baby goose biting off feathers/down on other baby goose, HELP!

[pete55]

There's often a lot of responses for the problem of goslings nibbling anothers down or feathers. As many have already said, try abundant greens and a red light. Of course a large pen with grass proves to be the ideal distraction until they're brought in at night and they start again!!

This is a problem that requires active mamngaement and the offender should be seperated as soon as possible. The problem often becomes habitual and progresses to pecking at blood feathers as they emerge and this can set those goslings back. A further problem is the secondary wing covert feathers emerge first which then act as a guide for the heavy primaries which follow. If these are picked then a dropped or angel wing can occur.

Stop the offender NOW and provide seperate quarters before the problems escalates. They can always be reunited later without the problem re-occuring.

Pete

 

[Olamina]

What color light are you using in your heat lamp? Red is the best . white is the worst especially when keeping it on over night.

Red is the best? What about Blue? I know that I've seen some things that say that blue lights are best for ducklings, is this true for goslings? Does the blue vs red really make a difference?

 

[kimberly35042]

Hey Pete -- so nice to see you again!

I think she said there are only 2 goslings so separating creates panic and screaming -- they are dramatic, aren't they??

A lot of times I find when people say they are providing greens, they may not provide enough to stop the picking. From Saturday to Sunday, I picked approximately 9-10 cups of clover and rye and THREE goslings ate every bit. They are chewing on each other mildly mostly when they run out. During the week, when I work, I cheat and get heads of romaine lettuce at Sam's Club 5 heads for less than 4 bucks and feed them about 1/2 a head twice a day and then pick clover/grass to supplement when I can.

My adults won't eat collards or turnip greens, so getting them used to eat now is a great idea.

A lot of geese like/ LOVE carrots. Chewing on those could take a lot of time compared to the greens.

Good luck!!

 

[lindasuelopez]

I'm using the red light bulb!

 

[Olamina]

Does the red light calm them?

 

[Miss Lydia]

Does the red light calm them?

it's suppose to be soothing compared to white

 

[Olamina]

it's suppose to be soothing compared to white

Thanks

 

[marthak897]

Thanks for the post. My 8 goslings (now about 3-4 weeks) have been picking at their own wings leaving bald irritated spots. Yesterday we made an outdoor pen with a door into the coop so they can come and go as they please. Thanks for the tip on the greens I will have to dig up some sod to transplant into their run...hubby is going to the store today and I will have him pick up some other greens too. Does anyone know if the greens are ok for ducks too (we have 15 ducks in with the geese)?

 

[kimberly35042]

Ducks love lettuce as well as the rye grass and clover.

I also found that the fresh broccoli was readily munched on by my munchers. Something to occupy them while I'm at work!