fowl, but there is so much more to these massive waterfowl.
Do Geese Eat Fish?
No, geese do not eat fish and are completely unable to do so.
Because geese don’t have true teeth like most carnivores and omnivores, they are unable to even chew fish.
While there may be some birds that have no problem swallowing a fish whole, geese don’t have the strong digestive systems they’d need to break down the fish.
Birds that are able to eat fish have strong digestive enzymes that allow them to break down the proteins found in meat, but geese lack these enzymes because they have never had to eat fish.
Another reason that geese are unable to eat meats like fish is their incredibly short digestive tract.
While this shorter digestive tract is excellent for when they go on long flights, it limits the types of foods that geese can actually eat.
Geese aren’t predators.
Rather, they spend their days foraging for things like plant matter and insects.
Some of a goose’s favorite meals include roots, seeds, stems, shoots, flower bulbs, grass, grain, and berries.
One attribute that makes Canada geese unique from other breeds of geese is their ability to eat food underwater.
Canada geese love the foliage that can be found in freshwater locations, such as ponds, lakes, or rivers.
Geese that live in populated areas are more likely to rely on humans for their food, due to some people making a hobby out of feeding them.
As long as you’re feeding them things like seeds, whole wheat, or cracked corn, it’s a fine hobby to have.
Those who want to invite wild waterfowl like geese or ducks to live in a certain area will find that feeding them regularly is all it takes to earn their trust to a certain degree.
Do Geese Have Teeth?
No, geese do not have teeth like humans or other carnivorous animals.
Instead, geese have what are called tomia.
Although tomia may look like teeth, they’re actually hard, spiky cartilage that is attached to the tongue and beak.
Their long rows of saw-like teeth help grind up the insects and plant matter.
Tomia may be made of cartilage, but they aren’t as powerful as human teeth, which are covered in enamel.
A goose’s teeth are incredibly sharp, allowing its food to be broken down before it hits the digestive tract.
Due to the tiny nature of a goose’s digestive tracts, its food needs to be finely shredded before it swallows it.
If the food isn’t shredded finely enough, this can lead to digestive problems such as blockages.
Tomia are used for more than just shredding food.
They also aid in a goose’s attempt to grab food.
The tomia on a goose’s tongue are especially useful for gripping food like roots, insects, and other foliage that may need a tug.
The tomia on ridged lines of their tongue help keep in struggling prey.
A goose’s beak is too smooth to use for gripping fine things like blades of grass or small bugs, which is why the tomia on the sides of their beaks are so important.
Geese’s tomia aren’t as tough as a human’s teeth, but that doesn’t mean it doesn’t hurt like crazy when you get bit by one.
Geese are known for being aggressive and are always ready to put up a fight.
When a goose bites you, it feels like two pieces of serrated wood clamping down on you.
Not only does it hurt from the pinching feeling, but the tomia are strong enough to break through the skin.
Just because a goose’s teeth are weaker doesn’t mean they should be underestimated.
What Shouldn’t Geese Eat?
Although people have been feeding bread to ducks and geese for generations, it has been killing birds slowly.
Human foods such as bread and crackers are like junk food for geese, but with worse health concerns.
If geese grow up eating bread, it can cause a condition called angel wing.
Angel wing causes the carpal joints in geese’s wings to grow incorrectly, which makes the wings stick flat out to the sides, rather than the goose being able to firmly tuck them in at its sides.
This deformity causes the birds to become flightless and affects the way their flight feathers grow in.
There is no way to cure angel wing in geese once it has set in, and these are normally rejected by their flock, meaning that the goose will most likely die alone.
If you are able to catch angel wing early enough in a gosling’s life, the damage can be reversed with a drastic change in its diet and medical intervention.
Angel wing isn’t the only problem that bread can cause.
When a goose lives on a diet of mostly bread, it isn’t getting the calcium it needs.
This can lead to metabolic bone disease, which causes all of a goose’s bones to soften and break more easily.
If its bones aren’t strong enough, a goose will no longer be able to fly and too weak to fight other waterfowl for food.
This leads the goose to become completely reliant on people to feed it.
Otherwise, it will starve to death.
There are also things that a goose may forage for itself that could lead to them getting fatally ill.
Some of the most common toxic foods that geese are exposed to include blue-green algae, botulism, cedarwood, copper, lead, mycotoxins, pesticides, herbicides, rodenticides, wood stain, and paint.
