Freaked out about my goose. Please help.

[Alas]

She's been holding her head like this for a couple of days. It looks like her head is just tucked in, but its actually twisted around. I thought, maybe a vitamin defiency, so I added vitamins to her water. The Dept of Ag was just out last week to test my geese, turkeys and chickens. Got the call yesterday that there was no disease in any of the tests. Any ideas what could be wrong with her? I need to know if this is fixable.

She's 4 months old. She eats a mix of chicken and turkey food and free ranges all day. Shes been staying inside since her head twisted and I've been feeding her green beans and occasionally chicken food if she wants it. She can still eat, but I have to hand feed her because she cant extend her neck. She can still walk, although unsteady because her head is twisted.

 

[sourland]

Could she have picked up a foreign object? Her posture reminds me somewhat of a rooster we had as a kid who picked up a roofing nail that punctured his gizzard. Search "hardware disease" and check out the symptoms.

 

[Alas]

Has anybody ever had their goose's neck get twisted like this?

 

[ellenmartin]

He legs look very thin.... what are you feeding her again? Feathers are ruffly and DIRTY. Do you have clean water for her?? Put a big huge tub she can step in of clean water (storage tub or baby pool go get one from Wal-Mart) and let her take a BATH. She's probably miserable. Geese don't like to be dirty. She needs deep drinking tub to dip her head completely under water to clean eyes/nose/etc. We use clear storage tub. Clean it atleast 2 times a day with fresh clear water. Geese are not like other FARM ANIMALS... they are WATERfowl and need FRESH CLEAN WATER to bathe and dunk their heads/eyes to clean their eyes and sinuses/nose out with like 10000 times a day they do this. She will get real sick if you are not providing these basics.

GRIT -- -SAND??? Geese prefer SAND over GRIT. They need it to grind up all the crap they eat free ranging. Get some sand (clean be sure it is CLEAN CLEAN CLEAN sand) and put in there for her. If you have to go to landscape company or anywhere just get some - beware the bag stuff from Home depot - it has moisture and moldy crap in it.

Just go and get a BUCKET of it and pile it in her pen or where she can find it. We use mortar sand from a landscape company - it is clean, chemical free and we just go get a bucket of it at the landscape yard for $5 --- they eat it up!

If no sand ---- chick grit is small and fine enough to help. Sprinkle a little in her food like you would put pepper or salt - not a lot -- less is more just needs SOME.

See if that helps --- I'd do it like asap and if she eats/takes it then she needs it.

Otherwise find an avian vet and get her in there Sunday (tomorrow) asap. or Monday if she makes it until then -- know what I'm saying??!

 

[LostGosling]

Awww poor little girl.

Is she still okay? I do agree with ellenmartin, get her some sand and something to bathe in and she may perk up. Our geese bathe in our pond all the time and are absolutely miserable when it goes dry or silts up. We have to give them swimming pools to clean up in. Also, what kind of turkey and chicken food are you giving her? Medicated foods are very bad for waterfowl unless it says on the bag that it's okay. Try to get her some waterfowl pellets and let her out for some supervised grazing time in the evening for about an hour. Geese are vegitarians. And, if you know it's a female, she reeeally needs a mate. Being without it's own kind will also seriously depress a goose. Hope I helped, and let me know how she's doing after you try some of my suggestions

 

[ellenmartin]

What's Going On With Your Goose?????

 

[ultasol]

Her feet make me think that, whatever else is going on, she isn't drinking enough water. Her skin looks taut and she looks dehydrated.