Article 4236 (40 more) in misc.rural:
From: gil@Gilsys.DIALix.oz.au (Gil Hardwick)
Subject: Re: fodder for ducks & geese

If you are raising ducks and geese, may I suggest a support enterprise
in aquaculture with a few pigs thrown in for good measure would offer
a highly sustainable nutrition cycle for the birds, especially suited
to a place like Hawaii.

Apart from your alfalfa and buckwheat for range feeding of the flocks,
water hyacynth can be grown on the pond surface (Chinese use floating
bamboo to contain it) which can be chopped up as fodder, and snails as
well as insects will populate the edges of the pond for your birds to
browse.

The flocks of grazing birds would also return nutrients to the ponds
to support a high volume of aquacultural production. A few pigs will
scavenge the area and keep it clean, providing your household with
pork at no extra burden on the nutrition cycle.
--
Gil Hardwick                                      gil@Gilsys.DIALix.oz.au


Article 12134 (221 more) in rec.gardens:
Newsgroups: misc.rural,rec.gardens
From: rim@csadfa.cs.adfa.oz.au (Bob McKay)
Subject: Re: Growing fodder..
Date: Thu, 19 Nov 1992 21:56:26 GMT

claird@NeoSoft.com (Cameron Laird) writes:
>In article <1992Nov18.090359.5839@news.Hawaii.Edu> 
>yee@uhunix.uhcc.Hawaii.Edu (Jonathan Yee) writes:
>>      Anybody have any experience growing fodder for farm animals?
>>Lately, for my newly established duck & goose enterprise I have decided to
>>try to grow my own feed -- at least as a supplement.  I've so far sown
>>clover, alfalfa, & buckwheat seeds purchased at a health food store.
>                       .
>I haven't raised waterfowl, and I've never been to
>Hawaii, but I'd guess you've made some good choices.

Only just noticed this thread, but I can confirm that geese LOVE clover 
(though if you use it as a forage crop, you'll need to keep a close eye on
them, as otherwise they'll eradicate it pretty successfully). Don't know
ducks, can't really comment (I thought ducks were pretty much carnivorous, but
it sounds like I'm wrong),
    Cheers
      Bob McKay
