Caring for Geese

Picture courtesy of theseanster93

Keeping Geese on Grass

When initially caring for geese, after a couple of weeks the goslings can be provided access to an outside area but please be careful that they do not get overly cold. As foxes maybe around the use of a fox proof fence should be implemented but, if you do not have access to this equipment, ensure that the geese are kept inside at night as to protect them from the danger. If there are any trees, vegetables or plants around the area that you will be keeping the geese you will need to protect these as the geese will likely eat them! Using a fence which is around three foot high should suffice.

Feeding Geese

Initially, the goslings should be started on a good starter ration and moved onto a grower ration at around the three week point. As a way to aid digestion, the geese should be provided with access to flint grit. The finishing ration for the geese should last between three and seven weeks and during this time the geese’s access to grass should be restricted. The final period coincides with the part of year in which grass loses its nutritional value and this acts as a filler and will reduce the amount of weight that the geese gain.

Checking and Caring for Geese

You should take the opportunity to check your geese at least once a day. During this time, it is recommended that their water drinkers are checked to ensure that they have plenty and that the water is clean. The geese should also be littered once a day.

When working around geese, it is recommended that you give them plenty of room to ensure that they feel safe and comfortable going about their own business. It is recommended that attention is paid to any geese which move away at a significantly slower pace than the other geese as this could indicate that they are ill and need treatment. If any geese do indeed move slower than the others, they should be monitored over the next few days.

Any objects which the geese may eat or sustain an injury from should be removed from their living area.

Controlling Vermin

Vermin may be attracted to the area in which there are geese as they are attracted to food. Vermin can be a particular problem when keeping geese as food can be spilt and if vermin are then around they can spread disease, cause damage and occasionally even attack. To prevent vermin, measures to avoid them such as cleaning up spilt food, keeping food in a vermin proof container and blocking up holes around the area that geese are living in is highly recommended.

This is a guest post by Martin Gulliver goose breeder with over 20 years experience in breeding geese.

Water hyacinth beautiful, invasive and toxin-eater

My grass carps loved water hyacints - after I brought new plants, they were tearing them apart in less than 5 minutes. I've tried twice and then I got rid of grass carps in the pond - which from the beginning was wrong idea. If you are a beginner gardener, as I used to be, maybe nobody will warn you 'don't let grass carp to your sweet garden pond'. Feel warned now. And don't let them in.

Water hyacinth are a lovely floating perennial aquatic plant native to tropical and sub-tropical South America. In colder climate zones it is annual, as winters are to harsh for them to survive.

This is one of the fastest growing plants known - they double their population in two weeks! also ther seeds are known to be viable up to thirty years.
So if your winter are mild watch out - and check if water hyacinth is not invasive in your region.

If it's safe to let it to your pond, do it - maybe it will send you these lovely blooms?

This lovely blooming plant has a high capacity for uptaking of heavy metals, including Cd, Cr, Co, Ni, Pb, Hg and cyanides, which it suitable for the biocleaning of industrial wastewater.

Further recommended reading Backyard Water Gardens: How to Build, Plant & Maintain Ponds, Streams & Fountains