Chinese Goose Care Questions...

I am caring for a white Chinese gander in my fenced-in back yard. I have provided him with a nice hard plastic kiddie pool (changing water every two days), all the grass he can eat, scratch food, lettuce, and bread treats. He was residing in our community pond with his foster daddy until I was forced by animal control to remove them. I relocated them to a country farm. Ten days later, the daddy (brown Chinese) had his foot mangled by a gator. The white gander was unharmed. I immediately removed them both from that environment, the injured goose went to the hospital, and I brought the white one home with me.

It has been three weeks now, our brave little brown goose has had several surgeries including skin grafts and partial amputations. I am told it will be months before he is ready to return to outside living, which will need to be a protected environment.

The white one has adapted well to my backyard ( he sleeps in a large cage in the garage overnight). He is very much a people goose and has already imprinted on three of my lady friends. Do you think he misses his dad?

Is there anything more I could be doing for him to bring him contentment? Maybe a deeper pool like a stock tub? What nutritional foods could I add? He is already good buddies with my kitty! Gave him minnows in his pond but he's not interested.

One more thing...he has been moulding...not sure if this is due to the stressors or just natural. How long will it last?

Thank you very much for your valued input!

TL

It sounds like you are doing a lot to make the best of a bad goose situation. I am sure he misses the other goose but fortunately he likes humans. I think many folks don't have more than a kiddie pool for a goose. I'm sure he wouldn't mind a stock tub if he was able to get in and out easily, but I'm not sure he needs it. I give my geese waterfowl pellets, but I guess in the nature they mostly eat greens. Don't give him too much bread .

He may be losing feathers due to stress, I don't know how long it will last because I have only had my geese for a year.

Thanks so much for your input! His molting is slowing down, so hopefully we've reached the peak. He does seem to love his kiddie pool, so for now I'll leave that in place. I really would like to start him on Mazuri's Waterfowl pellets, however, I haven't been able to find it in smaller bags...do you know of anywhere to purchase 25 or less pounds?

I checked out your website and your ducks, geese, chickens, and geese are amazing!

Thx again,

TL

I have found my geese are happier with a friend than just a single goose. Geese are very social animals.