Feed the starter free-choice throughout the brooding period (4 to 5 weeks). For the first few days, place feed on egg case flats as well as in the feeder to help the birds find it. You can use the same kind of feeders used for chicks. Change the type of feeder or adjust its size as the birds grow. Provide insoluble grit at all times. After the first 3 or 4 weeks, cracked grains can be fed along with the chick starter.
By the time the birds are 5 to 6 weeks old, they do quite well foraging on various grasses, greens and insects. Supplemental whole grain or grower feed (chick or goose grower pellets) is often continued on a limited basis (1 to 1.5 lbs. per bird per week) after the birds have become accustomed to grazing. However, many flocks are raised on green feed only during the grazing period.
When the birds are 12 to 14 weeks old, switch them to a full feeding program. If they have been on whole grain, change the diet to growing-finishing pellets or a ration with adequate protein, vitamins and minerals. Geese normally reach a desirable weight (11 to 15 lbs.) and finish 3 to 4 weeks after starting full feeding.
General Information
Geese are excellent foragers. Good succulent pasture or lawn clippings can be provided as early as the first week. This helps prepare them for eventual heavy dependence on pasture. By the time the birds are 5 to 6 weeks old, a good share of their feed can be from forage. Be sure the birds have adequate shade in hot weather. A 3-foot woven wire fence will usually confine the geese to the grazing area.
Geese are often selective and tend to pick out the most palatable forages. They will reject alfalfa and narrow-leaved tough grasses and select more succulent clovers, bluegrass, orchard grass, timothy or bromegrass. They will not do well on dried-out pasture. Corn or pea silage can be fed if available. An acre of pasture will support 20 to 40 birds, depending on the size of the geese and pasture quality. Always avoid pasture or green feed that may have had a chemical treatment that could be harmful to the birds.
Home flock geese are usually processed in time for the holiday season in late fall when they are 4 to 6 months old. Confine them in a smaller pen and place them on full feed 3 or 4 weeks prior to processing. Do not fatten any birds to be saved for breeding stock.
It is possible to grow geese more rapidly by full feeding grower-finisher pellets throughout the growing period on range. However, if this is done they reach the desirable weight (11 to 15 lbs.) and finish at 12 to 14 weeks of age. At this time, the feather condition is one of many, many pinfeathers, which makes cleaning and plucking virtually impossible. After 14 weeks, this feather condition rapidly improves. Therefore, it appears wise to make full use of pasture by restricting feed during the early period on range, and to full feed for the minimum length of time required to do the job. Growth retardation during the range period does not appear to have any permanent effect on future growth. One case has been reported where goslings gained only 2 pounds from 3 to 12 weeks of age because of restricted feed and poor pasture. At 12 weeks they were placed on full feed and gained more than a pound a week for the next 5 weeks.
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