Author Topic: geese hay haylage (Read 2050 times)

harry · « **on:** April 10, 2013, 08:27:46 pm »

do geese like hay and haylage i would expect so..... bloody grass is still asleep and later i may need to pen them up for a week sop i can spray the nettles etc

HesterF · « **Reply #1 on:** April 10, 2013, 11:41:37 pm »

Wouldn't hay be too long for them? Chance of blocking their crop? I thought they just liked to snip off the tender tips and they shouldn't be given anything longer than 4 inches in case of blockage. Would have thought you'd be better off keeping them on a mix of pellets and corn until you've got the grass sorted. Not sure though - still new to geese and we have plenty of short grass for them at the moment.

H

lachlanandmarcus · « **Reply #2 on:** April 11, 2013, 07:26:32 am »

No they don't like it and it would be dangerous, too long strands. They will manage fine with just some whole wheat and water until the grass arrives. I give one large scoop to 5 heavy geese per day and they overwinter fine even in the snow. They are tough cookies!

Womble · « **Reply #3 on:** April 11, 2013, 07:32:13 am »

^ Ditto. AND they still lay an egg each every couple of days!

hughesy · « **Reply #4 on:** April 11, 2013, 10:40:01 am »

Yup. All ours get is some corn in the evening. They forage for the rest and have thrived even over the bad winter that we've had. I think they'd have to be starving to start eating hay.