Advice for sick gosling?

BingC

In the Brooder
Jun 30, 2025
6
11
19
Hi goose keepers!

I received this surprise gosling in a batch of Muscovy ducklings I ordered. It has been doing fine for several weeks, but today when I brought them all out for a walk outside their coop, this one walked out with the rest but was a little lethargic and unsteady on its legs.

After a while, it sat down and it started swaying its head in a circle. Then eventually lay its head down on the side like this and it seems like it’s really in trouble.

Any advice?
IMG_5540.jpeg
 
Update: a few minutes later, all the ducklings got up and moved into the shade, leaving this gosling behind. So I picked it up and set it down with them. Then it got up and walked a little… and was standing up, looking a little dazed and confused for a while. Eventually sat down. It’s looking much better than 10 mins ago and is drinking water. But it’s also been snorting and sometimes shaking its head vigorously.
 

Attachments

  • IMG_5542.jpeg
    IMG_5542.jpeg
    808.4 KB · Views: 1
  • IMG_5543.jpeg
    IMG_5543.jpeg
    885.5 KB · Views: 2
I’m giving them Kalmbach 20% “flock maker”
https://www.chewy.com/kalmbach-feed...4680?utm_source=app-share&utm_campaign=244680


Highest temp in the coop the past few days is 89F. Lowest is 59F.
There’s a low temperature heater plate in there for them too.

There’s a lot of airflow, the top half of the door is a mesh. And I drilled a bunch of 1” airflow holes right at the top of the gables.

I don’t think it’s crowded… attached a picture from a week ago.

There are a lot of flies in their coop, though. I’m starting the process of transitioning them outdoors too. So I’m letting them out for a couple hours at a time. It’s during this excursion that I noticed the gosling is having trouble.
 

Attachments

  • IMG_5518.jpeg
    IMG_5518.jpeg
    834.3 KB · Views: 1

New posts New threads Active threads

Back
Top Bottom