Why Geese Make Great Pets
Despite wild geese being known for their feisty and aggressive nature, domesticated geese can be a completely different story.
Some domesticated geese are just as friendly as a dog or cat, depending on how they’re raised.
When compared to other fowl, geese are incredibly easy to raise.
As long as they have enough room to roam around and forage, you rarely have to feed them.
They’ll spend their days ridding your lawn of bugs and take a bite out of any tasty plant they see.
Their upkeep costs increase during the winter months because you need to feed them, but food for poultry or fowl is never expensive.
Geese are also much more resistant to cold weather than chickens or ducks.
What makes geese positively unique from other livestock birds is their ability to build strong bonds with their owners, especially if they’re raised young.
The more time you invest into your geese, the more loyal they become.
As a goose becomes closer with its owner, you’ll often see it become more affectionate and excited to see you.
Some geese love to snuggle up in their owner’s lap, and others like to play with their owners.
Another hidden bonus of raising geese is that they make excellent watchdogs.
Geese are known for being incredibly territorial, which can play to an owner’s advantage if they’re looking to keep other critters or even people out.
Not only are geese willing to fight for their home, but they also make amazing alert systems.
The second a goose sees something unfamiliar or new come into its territory, it will begin honking furiously and may even begin to hiss to alert the flock.
What separates a nice goose from a mean goose is the way they’re raised.
Your devotion pays off with geese.
The Problem With Raising Geese
As wonderful as geese can be, there’s always the chance that your goose may not turn out the way you expected.
Some fowl just seem to have an unbreakable mean streak in them, but it doesn’t mean you shouldn’t still care for them.
One of the best ways to keep your pets from becoming problematic is to research the problems that can arise in them before you actually get a pet.
Being knowledgeable in the struggles of raising geese is the most proactive step you can take.
While geese make incredible alert systems for people who may not live close to neighbors, people who are right next to others may want to reconsider adopting geese.
Geese are incredibly loud and are known to lead to more than one noise complaint.
Part of the reason that geese are so loud is that they’re easily startled.
In the wild, geese have to remain on guard, or they’ll become a meal for a local cat or coyote.
When geese are startled or confused, they’ll honk loudly until the problem is solved in their eyes.
Geese can be startled by anything, from the snap of a twig to fast movements.
When children are interacting with geese, their time should be supervised.
A child who runs up to a goose with open arms is more likely to get bit than hugged, with some exceptions for geese that have been raised by the child and are used to their mannerisms.
Because geese are social animals, they need to be a part of a flock.
Geese are better able to protect themselves if they’re in a larger group.
Although geese may be able to defend themselves from small predators, they need to be in a secured area to prevent animals like foxes from picking them off.
Can Geese Live With Ducks Or Chickens?
Yes, geese are able to live with ducks and chickens.
The most successful mixed-species flocks start at young ages and are able to grow up together without too many problems.
Whenever you adopt a new bird, there will be some minor physical altercations due to the birds’ natural desire to have a pecking order.
This is why it is better to introduce birds of similar ages and consider the personalities of the birds.
Considering your flock dynamic is crucial to ensuring that all the members of the flock get along.
You should consider details such as the gender and the age of the new bird, how much room your flock has inside and outside of its coop, and the type of environment you’re introducing the new bird to.
You should avoid raising male geese or ducks with chickens.
Unlike roosters, male geese and ducks have actual penises, and they don’t see much of a difference between a chicken and another waterfowl.
If a male goose or duck were to try to breed with a hen, this could leave the hen with a prolapsed vent.
When this occurs, the vent is left protruding outside of its body and can be fatal for the hen.
Another thing to consider when combining waterfowl with chickens is that these birds prefer different habitats.
Chickens like to stay dry, whereas geese and ducks need water to survive and be happy.
The best way to combine waterfowl and chickens is by giving waterfowl their own pool area that is away from the coop.
This gives them a chance to get dry and find another spot to feel comfortable relaxing in.
To prevent in-flock fighting, ensure that your birds have plenty of room to forage and rest.
Limited space can lead to fighting over resources.
Geese Aren’t As Foul As They Seem
There’s no denying that geese can be mean and downright strange, but they’re beautiful creatures that deserve to be treated with the same respect ducks receive.
It’s important to be mindful of wild geese’s territory and their dietary needs when interacting with them.
When all geese have known is violence from other creatures, you can’t blame them for hissing in an attempt to tell you to back off.
Those who choose to learn how to read animal behavior will have a more positive experience with even the meanest birds.
