Agriculture Reference
In-Depth Information
predator can bite the head of a duck that sticks its head outside the fence. The fencing material
should be stretched taut and secured to posts (steel or wood) securely driven into the ground.
Keep in mind that ducks will need shade if temperatures approach 70 degrees F or above. Nat-
ural shade through trees or allowing access to a covered pen will be adequate. If the ducks are
kept fenced in an opened area, you can build a simple shade for them using three 12-inch long
2-by-4 boards and a piece of ½-inch thick plywood. FarmTek ( www.farmtek.com ), an agri-
cultural supplier, also carries lightweight livestock canopies and covers composed of tough,
weather-resistant plastic, which make a simple and affordable shade cover for ducks.
Feeding Ducks and Geese
A good commercial starter feed will get your young goslings and ducklings off to a good start.
They are generally disease resistant, so a medicated feed will not be necessary. In fact, certain
medications found in chick starters can cause health problems in goslings and ducklings.
Chicks peck at their feed while goslings and ducklings are voracious eaters. This means they
can overdose on the medicated feed, causing organ damage. Look for starter feed made for
ducklings and goslings, or feed them an unmedicated feed. If your feed store does not carry
starter feed for ducks and geese, they may be able to order it for you. Starting the first week of
life, small amounts of fresh growing grass or fresh clippings also can be fed to the birds. After
four weeks, their diet can be supplemented with cracked corn, and they can be switched to a
grower ration.
A plot of pasture enclosed by a 3-foot, woven-wire fence makes a great feed source for the
birds when they are about 6 weeks old. As an alternative to heavy, permanent wire fencing,
you can use a lightweight, portable electric fence, called poultry netting , made of plastic and
electro-plastic strings. By using a fencer to deliver an electric charge to the fence, you can
keep the geese inside and thwart predators with a stiff shock if they try to gain access to the
flock. Premier fencing ( www.premier1supplies.com ) carries poultry netting, fencers, and
plastic PVC posts along with valuable tips on how to use the netting for poultry flocks.
Both ducks and geese are great at foraging both bugs and plants. Geese are larger than ducks
and will need more pasture, or they will quickly become defoliated and heavily soiled. They
do not care for alfalfa or tough, narrow leaved grasses. Good plants for pasture are brome
grass, Timothy, orchard grass, bluegrass, and clover. The pasture will need to be monitored, as
it quickly can become defoliated and heavily soiled by the geese. Grass for goose pasture
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