[graham-j]

Hi,my geese have all but wiped out the grass in there paddock.I have always supplemented them with grain and apples.
Now that the grass has run out what and how much should I be feeding them,there is grass left but its very thin all the rain we have had has turned things very muddy.
There is 25 of them mainly embdens on about 2acer orchard/paddock.

Graham.

[lachlanandmarcus]

I feed my (6, 4 embdens and 2 toulouse) just a small handful of whole wheat each day, through snow, hail whatever and they seem to come through the winter very well. Im assuming they are keepers, not being fattened so it is just a maintenance ration.
Im not sure about the recommended stocking level - even tho in NE Scot we still have grass for them as the 6 have about an acre to themselves. Not sure I would have 25 on 2 acres up here as our grass season is short.

[hughesy]

I feed our four embdens a small amount of mixed corn in the evening but they do have free range over plenty of grass. Probably not much nutrition in it now though. They are breeding stock not fatteners. I gave them some layers pellets last week that had got a bit wet in the rain so didn't want to put it in the chicken feeders. It pretty much came out the back the same as it went in. Went straight through em!

[Womble]

Just say they were Christmas fatteners though, and in the same situation?  Would it be best to feed grain ad-lib do you think?

[hughesy]

I think if they were for the xmas market I'd have been feeding wheat or mixed corn more since the grass stopped growing. They should have done their growing by now so I'd be thinking of not letting them lay down too much fat.

[Shropshirelass]

If their for xmas we're lucky enough to have a large apple orchard & we fatten them on grain that & boiled potatoes that are no good for cooking & their shut in 1-2 weeks before slaughter & let out less to gain the extra weight (so say half a day instead of a full day about a month before)

[graham-j]

Hi,thanks for the the replies,about half are going for Christmas and I have been feeding pinched grain and apples also brewers grains ab-lib.
What sort of quantity of grain should I be feeding,they are getting a builders bucket full every day,3/4 pinched grain and 1/4 chicken growwers pellets and a scoop of chopped maize they also have brewers grains ab-lib and fresh hay and what ever green I can get hold of.There is still some grass left but it is now very thin.
This is the first time I have kept geese any advice greatly appreciated.