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Do Geese Eat Fish? - Farmhouse Guide
*This post may have affiliate links, which means I may receive commissions if you choose to purchase through links I provide (at no extra cost to you). As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. Please read my disclaimer for additional details.Many waterfowl birds like ducks and swans like to eat fish, so does that mean that geese eat fish too? Geese are migratory waterfowl that live on and around bodies of water just like ducks and swans, so it is not a far-fetched idea to think that geese eat fish.
Do geese eat fish? Geese eat fish, but not all the time. Geese are herbivores that enjoy eating grass and plants more than fish or insects, but they will eat fish on occasion.
Some geese enjoy eating fish more than others and a lot of times their desire for fish depends on a variety of factors including food availability and individual preference.
Fish may not be the ideal treat for a goose, but it is a good source of protein and energy for them if they need it. Herbivores like geese prefer to eat plants and plant material but that does not mean you will never see them eat fish or other animals.
The more you learn about geese and their curious, albeit uncommon, desire to eat fish, the more you will understand why some geese do not fit completely into the herbivore box.
Table of Contents
Wild geese vs. Domestic geese: Fish or no fish?
Even though geese are considered to mainly be herbivores, eating mainly plant-based food, wild geese and domestic geese have been known to eat fish on occasion.
This has caused many people to classify geese as omnivores, but that is a little bit of a stretch. Geese will eat fish periodically in the wild, sometimes because they just want to and sometimes because they grab them accidentally while eating plant matter in the water. (source)
Wild geese will also turn to eating fish if they are running low on grass or plant-based foods to eat. Domestic geese will often begin to eat fish if they are easily accessible and if other geese or waterfowl teach them to eat fish.
Many backyard geese owners agree that while their geese are not interested in fish handed to them, they sometimes will enjoy grabbing tiny fish out of ponds.
This is especially true if they see ducks on your property grabbing up small fish and eating them. Pet geese may not have naturally eaten fish, but once they learn the behavior, they may begin to eat fish regularly.
Although it is not extremely common, if you see wild geese or your own domesticated geese eating fish out of a pond or lake, do not be alarmed.
What kind of fish do geese like to eat?
Geese that enjoy eating fish do not prefer eating certain kinds of fish over others, but naturally they are only going to be able to eat certain sizes of fish.
Geese can only eat small fish that they are able to grab with their small bills. This most often is minnows and young, tiny fish that come to the surface to feed on insects.
Larger fish and fish that rarely come to the surface will not end up as food for a goose. Geese are not concerned with bringing home a trophy fish, they are only interested in the fish they can grab easily and eat relatively quickly.
What other live animals do geese eat?
While geese prefer to eat plant material over animals, they will sometimes eat fish along with other insects, worms and even tadpoles. Often, they eat these tiny live animals incidentally while they are consuming plants in and out of the water.
Some geese enjoy grabbing insects and other minuscule animals more than others. Geese are not carnivores, animals that mainly eat other animals, and geese do not eat animals larger than a small fish or long worm.
You will never see a goose actively hunting another animal besides a small fish or insect. They do not eat other geese, waterfowl or large animals because they do not have the ability to overpower these animals.
Geese can defend themselves to a point, but they are not hunters by nature. Their bodies are designed to consume and derive energy from eating plant-based matter as opposed to other animals, so they instinctively desire plants over animals. (source)
Is it ok to feed fish to a pet goose?
It is perfectly fine to let your goose eat fish, but if you hand feed them fish, you may find that they are not interested. Many pet goose owners try to feed the waterfowl fish by hand, but the goose does not eat it at all or seem to understand that it is food.
Fish are not a typical food source for geese, and they will not actively look for it naturally. Most geese that enjoy eating fish also enjoy the fun of catching the fish in the water.
If you find out that your pet goose or geese are like this, you can add fish to a pond on your property so that they can decide for themselves if they want to eat fish or not.
Is fish healthy for geese to eat?
Geese are herbivores and their bodies are designed to run off the energy they get from eating plants and plant-based material. While eating fish is not bad for geese, it cannot be their only source of food because their body will not process it as easily and completely as it can plant-based foods.
They will need their plant-based meals to give them the vitamins, minerals and energy they need to live long lives. (source) Moderation is key when it comes to letting your geese eat fish regularly.
You should always make sure that your geese have plenty of access to plants or specially formulated waterfowl feed to help offset the fish that they consume.
Can I feed my pet goose canned or cooked fish?
