by Good day. Geese in winter – conditions for keeping, how to water and feed at home? Regardless of the species of birds, the most difficult period for a poultry farmer is winter. At this time of year, the level of egg production in laying hens drops sharply, flocks are massively affected by diseases in the absence of effective methods of control and prevention, and the costs associated with organizing feeding increase.
In warm seasons, birds cover the lion’s share of their nutritional needs through foraged food (various bugs, grass from natural areas, etc.), and in winter they have to spend money on concentrates, including complete feed, BVMK, premixes, etc.
Since in recent years there has been a clear return of interest in geese in amateur poultry farming, let’s talk about the nuances of winter care for this amazing waterfowl.
Conditions for keeping geese in winter
Due to the peculiarities of the feather cover, geese tolerate low temperatures in winter more easily than land birds. However, this does not mean that there can be a draft in the poultry house. Even before the first cold weather sets in, it is extremely important to seal all the cracks. If the poultry house is made of boards, this problem can be solved with ordinary cotton wool, fabric or tow.
Excessively high humidity coupled with low temperatures and drafts provoke serious pathologies, including respiratory infections. The most vulnerable parts of geese are their feet. Therefore, experienced poultry farmers, regardless of the system of keeping, keep their charges on deep litter with bacteria.
This can be a layer of chopped straw or hay. It is often recommended to keep birds on peat or a mixture of it and sawdust. This is not a very good solution, since such material is a source of organic dust.
Ideally, regular non-bacterial litter is renewed daily. It is possible as it gets wet. A complete change of the substrate occurs in spring and autumn. At the same time, repair work is carried out, the structural elements of the poultry house are disinfected. Before forming a new layer of litter, lime is poured onto the floor.
To date, scientists have obtained a lot of reliable results confirming the positive effect of bacterial bedding. For example, the composition this litter with bacteria with the association of beneficial microbes simplifies the optimization and maintenance of the temperature regime at the proper level, as they convert waste products into physiological heat.
Beneficial microflora inhibits the development of pathogens, improves sanitation, and eliminates unpleasant odors. The service life of almost all bacterial bedding is 2-3 years.
The waste material can be included in compost or used as a separate fertilizer.
Often poultry breeders supplement the litter with superphosphate. This is a fertilizer, but in our case the product is useful because it smooths out the negative effect of ammonia on the body.
Greenhouse version of a goose house
What usually happens to greenhouses in winter? As a rule, they stand mothballed and idle. A legitimate question arises: why shouldn’t a poultry farmer who has a greenhouse use it in winter as a goose house? It’s better to let the geese live in greenhouses in winter. Such a solution will allow you to postpone the construction of a traditional poultry house or even abandon it altogether if you plan to fatten the entire poultry population.
In addition, the greenhouse can be used as a preventive care facility or quarantine room. But let’s get back to the poultry house-greenhouse.
When planning to convert a greenhouse into a goose house, the following points must be taken into account:
- as with a traditional poultry house, deep litter will be required. Its use is the same as described above;
- ammonia, concentrating in the greenhouse, will cause the death of vegetable crops if it is not removed before the planting campaign in the next season. This is achieved through long-term ventilation or installation of a reliable ventilation system consisting of a supply shaft and an exhaust pipe protruding above the ridge of the room;
- you can’t do without heating devices (IR emitter, electric fireplace, potbelly stove, etc.);
- we need to take care of artificial light sources;
- dividing the greenhouse into sections that will contain groups of different ages.
Of course, such a design solution is justified for a large population of geese, and it simplifies the process of caring for young and adult animals.
Experienced poultry farmers’ experience shows that keeping livestock in a polycarbonate greenhouse is more effective.
Geese in the poultry house in winter
Before transferring the bird to the winter premises, mandatory cleaning is carried out inside: all dirt and accumulated dust are carefully removed. The ground is covered with bedding materials; here you can use the most convenient option.
