Use separate feeders

Place dedicated feeding stations for geese and chickens at least 3 metres apart. Geese require higher niacin levels (55-65 mg/kg of feed) than chickens, and standard chicken layer feed lacks sufficient niacin for geese. Geese also eat by scooping, flinging feed and wasting it from chicken-style feeders, while they may guard a shared feeder and prevent chickens from eating.

Why It Works

Separate feeders ensure each species gets the correct nutritional profile without competition. Geese on chicken feed alone develop niacin deficiency, causing leg problems within weeks. Dedicated stations also eliminate feeding-time aggression, which is one of the most common triggers for injuries in mixed flocks.

Tips

• Use wide, low pans for goose feed and elevated or enclosed feeders for chickens
• Add brewer's yeast to goose feed as a niacin supplement if using general waterfowl pellets
• Feed at consistent times to reduce competition and allow you to monitor intake