4 day old gosling sick - any advice?

[FarmWheeler]

Hi everyone,

I had 4 goslings hatch over the weekend and this morning I noticed one was...off. Not rocketing around the brooder with the other 3. Kind of just standing there looking lethargic. She occasionally will peck at something or preen, so she's not totally unengaged yet. She drinks, I wouldn't say an excessive amount but it's the only thing she does as normal. I haven't noticed anything off about her appearance (i.e. eyes, vent, etc) apart from the lethargy. She does appear to have what looks like a very small scratch on her bill (it's not bleeding) but I don't know what that's from or if it could be related at all.
I haven't seen her eat today. She did a poop but it wasn't very solid, I guess because she's not been eating much. She was acting just like the rest of the goslings yesterday so I'm not sure if she wasn't eating beforehand and only now has gotten weak or what...They're all in a clean brooder with a heat lamp, waterfowl chick crumb, and water. I haven't isolated her from the others as I don't want to stress her out. Should I give her electrolytes? Does anyone have any advice or idea what it could be? I would really appreciate any advice ,thank you

 

[Miss Lydia]

Can you post a picture of your gosling? have you checked for pasty butt? What is the temp in your brooder. and how is it set up? one end nice and warm other end cooler so if too warm they have a cooler place to be. and what bedding are you using? Sorry for all the questions but this can help. And yes go ahead and put some electrolytes into their water.

 

[FarmWheeler]

Here she is. Her vent is clean and she is pooing, it's just mostly water. I see her drink regularly but she hasn't had more than a couple of pecks at the food. I have them in an old bathtub, so I have the lamp at one end of it (it's around 30C under the lamp) and then food and water in the middle. They're bedded down on towels which I change 2x daily or as needed. She's not hanging out directly under the lamp so I think she's warm enough? Thank you for your time!

 

[Miss Lydia]

She’s adorable. Try making a warm soup of the feed. She might eat it that way. Also since you are feeding chick crumb you’ll need to supplement their diet with some form of niacin. Not time released or flush free but something like Nutritional yeast or brewers yeast for the extra niacin they need that isn’t in chick crumb.

 

[FarmWheeler]

She’s adorable. Try making a warm soup of the feed. She might eat it that way. Also since you are feeding chick crumb you’ll need to supplement their diet with some form of niacin. Not time released or flush free but something like Nutritional yeast or brewers yeast for the extra niacin they need that isn’t in chick crumb.

Thank you I'll try that now!
I called the company I get the crumb from and they said the niacin is 57% per kg feed, is that not enough?

 

[Miss Lydia]

I have no idea how to break that down for every birds need. But water fowl need 100mgs of niacin daily to have strong legs and neurological health. Chick crumb will have some niacin in it because chickens need it too but they don't need as much as waterfowl.

 

[FarmWheeler]

I have no idea how to break that down for every birds need. But water fowl need 100mgs of niacin daily to have strong legs and neurological health. Chick crumb will have some niacin in it because chickens need it too but they don't need as much as waterfowl.

Oh sorry It's a waterfowl chick crumb but I'll give them some nutritional yeast as well. Thank you for your advice! She started eating last night and seems more normal this morning so fingers crossed whatever it was is over!

 

[Miss Lydia]

Awesome glad to hear that. They can sure make us worry!!

 

[DiYMama540]

Aww what a darling hope she perks up soon!