Feeding geese chaff?

[A_Bright_Star]

I'm researching things to help supplement my geese's diet when/if the grass dies down. I've seen people recommend against things like hay due to impaction risks, is feeding them something such as chaff (chopped hay) suitable? Or is the risk of impaction still there? Are the geese likely to be uninterested?

 

[Debbie292d]

I'm not sure why geese would get impacted crops from eating hay, especially if it's not just dried grass. Our neighbors' geese hang out in the alfalfa field between us. They live off of grain fields in the wild too. I'd give it a try, especially in the winter. They need the roughage and fiber.

 

[Goosebaby]

Some offer dry alfalfa, geese only seem to like it if it’s the best quality though.

There’s also a vast range of treats and snacks you can try. Geese can be picky and take their time to get used to something so it can take a few tries to get them to eat something new.

Some things to try:
Pumpkin, pumpkin seeds, melon, cucumber, tomatoes, carrots, peas, corn, kale, spinach, romaine, apples, pears, peaches, grapes, berries, citrus, cabbage, broccoli, papaya, sunflower seeds, banana.

Never give them uncooked beans, chocolate, avocado, basically things you can’t feed a dog.

 

[A_Bright_Star]

Thanks for the advice! I'll try the chaff to see if they're interested and definitely try some of the treats suggested too

 

[Moments]

Some offer dry alfalfa, geese only seem to like it if it’s the best quality though.

There’s also a vast range of treats and snacks you can try. Geese can be picky and take their time to get used to something so it can take a few tries to get them to eat something new.

Some things to try:
Pumpkin, pumpkin seeds, melon, cucumber, tomatoes, carrots, peas, corn, kale, spinach, romaine, apples, pears, peaches, grapes, berries, citrus, cabbage, broccoli, papaya, sunflower seeds, banana.

Never give them uncooked beans, chocolate, avocado, basically things you can’t feed a dog.

Fussy is sooooo right! I have an african, she won't touch hay... just uses it for bedding. Grass and dandelion greens are her favorite but this time of year not available. I read that hard white wheat is good this time of year to have with regular feed but it took awhile for her to be accepting of it, but finally conceded lol. She likes cucumbers, kale (not if even mildly wilted or dried), loves romaine (right now), likes peas when she likes them, only likes pink lady apples (tosses everything else I've tried).. and so on. She likes picking berries around the property with my daughter during berry season, it's the cutest thing. With pumpkin seeds I put them in a small blender with water to break them down a bit and her and the ducks seem to enjoy then that way but won't eat whole or even half seeds. With everything she's good with it for a period of time but then gets sick of it so I pretty much have to do a rotation.... like with a toddler lol. I do wonder about citrus though... I thought it wasn't good for waterfowl, I've definitely read it's a no no for ducks. And also spinach as an occasional snack.

 

[Goosebaby]

Fussy is sooooo right! I have an african, she won't touch hay... just uses it for bedding. Grass and dandelion greens are her favorite but this time of year not available. I read that hard white wheat is good this time of year to have with regular feed but it took awhile for her to be accepting of it, but finally conceded lol. She likes cucumbers, kale (not if even mildly wilted or dried), loves romaine (right now), likes peas when she likes them, only likes pink lady apples (tosses everything else I've tried).. and so on. She likes picking berries around the property with my daughter during berry season, it's the cutest thing. With pumpkin seeds I put them in a small blender with water to break them down a bit and her and the ducks seem to enjoy then that way but won't eat whole or even half seeds. With everything she's good with it for a period of time but then gets sick of it so I pretty much have to do a rotation.... like with a toddler lol. I do wonder about citrus though... I thought it wasn't good for waterfowl, I've definitely read it's a no no for ducks. And also spinach as an occasional snack.

Spinach, kale, Swiss chard have oxalic acid that can prevent calcium absorption but the risk is if it makes up the majority of their diet, it’s mostly only active while they’re eating it and once it has left their digestive system it’s not going to affect them, so if they eat something else later in the day it’s not much of a worry. The advantages out way the cons unless you’re overdoing it.

Too much citrus can cause digestive issues and nutrient absorption problems and chemicals in the peel can cause issues with the organs but again this is if you’re pretty much only feeding your birds citrus or feeding them orange peels in high dosages which I don’t think anyone sane would do and the birds will only eat them if they’re desperately hungry.
My birds get satsumas and oranges regularly when they’re in season “those that like them” and they do all right but it’s a treat and not all they’re eating.

I think people can get a little carried away with some of the things they’ll hear on the internet. A good rule is that all good things should be in moderation, a varied diet is best for them as well as for us. I mean if we only ate spinach or oranges for a week straight ourselves it would definitely cause some serious health problems but mixing them in here and there isn’t something to worry about.


Something to consider though is if there is a health issue going on it’s good to research if something they’re eating can help or exasperate the issue in some way or affect any medication they might be on, for example some of my birds love banana, it even drives some of them to violence if they think someone else is getting more than they are, but if they’re being treated with an antibiotic called SMZ TMP they can’t have potassium in excess so no banana until the antibiotic is out of their system.

 

[Moments]

Spinach, kale, Swiss chard have oxalic acid that can prevent calcium absorption but the risk is if it makes up the majority of their diet, it’s mostly only active while they’re eating it and once it has left their digestive system it’s not going to affect them, so if they eat something else later in the day it’s not much of a worry. The advantages out way the cons unless you’re overdoing it.

Too much citrus can cause digestive issues and nutrient absorption problems and chemicals in the peel can cause issues with the organs but again this is if you’re pretty much only feeding your birds citrus or feeding them orange peels in high dosages which I don’t think anyone sane would do and the birds will only eat them if they’re desperately hungry.
My birds get satsumas and oranges regularly when they’re in season “those that like them” and they do all right but it’s a treat and not all they’re eating.

I think people can get a little carried away with some of the things they’ll hear on the internet. A good rule is that all good things should be in moderation, a varied diet is best for them as well as for us. I mean if we only ate spinach or oranges for a week straight ourselves it would definitely cause some serious health problems but mixing them in here and there isn’t something to worry about.


Something to consider though is if there is a health issue going on it’s good to research if something they’re eating can help or exasperate the issue in some way or affect any medication they might be on, for example some of my birds love banana, it even drives some of them to violence if they think someone else is getting more than they are, but if they’re being treated with an antibiotic called SMZ TMP they can’t have potassium in excess so no banana until the antibiotic is out of their system.

Oh I give spinach on occasion and as you said don't overdue it. But I think it's so easy for some to unknowingly overdo it. And say one has thinner eggs, and the owner isn't aware and giving something that can affect calcium it can make it worse leading to an issue. The information I use is from a lady with decades of experience and has written books, etc. Getting info on the internet is just nerve-wracking lol.

 

[Goosebaby]

Oh I give spinach on occasion and as you said don't overdue it. But I think it's so easy for some to unknowingly overdo it. And say one has thinner eggs, and the owner isn't aware and giving something that can affect calcium it can make it worse leading to an issue. The information I use is from a lady with decades of experience and has written books, etc. Getting info on the internet is just nerve-wracking lol.

Yeah there’s a lot of nonsense on the internet and it can be hard to sort through whats legitimate and what’s not.

 

[A_Bright_Star]

I did end up offering some lucerne chaff and they picked through it. I wouldn't say they loved if but they didn't turn their beaks up at it either