Gosling Picking/over cleaning

[ChikNCoop]

We purchased five goslings 2 weeks ago from our local co-op. Four Saddlebacks and 1 mystery guest (they thought it was a Toulouse). One of our saddlebacks has down missing off his wing. He seems to pick / nibble / clean it. We thought maybe he/she had rubbed it on the sidewalls of their smaller enclosure but now I've seen it almost kind of pick at it. Is this stress? They moved to a larger enclosure today. They are in our house with a brooder lamp. The heat is comfy as they are spread around the enclosure and comfortable. They have plenty of water and are eating a non-medicated food appropriate for them. Any help is greatly appreciated.

 

[Hillaire]

since you moved them to a new brooder I would check to see if this self plucking continues... have you been giving them access to water to swim in or at least dunk their heads?

 

[ChikNCoop]

Yes, they are the messiest yet cutest things ever. They had a large bowl of water that they were also taking splash baths in. They now have deep bowl of water to drink and dunk their heads in and a large dish that they can stand in and preen. Water is not too deep (want to prevent drowning accidents). Their goose coop will arrive next week.

Are there any toys I could introduce to keep his/her attention away from the wing?

 

[The goose girl]

It sounds like a case of boredom - giving them toys is a great idea. Goslings love to pick at stuff, and if there's nothing else, they'll pick at themselves and each other.

IMO, a block of grass turf is the best (and cheapest) toy for goslings. They'll eat the grass, tear at the roots, get grits from the soil, and have a hoot. Just dig up a square of grass, give it to the goslings, replace the square when they've torn it apart, and repeat. It's what they're meant to do.

 

[Ducks4us]

Yes, they are the messiest yet cutest things ever. They had a large bowl of water that they were also taking splash baths in. They now have deep bowl of water to drink and dunk their heads in and a large dish that they can stand in and preen. Water is not too deep (want to prevent drowning accidents). Their goose coop will arrive next week.

Are there any toys I could introduce to keep his/her attention away from the wing?

I gave my goslings a dog rope... with the fringed strings to chew on. They love the ropes!!
Mine the first few days were nibbling on each other too. But stopped once i gave thsm the ropes.
Now they are getting to do so much grazing in the yard and that helped alot too. Keeps them busy.

 

[ChikNCoop]

Thank you all very much for the advice!! I will give them a square of grassy sod like I did my chickens. I try to be very careful as I know some plants are poisonous to the little ones.

We've also moved them to their own coop now. No longer picking on one another!