causes of gosling death?

[lisamarie]

hi all,

i am new to geese. just got a pair of pilgrims and 7 ducks. i just found one of my week old geese dead in the brooder this morning. what are the most likely causes of death in goslings?

thanks,
lisa

 

[fancbrd4me02]

We will need more information before we can make a suggestion as to what might have caused the goslings death. Age of gosling, brooder size, heat source/temperature of brooders, behavior of the goose or the rest of the birds in the brooder. Please give us some details.

 

[lisamarie]

some details:

7 ducks, 2 goslings--age 1 week

red light heat lamp. not sure temp, but they walk around, eat, drink etc, but then cuddle up under lamp and sleep. could the gosling have gotten trampled? i doubt it because she was obviously bigger than the ducks.

using rubbermaid extra large tub. can't remember size.

i have been cleaning it several times per day.

was using towels, but then switched to straw the past few days. i was concerned that perhaps the gosling swallowed some of the straw and got it stuck?

i wasn't expecting a death because i had heard that goslings/ducklings were more hardy than chicks so i was just wondering if there were common causes when this happens. i have read about common causes of duckling death, but thought they might be different for goslings.

 

[goosedragon]

Quote:
Goslings are usually very hardy and if they make it out of the shell usually do very well. In my experience the leading cause of un-natural death is "hardward disease" where they eat something like wire or screws or even small coins. Sharp objects can puncture a gut and they die fairly rapidly. Coins can end up in the gazzard and slowly poision them. Usually natural death is caused by hidden birth defects or infection at the 'navel' when the yoke sack was attached to their belly. Sorry that I can't be more help.

 

[greenfamilyfarms]

Where they out of water at any point? If they run out and get really thirsty, they can actually drink themselves to death when they get water the next time.

 

[lisamarie]

i have really been on top of the food and water and cleaning the brooder, BUT i think i found out what happened. actually, i watched the last gosling die this morning. i really think she was trampled by the ducklings. the ducklings always cuddled most w/ the goslings i am guessing because they were bigger and maybe seemed like their mothers. i have always been one to keep the brooder too hot because i am a nervous nellie, but after raising 4 batches of chicks over the last few years, i relaxed a bit w/ the ducks/goslings because i felt more confident and because i knew they didn't need as high of heat. i think they were cold!! i lowered the lamp a lot this morning and now i see that when they cuddle together to sleep, they are spread out more. i feel so badly!!

lisa

 

[fancbrd4me02]

That is terrible! Don't feel bad, it happens to everyone at some point. Lamps go out, temperature isn't right, etc. I recommend you get a thermometer so next time you won't have to guess at the temp.

 

[marathonmultiplesmom]

Poor Baby! I'm glad you got it figured out. Sometimes we learn lessons the hard way but it is the type we only need to learn once! Hope your ducklings stay healthy!

 

[lisamarie]

hi everyone,

just wanted to send an update. i will post in the duck forum as well. my remaining 6 ducks seems to be doing well (2 goslings and 1 duck died). they have more energy and interest in their food. i am using the puppy puddle pads, got non medicated chick food in the store, gave them vitamins, and some apple cider vinegar.

BUT, after doing even more research last night, i think i may have discovered what happened. in the book i was using to figure out how to feed and take care of them, the encyclopedia of country living, she suggest starting grit at about 2 weeks. my 2 goslings didn't even get any grit because they died before i started giving it. they had been chowing down on all of the grass i gave them, plus i was using straw and pine shavings. i think they got blocked up.

the duck that died got a few days of grit, but maybe she had already gotten something--shavings, straw, grass-stuck.

ultimately, it was probably a combination of factors including too cold of a brooder initially, but i really think that since i was feeding this homemade diet, that they needed grit from the very beginning.

thanks for all of your help. hopefully the rest of my babies survive!
lisa