While it probably will not harm them, you should avoid feeding pet geese canned fish products or cooked fish. Their bodies were not designed to handle these processed and cooked foods and it is not considered healthy for them to eat it.
Instead, feed your goose feed designed specifically for waterfowl or provide them access to ponds that they can eat natural plants and insects, as well as live fish, whenever they want. This will ensure that they receive the balanced diet that they need to thrive.
Why geese eat less fish than ducks
Many people mistakenly assume that ducks and geese, both waterfowl, eat similar amounts of fish in the wild. The truth is that ducks eat way more fish on average than geese do.
Ducks are omnivores, which means they eat an almost equal blend of plant and animal-based food sources depending on what is available. A duck’s bill is designed for eating a vast array of plants, insects and fish while geese have bills that are made more for grabbing grass and plants than eating other animals.
Instinctively, geese prefer eating plants over fish, which seems to be in part due to evolutionary changes that help waterfowl of different species exist together.
If geese are better suited for grazing on plants and ducks can eat more fish, plants and insects, then both ducks and geese can live in harmony together without competing over the same exact food. (source)
Final Thoughts
Geese do occasionally eat fish, some more often than others, and it is perfectly healthy for them! Some geese may not like fish at all and that is understandable as they are primarily considered to be herbivores that eat mostly plants and occasionally insects. Steer clear of feeding your goose fish unless it is live and fresh from the water, preferably ones that they catch themselves.
How to feed adult geese.
Breeding of fish, crayfish and domestic waterfowlHow to feed adult geese
Adult geese are more likely to consume whole grains than to tear or chaff. Therefore, if there is crushed grain, it is better to soak it and give it in the form of a wet mash, the main part of which is food waste. Green and juicy feeds (potatoes, carrots, beets, rutabagas, and other vegetables) are given to the bird at the rate of 300–500 g per head in a day. Most of these vegetables are best boiled and also given in the form of wet mash.
It is recommended to prepare enough herbal meal from alfalfa, clover, nettle and herbs in time. However, these feeds in the diet should be no more than 150 g, since geese do not digest grass meal well. Mineral feed (shell rock, chalk, bone meal, kitchen salt) must be constantly kept in separate feeders.
In winter, geese are fed twice: in the morning with grain, and in the evening with a wet mash. The mash consists of steamed grass flour, chopped hay, clover chaff, dry nettle. Root crops such as carrots, rutabaga, beets can also be given raw, but potatoes must be fed boiled (up to 400 g per head in a day). During the preparation of geese for the productive period, they are transferred to three meals a day, and in addition, grain is given in the morning and evening, and a wet mash is fed only during the day.
In the productive period, adult birds are fed all the listed feeds into the diet and fed three to four times a day, of which at least two times with moistened mixers. At this time, the owner must give the birds daily germinated oats or nutritious grain waste (100–125 g), barley or oat flour (60–80 g per head), as well as wheat sifting and grass meal in the same quantities. Geese must be fed separately with germinated grain (up to 100 g) or a mash of 60–80 g of ground grain and feed of animal origin (15–20 g).
After the end of laying, the adult birds are grazed together with the young in the general flock, keeping only one evening feeding for all.
Geese spend most of their lives on pastures. Adults eat 2–4 kg of green fodder throughout the day. This amount of greens satisfies their need for nutrients and vitamins.
During the day, geese eat up to 200 g of crushed heads of corn, millet and oat chaff, 300 g of leguminous grass flour.
Without the use of pastures, goose breeding becomes unprofitable. For grazing geese, irrigated and upland meadows, stubble, areas sown with grass and other lands are used.
A necessary condition for keeping geese is an uninterrupted supply of large amounts of water. The water in the drinkers is changed two or three times a day.
Keeping geese using ponds has a positive effect on the general condition of the bird. 100–125 adult geese are kept per 1 hectare of water surface. The best reservoirs are those with running water and rich vegetation on the banks.
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How to feed geese at home: recommendations for feeding, diet
Proper and balanced nutrition of geese brings a good income to the breeder. Birds give a lot of eggs, meat, soft fluff. They get sick less often, the survival rate of chicks increases. Feed costs are repaid by increasing the productivity of geese and reducing the cost of veterinarians. Many breeders are interested in how to ensure proper nutrition for free-range and caged birds, in winter and summer, which foods are better to add and which ones to limit or eliminate from the diet.
