Gander Loosing feathers around eyes

[Benvoska]

Hi,

I've done the usual checks for mites etc... and nothing at all, they live out and have access to fresh water the grass is fresh too.

I can only think that as its his first breeding season and he is number 2 in the pecking order with another male as alfa that he is stressed. He started loosing the feathers at the very start of the breeding season. No problems with any of the other geese at all, all checked and the goslings are thriving.

Any advice?

 

[Miss Lydia]

Hi,

I've done the usual checks for mites etc... and nothing at all, they live out and have access to fresh water the grass is fresh too.

I can only think that as its his first breeding season and he is number 2 in the pecking order with another male as alfa that he is stressed. He started loosing the feathers at the very start of the breeding season. No problems with any of the other geese at all, all checked and the goslings are thriving.

Any advice?

Can you have a vet look at him. maybe do a skin scraping? I know your new so you probably can't post a pick which would really help. Have you tried putting any kind of medication salve like triple antibiotic or silver salve around his eyes. both can get into the eyes without problems. And has it gotten worse? does it seem to bother him like itching? you may want to put him on some kind of vitamins to boost his immune system, stress is hard on them. i would recommend Poultry Nutri Drench. great for when going through molt also. if your interested i can give you the link about the ND so you can read about it. AND

 

[Benvoska]

Vets only tend to come out for large livestock here. The nearest vet is 1.5 hours away, so I need to solve this myself.

I have never seen him scratch, there is nothing wrong with his eyes, not watering, no gug or redness. His behavior is the same as the others and he seems fine in his role as second. I've started to add a little cider vinegar to the water and I've got some organic powder arriving this week for mites and for worms and I'm going to try both just in case.

Getting any type of bird med here tends to need to be imported too.

 

[Miss Lydia]

Vets only tend to come out for large livestock here. The nearest vet is 1.5 hours away, so I need to solve this myself.

I have never seen him scratch, there is nothing wrong with his eyes, not watering, no gug or redness. His behavior is the same as the others and he seems fine in his role as second. I've started to add a little cider vinegar to the water and I've got some organic powder arriving this week for mites and for worms and I'm going to try both just in case.

Getting any type of bird med here tends to need to be imported too.

Well that presents a problem if meds have to be imported. he does have a bucket or something like it deep enough to wash his whole head in right? and water for bathing in? They don't usually get mites or lice if they can bath frequently. ACV is a very good tonic I hope it helps him. Hope you can figure it out..