What do you feed to geese?

Offer appropriately sized poultry grit free-choice in a separate container. For laying geese, provide crushed oyster shell in its own dish alongside the grit. Do not mix grit or oyster shell into the regular feed; let geese self-regulate their intake.

Provide clean, fresh drinking water at all times in containers deep enough for geese to fully submerge their heads. A depth of at least 4-6 inches allows geese to clear their nasal passages and eyes. An adult goose drinks roughly half a gallon of water per day, more in hot weather.

Give geese daily access to pesticide-free pasture where they can graze on grass, clover, dandelions, and weeds. For adult geese, fresh forage should constitute 70-80% of total diet during the growing season. Rotate grazing areas every 2-4 weeks to prevent parasite buildup and allow regrowth.

Supplement forage with a balanced commercial waterfowl or goose feed formulated for each life stage. Use starter feed (20-22% protein) for goslings up to 4 weeks, grower feed (16-18% protein) until 10 weeks, and a layer feed with added calcium for breeding or laying geese. Non-laying adults do well…

Modify diet composition based on life stage and time of year. Goslings need 20-22% protein starter for the first 4 weeks, then transition to 16% grower feed. Adults in winter require increased supplemental pellets and grains when pasture is dormant. Laying geese should switch to layer feed with…

Provide small amounts of scratch grains such as cracked corn, whole oats, or wheat as a treat or energy boost. Limit grains to no more than 10-15% of total daily intake. Feed grains in the late afternoon after geese have spent the day foraging on pasture.