Advice for sick gosling?

[BingC]

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?

 

[BingC]

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.

 

[Goosebaby]

What feed are they on?

Is the coop too crowded? How hot does the coop get during the day/ night?

 

[BingC]

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.

 

[Goosebaby]

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.

Are there any signs of mold?
What kind of bedding is that on the ground?

 

[BingC]

It’s wood chips on the ground. I don’t see mold.
Sadly, the gosling has died. The ducklings are all fine.

 

[Goosebaby]

Just incase I would advise removing the wood chips and replacing them with wood shavings. If the wood chips are uncured and have bark chunks they can harbor a large amount of mold spores. Aspergillosis can affect baby birds much more rapidly than adults and neurological issues can be one of the symptoms. Of course that’s only one possibility and not necessarily what was wrong and I’m sorry for the loss of your gosling!

 

[BingC]

Hmm, there are definitely some bark chunks in the mix. I didn’t realise they could be dangerous to the babies! Thanks for letting me know