2-month-old gosling with bum leg

[Hollynissi]

My homestead is new to geese (just got our first last spring). We were supposed to have three girls (got them from a hatchery). One ended up being a gander. Long story short, we have a gosling (I named it Jellybean) who hatched from them and has a bum leg. I think it was like that when it hatched. Its leg didn't look normal to me, and I started really noticing it after the first week. I just didn't (and still don't) know what to do. Never experienced this before. We've had chickens off and on since I was a young kid.

We thought it was splayed leg but after looking at pictures and reading up more, I think it's a slipped tendon. The leg bows out and it almost stands on its joint, not sure what it's called (looks like an elbow). It's swollen and hot. Poor Jellybean hobbles in its tub (I have it in a long plastic tub in the house on soft bedding to limit its movement). I don't know what to do. I'm worried it's been this way for too long, is there any hope of correcting it?

I had it on a diet of chick starter with nutritious yeast for niacin (along with poultry cell in the water once a week). We recently switched to Mazuri waterfowl starter. Any help would be appreciated!

I'm wondering if it happened during incubation. Our electric went out for about five hours due to windstorm (knocked out power in the whole area). When we candled the egg, we saw it was still moving so let it continue when the power kicked on thinking it'd be fine.

I have Jellybean in the house as it's imprinted on me since it's the only one who hatched. I'm giving it a little bit of turmeric and ginger mixed in its food to try to help with the inflammation and pain. I'll probably also try soaking it in epsom salt (in a Rubbermaid tub with a hole cut in the top for its head so it doesn't drink the epsom salt water). Bless its heart it still trills at me, gives me kisses, and plays with its toys (as well as eats and drinks really well, thank goodness). I'm worried sick! Love the precious baby.

 

[GoosesGeeses]

@Goosebaby
@Jenbirdee
@casportpony

 

[GoosesGeeses]

Pictures?

 

[Hollynissi]

 

[Goosebaby]

That does look like a slipped tendon, though I’m not an expert in slipped tendons so I might be wrong.
Usually for the best outcome it’s best to treat slipped tendons within the first few days of it being out of place, but it’s worth trying anyway. If a vet is at all possible it would be a good idea for them to look it over.

These are some good guides about treating it

https://www.backyardchickens.com/ar...and-caring-for-the-special-needs-chick.72163/

https://www.backyardchickens.com/ar...n-one-chick’s-story.69353/#ams-comment-524595


If it is a slipped tendon and you’re unable to get the tendon to stay in place after shifting it back to where it should be you’ll have a special needs bird. Geese with mobility issues can be cared for, you’ll essentially have to make it a goose wheel chair, but it is a difficult life for such a large bird and will require a lot of commitment on your part to ensure the goose has some sort of quality of life, maintaining hygiene and psychological wellbeing for a goose that can’t walk is no easy feat and he’ll basically need around the clock care if he loses full mobility as the leg worsens.

 

[Jenbirdee]

Is the heat and swelling a new thing? That could be an infection in the joint and need an antibiotic.
Have you looked for an avian vet in your area that sees geese?

I know it says duck and not Goose but my goose books didn’t mention slipped tendon so I copied and pasted this from one of my ducks books:
“ the complete pet duck guide book”
I also have the complete pet goose guide book and that does not mention slip tendon but anyway here it is.-

Slipped Tendon


A slipped tendon (also referred to as perosis occurs when the tendon (connecting muscle to bone) in your duck's ankle slips out of the joint. This can cause either of the long bones, above or below the ankle, to twist laterally at the joint.


Subsequent shortening and thickening of these long bones may result in time.


A slipped tendon can be caused by a slipping or tripping accident, or as a result of a duck being mated too frequently by an overzealous male. Although it can happen to any duck at any age, ducks with arthritis or other joint conditions are more prone than others.


Malnutrition (niacin, manganese deficiency) is also a potential cause, but it's more likely in ducklings than adult ducks.


Symptoms


Symptoms of a slipped tendon may include: ankle inflammation, a pronounced limp that doesn't improve and often worsens with time, the effected leg may rotate inward below the ankle causing one foot to land on top of the other, further impeding their ability to walk.


Treatment


For ducklings: Immediately upgrade their diet to a brand-name feed formula. Vets will commonly recommend a multivitamin and review dosages with you. Don't mess around with home remedies or concocting your own dosages.


Vitamin overdoses can be fatal if you miscalculate (see also: Niacin Deficiency). Protect the injured duckling by separating them from other ducks, trying to keep them in view of the others if possible.


For ducks: Slipped tendons are commonly misdiagnosed as sprains in early stages. When the sprain doesn't improve, vets will normally x-ray and pinpoint the diagnosis. Wrapping the ankle daily using waterproof adhesive bandage tape and/or vet wrap can give it good added support and improve the life of the joint, which can keep your duck waddling along for many years to come. Diligence is the key when it comes to this strategy.


Your vet may also prescribe anti-inflammatory/pain medication if the ankle joint is swollen as well as a treatment plan to prevent arthritis (see: "Arthritis").

 

[Hollynissi]

We unfortunately do not have a vet who knows geese in our area. So, I guess the only thing we can do is just keep it as comfortable and happy as possible (it feels good enough to be rotten, lol). And do what we can. We already figured Jellybean is going to be a house goose. Living outside would just stress it anyway (it was raised in the house).

We have another gosling that hatched about 2 weeks ago (again it was the only one from that batch that hatched). We have their bins up against each other in hopes that they'll get used to each other so they can both buddy up. They'll still be in the house though for the most part. We'll have them outside during the day when we're out there with them so they can get supervised outdoor time. We'll also have a kitty pool for them to play and bathe in.

Jellybean sleeps in its bin right next to me so I can monitor (plus it imprinted on me, so it does NOT like being out of eyesight, lol). Thankfully I don't have kids so I can give Jellybean all of my time. I also give it a bath once or twice a week in our tub.

Jellybean seems to be doing better with the Turmeric and Ginger mixed with its food. The leg isn't as hot today. And boy is it ROTTEN, lol. Kept me up most of the night chewing on my bed (and hair) from its bin. Then whenever I'd doze off it'd get in my face and scream, lol. So, its thankfully feeling better. Right now, it's lying next to me trilling all sleepily like a perfect little angel. We'll probably give it an epsom salt soak as well just to be safe.