First off, I am not a goose expert -- I am a goose beginner, so hopefully others will respond. I have 10 goslings that are now 2 weeks old, and here is what I have learned. Ducks and Geese should NOT be fed medicated chick starter. They really need waterfowl starter -- Mazuri makes a waterfowl starter, and your feedstore should be able to order it. Make sure they order the STARTER -- my feed store ordered the maintenance initially, which is not nutritionally correct. In the meantime, non-medicated chick starter should be okay -- especially if you can supplement it with niacin and lots of shredded greens (AFTER they've had grit & sand). I had a terrible time getting my goslings interested in any kind of starter, and because it is warm here in Southern Mississippi, I started taking them out to the grass - -- in a pen and with a draft guard and heat lamp. Geese are herbivores, so they have different dietary needs than ducks and chicks. IMPORTANT -- they need to eat grit AND SAND (according to Chris Ashton in "Domestic Geese") in order to eat and digest grass. I now have mine out on grass during the day, and then they come inside and have access to their waterfowl starter (and water) all night. I mix probiotic powder (for birds), diatomaceous earth (to prevent internal parasites), and chick grit in with their starter. I have read that layer feed is bad for them because it has too much calcium, and that they do not need oyster shell.
SO, my thoughts would be --
#1 -- get the feed straightened out ASAP. As an emergency measure, you might try hard boiling some eggs and feeding them the white and yolk as well as lots of fresh, chopped greens -- I put mine through a food processor IF they have been eating grit & sand. I believe I read in Holderread that chick starter does not have enough niacin,
https://www.backyardchickens.com/forum/viewtopic.php?pid=2085511, so until you get the waterfowl starter, you should supplement. Make sure you are putting out their food and water in a way that they can all access it easily at the same time without squabbling. Everyone at the local feed stores here tried to tell me that chick starter is fine for ducks and goslings -- IT'S NOT!!!
#2 -- Space -- Do the goslings have enough space?
#3 -- Are they too hot? Make sure that they can get away from the heat source. I noticed that mine liked to sleep together in a pile - but away from the heat. They don't need as much heat as chicks.
#4 -- Are they bored? One thing that might help is to cut out a big chunk of grass -- like sod -- that has NOT been treated with any pesticides or fertilizers -- and is free of any "hardware" or other edible dangers, and put that in with them AFTER they have had grit & sand -- w/o the grit and sand, they'll get clogged up.
#5 -- Bedding -- mine are a lot happier on hay / straw -- just make sure that they have had the grit & sand for a day or so prior.
#6 -- Bathing water -- I put lukewarm water in a shallow pan and let them splash around - supervised and then dry them off.
#7 -- drinking water -- make sure it's clean and that they can submerge their entire head. If you use any of the vitamin / electrolyte powders -- like Broiler Booster or Quick Chick, they need to be diluted more since they drink more water than chicks -- so half or less of the recommended amount.
#8 -- Anti - Peck / Pick products -- I would NOT use anything yet. Definitely separate anyone who's being picked on, but I think your problem is management related - diet / space / heat related.
#8 -- the internet is great for research, but get some books specific to Geese -- Dave Holderread and Chris Ashton have good books, but Ashton is in Great Britain, so some of the recommendations aren't available here.
I am dealing with problem Turkey Poults right now, so, believe me, I understand how frustrating it is when the little critters aren't doing well.