Content:
- Features of the diet of geese
- Composition of feed mixtures for geese and diet
- Specifics of feeding geese by seasons
- Prohibited foods
- Farmers advice on feeding geese
Features of the diet of geese
Compound feed and greens form the basis of the nutrition of agricultural birds. The diet of geese should also include fresh vegetables: potatoes, beets, pumpkin, cabbage, silage and tops. In addition to herbal ingredients, whey, skim milk, fishmeal, yeast and salt are added to goose feed. It is not necessary to give all foods daily, but each of them must be regularly present in the diet.
Since it is difficult for geese to digest whole grains, dry crumbly compound feed is not recommended for them. Small particles can be inhaled. Birds begin to choke and choke. It is better to give them granulated feed. Geese with appetite eat oilseeds and legumes meal and cake, and prefer clover from meadow grasses.
In order to prevent the predominance of fat mass over muscle, geese are fed only greens once a week. They tolerate the absence of grain without damage to health and growth, but they cannot do without grass or hay.
Composition of feed mixtures for geese and diet
The diet of birds is made taking into account the conditions of their keeping. There are 3 modes of feeding geese: dry, wet and combined. Regardless of the type, each of them provides for the use of:
- compound feed,
- greenery,
- roughage,
- vegetable crops.
Dry feeding, as less labor intensive, is more often used in large poultry farms. For small and medium-sized farms, wet or combined is preferable.
Dry mixes are the most economical and easy to use option. They are undemanding to storage conditions. They include wheat, millet, barley, corn, rye products. All components are carefully crushed and mixed in equal amounts, so it is enough to pour them into bird feeders. However, geese gain weight more slowly on dry food, so such mixtures are usually given during the non-productive period. Also, they can't be used all the time. With the constant use of only dry food, the risk of intestinal blockage is high.
Wet mashes are given to birds three times a day. Such feed cannot be stored for a long time, so they are prepared directly on the day of consumption. Stale mixtures can cause indigestion. To prepare feed, crushed grain components are poured into wooden containers and poured with water at a ratio of 1.5 liters per 1 kg, and then yeast is added. The stirrer is infused for 6 hours. After that, chopped vegetables (beets, carrots, potatoes, cabbage) and fresh chopped greens are added to the feed. The preparation of such mixtures is a rather laborious process, therefore its organization at a medium and large poultry farm is not always advisable.
Ready mixed food combines the advantages of dry and wet food. It is easy to prepare and provides a high average daily weight gain. Roughage in combination with moist foods is much better digested, and the birds get more nutrients. A mixture of grains and vegetables is served along with a small amount of table salt.
In all feeding regimes, birds must be provided with clean drinking water. In addition, geese require mixtures of sand, gravel and small shells to cleanse their stomachs.
Feed for farm birds must fully meet their need for vitamins and minerals. There may be an insufficient amount of biologically active substances (BAS) in grain fodder and vegetables, especially in winter or early spring. In this case, premixes rich in vitamins A, D, E, B2, as well as pantothenic and nicotinic acids, which are necessary for the normal growth of birds, are introduced into goose feed. Due to the high concentration of biologically active substances, premixes should not be given as the main product. They are added to the feed mixture in the amount of 1-5%. An excess of vitamins and minerals is no less harmful than their lack.
It is recommended to adhere to the following feeding schedule for geese:
- 7:00 - dry mixes containing germinated grains;
- 15:00 - vegetable crops with the addition of vitamin-mineral complexes and hay dust;
- 20:00 - a mixture of flour and grains.
Geese need special fattening before laying for at least 30 days. Their diet must include wheat and oats, legumes, vegetables, meal and oilseed cake, as well as bone or fish meal. Geese are fed 4 times a day, giving them dry and wet mixtures alternately. 1 week before laying eggs, vitamin complexes are added to the diet.
Feeding specifics of geese by seasons
In summer, the main part of the diet of birds is a variety of greens. Geese grazing on the range feed on:
- fresh nettles,
- dandelions,
- cereals,
- sorrel,
- legumes,
- plantain,
- yarrow,
- clover,
- alfalfa.
Swimming in reservoirs, they catch duckweed, cattail, reeds, chastukha. Grazing provides significant savings in feed, but they cannot be completely excluded, since greenery alone is not enough for birds to gain weight. Normally, geese eat about 2 kg of fresh grass per day, and they get the rest of the calories from grain fodder, vegetables, roughage (hay and branches).
