Bedding for a gosling that eats *everything*? Safe chew toys?

[Ephyra]

Hi!

My 7 day old gosling chews every kind of bedding and I'm afraid he is going to end up with a blockage. Tried paper towels, pine shavings, regular towels, shelf liner, puppy pads. Puppy pads sorta work but I have to cut the plasticy border off and fold it over which I'm sure soon enough he will learn how to unfold. You can also rip off little fibers so I'm worried he is eating small amounts of it. Shelf liners also sorta work but sometimes there are loose plastic/rubber "threads" which seems more dangerous than a little bit of puppy pad cotton.

What about chew toys for birds such as parrots etc, would those be safe for him to redirect the chewing? If he can rip it off, though, he will eat it.

He has been to the vet just to make sure he looks ok/hasn't ingested too much of anything and they said he's perfectly healthy.

Thank you!!

 

[Ms Clucky]

Put only it's feed down on bottom. It can only eat that.

 

[Ms Clucky]

I put down newspaper then paper towels then a whole bunch of their feed. Worked very well.

 

[Ephyra]

I put down newspaper then paper towels then a whole bunch of their feed. Worked very well.

I hadn't thought of that, that might be the safest solution! What age do they stop chewing everything usually? Scared to even let him out of the brooder because everything looks edible to him, including my hair, I wear a shower cap now so he can't eat it. Thanks for your help!

 

[bluemerle]

I know some people give their geese baby toys.

 

[Ms Clucky]

Really don't know. I have chickens. I just figure that works best for every kind of baby bird.

 

[Iain Utah]

I use towels and old clothes for bedding. Goslings need to forage and graze constantly, so use chopped romaine lettuce and broccoli. Dandelions are also great, if you can find them.

 

[The goose girl]

A block of grass turf is the best (and cheapest) toy for a gosling. He'll eat the grass, tear at the roots, get grits from the soil, and have a hoot. Just dig up a square of grass, give it to the gosling, replace the square when he's torn it apart, and repeat. It's what he's meant to do. Durable baby or parrot toys can be good supplements.

He'll keep chewing everything for the next year or so. My youngest is 10 months old, and he's still chewing clothes, hair, shoes, lawn furniture, rocks, and gardening tools - you name it, he'll chew it! That's how geese investigate stuff.

According to a very experienced breeder I knew, hay or straw is the best bedding for young goslings. When they're about three weeks old, you can safely use wood pellets.

 

[Ephyra]

Thanks very much for the help everyone!

Tons of great info, The goose girl! This is my first gosling and I know I worry a bit excessively at times but how do make sure they’re safe/aren’t ingesting anything that’s dangerous? I don’t mind the chewing but it seems like he would actually ingest pretty much anything. I would like to give him more freedom but scared he will eat something he shouldn’t. I watch him like a hawk but all it takes is a millisecond and it’s gone...

I did pick up a container of the wheatgrass sold at petstores - that’s safe for them, right?

I will have to pick up some hay or straw and try that out. Thanks so much!

 

[raingarden]

Geese come across all sorts of stuff. But that doesn't mean they are going to eat it. Put him on sand and he can eat all he wants; but probably won't eat much.