Does a small gosling catch up? Update

[flockman]

Last Wednesday I received my 3 goslings and 8 ducks from Metzer's. The embden and the female buff(Natasha) are the same size. The male buff(Boris) is much smaller. I was concerned that he seemed much more tired than the others. Within the first day though he was eating and drinking and running as much as the others. The pekin ducklings are almost as bis as he is. Everything seems fine except he is smaller. Will Boris catch up to Natasha? Is there cause for alarm?

Thanks

 

[Enchanted Sunrise Farms]

I have had shipped birds (ducks and chickens) arrive with one looking off and being slower to develop. Shipping is pretty traumatic and some birds may get squished or too cold. As long as he's eating, drinking, and doing well, he should catch up in time.

 

[Miss Lydia]

Try getting some Poultry Nutri Drench and putting it in their water. it will help them all but give Boris the boost he may need .

 

[Miss Lydia]

http://barnyardsandbackyards.org/2010/09/18/review-nutri-drench/

 

[flockman]

Thanks! I will do that.

 

[CelticOaksFarm]

He should be good of he didn't continue to act sleepy. Alert moving freely, eatting and drinking are all good signs. Some are just hatched smaller, we have a Sebbie baby who hatched small, is still smaller than the hatch mates, but full of life and spunk. She may or may not stay smaller as an adult, she may hit a late growth spurt.

 

[flockman]

I had figured that he may have just hatched from a smaller egg and that shipping was harder on him because he was smaller. He is just as lively as the other two. I think that I notice his size so much because the pekin ducks are getting close to his size.

 

[Oregon Blues]

Even being shipped as day olds, he might be hours younger, or as much as 24 hours younger. Even hours can make a difference because they grow so fast at that age.

If you are worried, contact Metzers and get it on record that the gosling is smaller than normal. The guarantee doesn't last very long, but of there is something wrong with him and you let them know right away, they will replace him even if he makes it for a couple of weeks past the end of the guarantee. They are nice people there at Metzers.

If the gosling acts like a normal gosling, it is very likely that he is fine and just small. There was about a 5 pound difference in the size of my mature American ganders, so they are not all the same size when they are grown.

 

[flockman]

Thank you. I have notifyed Metzers. I truly think that Boris is fine. I have seen in chickens before that one day can make a difference in size when they are really young.

 

[flockman]

Update. Boris the little guy is doing great. He is still smaller than the others but his growth matches the other two. I do have to laugh when I go to take the geese and ducks from the brooder the others run around he lays down. Rather comical. I put them in a tote to take them outside to a small pen during the day. When I put him in it he lays down or ducks under the other two and rubs his head and neck on the back of the other two. The geese each have such different personalities. Boris is more quiet and reserved. Natasha is always leading the pack and likes attention the most. She is usually the one that gets the zoomies started when the ducks start splashing. Dinner( the embden) is happy to just be with everyone else.

I have to say that the geese have surprised me many times. Natasha the female buff is the tallest and the most outgoing and active. Boris the male buff is smaller and more reserved. Dinner is more dense and a little bit heavier but not as tall as Natasha. First time goose owner ramblings. Sorry. I have had chickens for 3 years and know what to expect and that not everyone follows what the book says. I should have expected the geese to not read the book either.