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<\/figure>\n\n\n\nGeese have specific nutritional requirements<\/a> just like other animals. Care must be taken or they may become too fat<\/a> and that can be detrimental to health.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Although they are similar to ducks, being waterfowl, there are some definite differences when it comes to food. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Ducks are omnivorous and eat plants, grains, insects, and meat just like chickens do. Geese, in contrast, are entirely herbivores by nature.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Many commercial feeds are designed for ducks and geese, but it\u2019s better to avoid the ones that have animal products or fish meal added if you want to feed your geese properly.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Some geese are still filter feeders like ducks, but most have evolved to exist on a diet of grass, leaves, roots, and other plants, and their beaks have adapted accordingly. <\/p>\n\n\n\n The required constituents of a gooses diet include:<\/p>\n\n\n\n The amino acids contained in protein are necessary for geese to build feathers and muscle. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Some amino acids known as \u201cessential amino acids,\u201d <\/em>cannot be produced by the bird and must be contained in their diet. This means it\u2019s vital to ensure these are available in the food the goose is eating. Non-essential amino acids are synthesised by the goose\u2019s body.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The amino acid content varies from one commercial feed manufacturer to the next, depending on how it\u2019s created.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Offering your geese some scratch grain can be beneficial for several reasons. Grains contain vitamin E, B, and Phosphorus and also give the birds a fun time scratching around for them, encouraging natural behavior. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Scratch grain is not nutritionally complete and should make up only 10% of the birds’ food intake each day.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Overfeeding scratch grain can mean that excess is left on the ground. There are two problems with this, firstly it attracts vermin such as rats and mice, and secondly, if it becomes damp and moldy, it can cause your geese significant health problems and even kill them if they eat it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n By nature, geese are grazers and, like other herbivores, get much of their nutrition from eating grasses and other plants. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Certain types of grass and weeds are more beneficial to geese than others. They enjoy:<\/p>\n\n\n\n Some plants grown for cattle, such as alfalfa, are not especially liked as they are too tough.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Plants are essential to geese to provide them with vitamins and minerals and help provide a healthy immune system.<\/p>\n\n\n\n You can also feed geese healthy green snacks, which you\u2019ll discover in our list of \u201cwhat do I feed a goose\u201d below. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Just like chickens, geese need insoluble grit in the form of small hard rocks to help them digest food. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Geese don\u2019t have any teeth, so to break down the tough foods they eat, they have an internal organ called a gizzard. This is very strong, and muscular. The grit works by helping to grind the food down inside the gizzard.<\/p>\n\n\n\n It is best to provide your geese with free access to a bowl of grit so they can take it when needed. Birds of different ages require a different size of grit; goslings need nothing more than coarse sand.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Insufficient grit can cause digestive problems and may lead to an impacted crop. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Niacin (vitamin B3) is required by geese, especially goslings, to grow strong bones and joints. Insufficient niacin can result in deformities and various other problems. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Ensure that the feed you choose for your birds contains enough niacin. This is a standard ingredient in waterfowl formulas. Chicken feed is not high enough in this vitamin for geese.<\/p>\n\n\n\n If your geese have access to plenty of green foods, they should be able to get sufficient calcium and vitamin A naturally in their diet. <\/p>\n\n\n\n The best way of checking this is by keeping a close watch on their eggs. If the shells are soft, then a calcium supplement may be required.<\/p>\n\n\n\n It\u2019s a good idea to check with a veterinary surgeon about this, as soft eggshells can also have other causes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Just like us, geese normally synthesize vitamin D from sun exposure. If you live in an area with very little sunshine, then additional vitamin D needs to be fed. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Vitamin D3 is the particular form necessary, and Kelp, a type of seaweed, is a popular supplemental source.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Insufficient vitamin D can also result in weak bones and soft eggshells, as can a lack of calcium or phosphorous.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Being waterfowl, geese not only require water to bathe and swim in, but they also need it to drink. Ensuring a plentiful supply of fresh, clean water is available at all times is essential to the health of your birds.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Geese are pretty fussy and don\u2019t like to drink dirty water. To keep the water clean, you can use a poultry fountain and a container large enough for the geese to bathe.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Don\u2019t forget that water often freezes during the colder winter months, so it may need to be placed in a barn or have a special water heater.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Water is vital to stop your geese from choking on their food and to help keep their nostrils (nares) clean.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Pasture provides a large part of a goose’s diet during the warmer months. The grass is best kept cut short in spring and fall, but during summer it\u2019s sometimes preferable to let some areas grow longer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The reason for allowing grass to grow long in summer is because if you cut it short, it gets burned by the sun and dies. Leaving it long keeps the shorter grasses that grow in between the longer ones green for longer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Commercial chicken feeds offer a wide choice of brands, but this isn\u2019t the case with food made specifically for geese. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Pelleted waterfowl feed is usually quite readily available and is suitable as a complete food for geese. It shouldn\u2019t contain any animal byproducts such as fish meal and must be free of antibiotics or added hormones. Read the label carefully.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Although geese do require the same nutrients as chickens, they need them in different ratios. This renders chicken food unsuitable for your geese.<\/p>\n\n\n\n If your local feed store doesn\u2019t carry any suitable feed, ask them to order it for you, or you can purchase it from an online retailer. <\/p>\n\n\n\n It is imperative to feed the correct type of feed for the age and job of the bird. A starter feed needs to be used for young goslings, while layer pellets are what\u2019s required by geese laying eggs<\/a>, as they have a higher calcium content.<\/p>\n\n\n\n If in any doubt, get advice about what feed is right for your birds from a veterinarian or from your feed store if they have someone suitably knowledgeable. <\/p>\n\n\n\n In this video, a farmer talks about how he sprouts grain in winter to feed his geese when there is no grass to graze:<\/p>\n\n\n\nProtein and Amino Acids<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Fresh Grass<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Grit<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Niacin<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Calcium and Vitamin A <\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Vitamin D<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Water<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
What Do I Feed a Goose?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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<\/figure>\n\n\n\nAge-appropriate feed<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Winter Feeding<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
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