Well, we can't find goslings, but we did get 4 baby ducks at the feed store this morning. They sell out of them so quickly, we had to wait and go right after they came in.
Still hoping to get chicks soon, but will have to be feed store ones since we probably can't afford 25 this year.
Anyway, these little ducks eat and drink almost ALL the time. I'm worried about one of them. He drinks even more than the others, and sometimes he has what looks like a long rope of drool come from his bill, then he shakes his head and more might come out. At one point he seemed so unsteady and bobbed a lot, looking like he might fall over. But then again, they are all a little unsteady (we think 2-4 days old).
We took him out to get him away from the water and food (and the others, in case he was sick) and he got too upset. He shook his head a lot at first, and lots more drool came out, and then little bits of food too, like they were coming up. He shook them all over the sides of the box is how we saw them. But then he started peeping and crying so much, and acted so scared, we couldn't leave him in there for long. We were afraid the stress might hurt him, whether there is already something wrong with him or not. So we put him back with the others soon. He started acting pretty normally since then (about an hour and a half ago) although maybe he still drinks more than them and drooled again once more.
Is this drooling normal? And should they REALLY eat and drink so much? We are just amazed that they do it almost constantly while awake, and only take a few moments brief nap so far.
The color is good (as far as we can tell) on all of them, and the warmth seems to be good. They are on paper towels in a large cardboard box for now, though we are going to switch to plastic tomorrow cuz we've already gone through 2 boxes in one day. They are eating poultry crumbles from a chick feeder, and all are eating. Water in a large plastic chick waterer, which they keep climbing half into (only 1 foot at a time fits) and walking in, or dropping food into and diving for it. They seem to love to do this. We've had to change the water once already today. We used room temp water. The droppings are very moist, but with some actual water, but most dry in an hour or so. Their eyes are clean looking and shiny, and they look clean all over (except when they get food on each other). Not sure what else to look for. They don't seem really distressed or weak.
Would appreciate information! THANK YOU!!!!
Still hoping to get chicks soon, but will have to be feed store ones since we probably can't afford 25 this year.
Anyway, these little ducks eat and drink almost ALL the time. I'm worried about one of them. He drinks even more than the others, and sometimes he has what looks like a long rope of drool come from his bill, then he shakes his head and more might come out. At one point he seemed so unsteady and bobbed a lot, looking like he might fall over. But then again, they are all a little unsteady (we think 2-4 days old).
We took him out to get him away from the water and food (and the others, in case he was sick) and he got too upset. He shook his head a lot at first, and lots more drool came out, and then little bits of food too, like they were coming up. He shook them all over the sides of the box is how we saw them. But then he started peeping and crying so much, and acted so scared, we couldn't leave him in there for long. We were afraid the stress might hurt him, whether there is already something wrong with him or not. So we put him back with the others soon. He started acting pretty normally since then (about an hour and a half ago) although maybe he still drinks more than them and drooled again once more.
Is this drooling normal? And should they REALLY eat and drink so much? We are just amazed that they do it almost constantly while awake, and only take a few moments brief nap so far.
The color is good (as far as we can tell) on all of them, and the warmth seems to be good. They are on paper towels in a large cardboard box for now, though we are going to switch to plastic tomorrow cuz we've already gone through 2 boxes in one day. They are eating poultry crumbles from a chick feeder, and all are eating. Water in a large plastic chick waterer, which they keep climbing half into (only 1 foot at a time fits) and walking in, or dropping food into and diving for it. They seem to love to do this. We've had to change the water once already today. We used room temp water. The droppings are very moist, but with some actual water, but most dry in an hour or so. Their eyes are clean looking and shiny, and they look clean all over (except when they get food on each other). Not sure what else to look for. They don't seem really distressed or weak.
Would appreciate information! THANK YOU!!!!