A poultry house without cracks and with an optimal microclimate is not a 100% guarantee of good health and rapid growth of the bird. The internal layout of the goose house is no less important. Thus, the farthest from the door, dark place is allocated for nests, preferably near the wall and away from feeders and drinkers.
The approximate length, width and height of the nest are 60 x 60 x 50 cm. The front part of the nest should have a side. The height of the latter is 10 cm. The side prevents the litter from “running away” from the nest. The bottom of the nest is made of boards or plywood. If the floor in the poultry house is made of boards, you can install nests without a bottom. A tin bottom is not an option, since in winter an egg buried in the litter of the nest can freeze.
It is also important to make sure that there is no competition between the hens due to a lack of nests. According to educational literature, one female needs her own individual place.
The practice of amateur poultry farmers shows that two layers quite calmly share one nest. Therefore, each beginning poultry farmer should choose for himself how many places to equip for his charges for egg laying.
The same established poultry breeders say that nests located next to each other should be separated by solid partitions. Of course, excluding visual contact between the hens in the nests. In this case, the geese are less worried. Therefore, the process of egg formation is easier for them, that is, ovulation occurs.
Important point: organoleptic indicators, chemistry and culinary qualities of eggs depend to a certain extent on the humidity and sanitary condition of nests. Therefore, another mandatory condition for obtaining high-quality products is daily renewal or replacement of the substrate in the nests.
Also, you should not delay collecting eggs, as this will lead to contamination of their shells.
Geese in winter how to feed and water correctly
Now let’s talk about drinking bowls. Many beginners, having watched advertising videos, immediately turn to specialized stores in order to purchase sophisticated drinking bowls. They are inexpensive, but, as we know, a penny saved is a penny earned.
Believe me, geese don’t care what they drink from – buckets, hand-made wooden troughs or store-bought containers. It’s much more important that the birds always have free access to clean drinking water.
By the way, to determine the approximate daily water consumption, it should be taken into account that the average daily drinking water requirement is two liters per adult.
If you study the experience of experienced goose breeders, it will become obvious that it is more practical to feed from small troughs located above the surface of the litter. To reduce feed losses, the design of the feeders is supplemented with several transverse bars on top. By the way, if you use one of these “limiters” as a handle, the feeder is easier to carry.
A feeder with sides that match the height of the geese’s upper back helps save feed by reducing losses.
And another important point – it is necessary to provide an optimal feeding front for each bird. If there is not enough of it, fights occur in feeding places, the weakest individuals are underfed and lose weight.
Practical aspects of organizing winter feeding
In November-December, a 2-time daily feeding regimen is more useful. In the morning, the birds are fed with wet mash, and in the evening with grain mixtures. In January, many farms switch the birds to a 3-time feeding regimen. In the morning and evening, the flock is fed with grain, and at noon with mash. In a group of layers, 4-time feeding is justified.
In winter, grass is unavailable. It is replaced with hay dust, dried nettles and chaff. These feeds can be included in the diet both in dry form and after preliminary steaming.
What to do with large-stemmed hay? It is cut and put into boiling water. All this is supplemented with bran and chopped vegetables. Instead of hay, it is sometimes useful to give chaff.
The above-mentioned mixtures provide the body with vitamins and are superior to other feeds in digestibility. And also – thanks to this approach to feeding, the quality indicators of eggs selected for artificial incubation are improved.
Of the grains, oats are most suitable for layers. Excessive daily norms of wheat and barley are the cause of obesity in geese and, accordingly, a decrease in their egg production. Whole and crushed grains are applicable in the diet of adult geese.
Grain is a concentrated feed – an expensive pleasure. For this reason, it is partially replaced by boiled potatoes, soaked peas.
Important: accustoming goslings to raw potatoes in the future eliminates the need for heat preparation.
The wet mash should be prepared so that it is enough for one feeding, as it is perishable food. If you neglect the last point, the probability of mass poisoning of geese will increase.
