Ducks vs Geese with food and water

[zooweemama]

I have 14 ducks that I raised from day olds. They are messy messy pigs from day 1. Drinking and splashing so much water I was refilling their 1/2 gallon waterers several times a day (even the batch of 8 ducklings) and changing their bedding 3 or more times a day. They ate massive amounts of food- always eating like they were starving. My goslings- granted are still recovering from something (stressful shipping? don;t know) so maybe they just haven't found their groove yet. They are eating and drinking but yesterday the two of them didn't consume even a 1/2 cup of feed. I have been giving them fresh wheat grass clippings because I know they need that sort of thing. I think between the two of them maybe 1 cup of water?

Are geese just naturally neater and tidier and less piggish? Or should I be concerned about them? They were hatched Monday. Maybe I am just worried because they just do not behave anything like my frantic piggy ducks. Thanks!

 

[flockman]

My geese have been a lot less piggish. They have been much more neat and tidy. The geese ate a lot of grass and less feed than my ducks. When I feed them the geese now push their way in and eat a little and then head back to the grass. It almost seems that they eat the feed just to show the ducks who is boss. Gotta love em. I know I like my geese the most of all of our birds. The ducks are fun to watch in the water or mud. Chickens are neat to watch as well. The geese just demand attention. I have to say that the buff geese are just beautiful. I am sure your super africans will be wonderful as well.

 

[1MrsMagoo]

Geese are much cleaner to brood than ducks until 2.5 or 3 weeks of age. At this point, the rapid growth and increased poo size becomes a serious mess factor. By three weeks of age, it is best to have them in a safe, secure outdoor yard during the day and they can be returned to the brooder at night, although they will get too big for it rather quickly. Otherwise, they are far easier and cleaner to raise than my ducks.

Also the geese seem to consume far less commercial feed and are much cleaner with their water and do not drink it as fast as the ducks do either. The only time you will notice a real increase in the amount of commercial feed eaten by your geese is during breeding season: I noticed my goose visiting the feeders far more frequently than usual. Even though my ducks forage on 5 of our 7 acres all day long and receive their daily rations in the morning, you'd think I have been starving the poor darlings to death by evening. If I give them a snack prior to putting them up for the night, they attack the bowl with such voracity, that you'd think they hadn't eaten in a week.

Good luck with them: They certainly are adorable. I hope your little lady goose is feeling better and her eyes have cleared up for you!

 

[zooweemama]

Oh my goodness. They want more grass! I put down a fresh clean diaper (I used to cloth diaper my kids so I have a lot of these leftover and they are awesome for home use!!) and I put a pile of clippings on it and they are gone. haha! So they ARE eating they just want lotsa greens. I'm on it!

I am happy to hear they just eat less feed and my goslings are not more sick than I thought. What a ninny I am. I am feel good about my duck care...I am doing chicks and geese now (at the same time) and frankly NONE of these birds are even remotely comparable. They are all unique in care, diet, personality and mess. LOL I always thought I disliked birds and now I am just crazy about all these guys!

 

[plantcityhomestead]

Oh my goodness. They want more grass! I put down a fresh clean diaper (I used to cloth diaper my kids so I have a lot of these leftover and they are awesome for home use!!) and I put a pile of clippings on it and they are gone. haha! So they ARE eating they just want lotsa greens. I'm on it!

I am happy to hear they just eat less feed and my goslings are not more sick than I thought. What a ninny I am. I am feel good about my duck care...I am doing chicks and geese now (at the same time) and frankly NONE of these birds are even remotely comparable. They are all unique in care, diet, personality and mess. LOL I always thought I disliked birds and now I am just crazy about all these guys!

In a couple of days you will need an acre of wheatgrass. My geese have always preferred grass to feed. Last winter I did not plant winter grass, and my feed bill went through the roof. It is amazing how much grass they can eat. Green leafy things are high in B vitamins (niacin included), so they are really good for the geese and will help them feel better.

The geese will definitely get as messy as the ducks, but they can be outside much of the day. MrsMagoo was spot on in her advise.

 

[SummerChick]

How long have you had your goslings? I remember reading you were waiting on them to arrive. I got mind from a feed store. From day one they ran around eating and drinking and tasting anything and everything. They were about a week old. I took them outside everyday to eat grass, at first they just nibble it, after a few days they started gobbling it down!
Maybe yours need electrolytes? I hope they perk up soon.

Best Wishes!

Laurie

 

[zooweemama]

Thanks everyone!

Laurie they arrived unwell. I've had them since late Tuesday afternoon. 3pm I want to say. They are currently on electrolyte/immune booster + antibiotics for their icky respiratory issue + eye drops for the female (her eyes look like someone beat her up when I opened the box Tuesday when they arrived. she was extremely lethargic too.) within hours they were both breathing wet and flinging snot everywhere and even frothing/puking at the mouth a bit (like vomit maybe?)...very weird. I am feeding them oodles of wheat grass (we do not have grass actually- so I can.t set them loose on our yard to munch. think little house on the prairie- that's our yard.) I have no choice but to feed them greens and wheat grass and feed. But they are eating better since I started giving them handfuls of wheat grass when they run out of the last handful.

 

[SummerChick]

Poor lil goslings! No telling what they went through during transit. Mine love romaine lettuce chopped up fine, and just started adding some kale. I let mine out to graze about an hour before i go to work in the morning, and let them out again for a few hours when i get home after work. So as a treat for having to stay inside for all those hours, i give them the lettuce and kale and they love it but now they expect it...lol. I am working on building them a safe pin to play in while im at work and keep them inside at night until i build a safe place for night.
All this was just to let you know about the lettuce. I also chop up some carrots and a little apple in the morning for them. It sounds like you are taking very good care of your babies and im sure in time they will be much better.

Laurie

 

[zooweemama]

Poor lil goslings! No telling what they went through during transit. Mine love romaine lettuce chopped up fine, and just started adding some kale. I let mine out to graze about an hour before i go to work in the morning, and let them out again for a few hours when i get home after work. So as a treat for having to stay inside for all those hours, i give them the lettuce and kale and they love it but now they expect it...lol. I am working on building them a safe pin to play in while im at work and keep them inside at night until i build a safe place for night.
All this was just to let you know about the lettuce. I also chop up some carrots and a little apple in the morning for them. It sounds like you are taking very good care of your babies and im sure in time they will be much better.

Laurie

I buy lots of greens- we eat them ourselves. Sometimes I buy too much so this will be a happy way to use it all up! I will try some tomorrow. Chopped tiny for them. Do you shred the apple/carrot or literally chop it?

 

[Miss Lydia]

I buy lots of greens- we eat them ourselves. Sometimes I buy too much so this will be a happy way to use it all up! I will try some tomorrow. Chopped tiny for them. Do you shred the apple/carrot or literally chop it?

I tell you something else my gander loves is grapes. I buy Organic they cost more but we all eat them and think they are safer. but I cut them for him and he will gobble them up. I think they would be safe for goslings in small quantity. and Romaine lettuce but he will only eat store bought things like that in the winter when fresh is dead around here.