For accelerated weight gain, it is preferable to give them a mixture of high grains twice a day: oats, barley, wheat, rye, corn. On average, in addition to greens, geese daily need:
- 700 g of cereals and legumes;
- 500 g potatoes;
- 250 g carrots and beets;
- 300 g hay dust or meal;
- 100 g silage;
- 25 g minerals (salt, shell).
In addition, it is useful for geese to give cottage cheese, eggs, chalk (10 g per bird). Solid legumes are introduced only in boiled form, so that they cannot be choked on. Cereals can be partially replaced with dried bread in an amount of up to 60 g, coniferous hay flour (up to 20 g).
Geese who are constantly in the house must be fed three times a day. In winter, the diet is based on cereals:
- barley,
- oats,
- ground corn,
- wheat bran,
- millet.
The lack of fresh herbs is compensated by silage, dried tops, hay dust and premixes. In a warm climate, short-term grazing on water bodies is possible, during which geese feed on the remains of duckweed and other algae. A significant place in their diet in the autumn-winter period is occupied by silage, which in its composition is closest to green fodder. It is also useful to add needles of pine or spruce. It compensates for the lack of vitamin C, stimulates the appetite and immunity of geese, helps to increase the number and improve the nutritional quality of eggs. It is important to consider that needles require preliminary preparation. It is first dried and then carefully ground. It is more profitable for owners of medium and large poultry farms to order ready-made vitamin complexes with a similar composition.
Sunflower meal and cake are often added to hay dust and flour. Geese eat oilseed products well and put on weight quickly. Dried gray bread is introduced as a delicacy to stimulate appetite, but it is not recommended to give it in large quantities.
Prohibited foods
Not all herbs are good for geese. The use of some of them can provoke indigestion, decrease in productivity, and in some cases lead to death in the poultry house. Especially dangerous herbs are:
- sedge,
- cuff,
- goose foot.
Geese usually avoid them. However, with insufficient nutrition and the absence of other vegetation on the pasture, they can begin to eat harmful grasses. Breeders need to check grazing areas and make sure the geese are getting enough calories while feeding in the poultry house. This question is especially relevant in early spring. On the first outings on the water, geese that did not receive fresh greens can eat harmful algae, silt, small fish and become infected with intestinal infections. To avoid this, birds are fed and released at first for no more than 3-5 hours before walking.
In addition to wild grasses, outbreaks can be caused by freshly harvested rye, cereals contaminated with mycotoxins, or sprouted potatoes with green areas containing solanine. All ingredients must be carefully checked before use. Rye should rest for at least 3 months, cereals damaged by mold and green potatoes are thrown away.
Farmer's recommendations for feeding geese
- The type of diet depends on the direction of the birds. To obtain meat, it is important to provide geese with high-calorie nutrition. If you plan to breed chicks, it is important to reconsider the feeding regimen for geese. Overweight females are less healthy and less likely to lay eggs. On the other hand, just before laying, geese require a hearty diet high in vitamins and minerals. To meet the needs of birds in calories and prevent obesity, their diet is enriched with fresh fish, skim milk and whey.
- The immune system of chicks begins to form at an early age, but their stomachs are not yet able to digest all the components of the feed. Therefore, in the first 3-4 days they are given a yolk pre-cooked and mixed with boiled water, gradually adding chopped onion feathers to it.
- Starting from the 6-7th day, the ration of goslings is replenished with fresh alfalfa and nettle. From a week old, wheat or corn porridge and boiled potatoes are added to the feed. However, the number of new products should not exceed 15%. By 12 days, goslings are able to absorb well-chopped raw vegetables.
- Chicks at the age of 17-28 days are independent enough to pluck greens on the run. They are released to pasture along with adult birds, but in the morning and evening they are fed separately with crushed and steamed grain with the addition of fresh vegetables. The content of cereals in the diet during this period should not exceed 20%. It is useful for goslings to give carrots, beets, pumpkins, boiled potatoes so that they receive enough vitamins of groups A and B.
- After 4 weeks the chicks switch to an adult diet and start fattening them for meat. In order for geese to gain weight better, from this age they are given high-calorie compound feed with a high grain content. In the finished product, all the necessary components are balanced for rapid weight gain, strengthening of the skeleton and normal digestion.
- Approximately 30 months before slaughter, geese are transferred to enhanced fattening. The daily portion of cereals alone reaches 400 g. Birds must always have food and enough water. If you leave the feeders lit, the geese will eat even at night. During this time, they gain about 1.5 kg.
- With the intensive rearing method, the total fattening period is on average 2.5 months. Geese are not released to pasture to limit their movement.
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