Goose ate a strand of tarp string

[amynw]

We have a tarp covering our wood rack and about half way up (around 3 1/2 feet) there is a hole and it is frayed. The only spot on the whole tarp. My geese could never reach this spot until the latest snow. Now they can. I was washing dishes and looking out the kitchen window to one of my geese with their neck stretched all the way up to pull at the frayed area. I ran out the back door and hes looking at me with the piece of string hanging out of his mouth. It looked to be 2 pieces wide of the tarp material at the frayed spot, maybe 3 or 4 inches long. I tried making my way over to him, with it hanging out of his mouth, and he swallowed it right there in front of me and made his happy noises and head bobs that he makes whenever he sees me. Cant say I was as happy to see him at the moment. Should I start giving him coconut oil? Should I just wait and see? There are no vets in the area that will deal with geese or ducks or anything of the sort. I feel like I was at a standoff with a toddler with something in their mouth just saying "NO" and then it happened. Any advice is appreciated. I've never seen him eat at it or even bother with it the last 4 days since this snow and never paid any attention to it. I cant say confidently that he hasn't eaten at it since the snow has given him more height to reach it, but his poops have been normal along with his eating. I'd like to think today was his first time doing so. Not sure where to go from here. He will be a year old in April. I took a shovel and shoveled the snow down to the ground at that area so he no longer has deep snow giving him his height advantage.

 

[NatJ]

I would just wait and see, because he will probably be fine.
A bird's gizzard usually does a great job of dealing with the weird stuff they eat.

If you feel the need to do something, you could make sure that grit is available (because snow is covering the ground, so he can't get any there.) He probably already has some grit in his gizzard, because it can stay there for quite a while, but making sure he has grit available can be a reasonable idea anyway.

 

[Aapomp831]

I agree with the above poster - don’t worry too much. I have seen my chickens eat bits of plastic and have never had an issue

 

[amynw]

I agree with the above poster - don’t worry too much. I have seen my chickens eat bits of plastic and have never had an issue

Thank you for the reassurance. I keep telling myself they have probably eaten other stuff out of my sight and they're happy and healthy. But, they are like children and I cant help but be concerned I appreciate you responding

 

[amynw]

I would just wait and see, because he will probably be fine.
A bird's gizzard usually does a great job of dealing with the weird stuff they eat.

If you feel the need to do something, you could make sure that grit is available (because snow is covering the ground, so he can't get any there.) He probably already has some grit in his gizzard, because it can stay there for quite a while, but making sure he has grit available can be a reasonable idea anyway.

Thank you for responding. I will provide some additional grit and see if they touch it. They seem to get their grit from the creek bed, it is very sandy/gravely but I don't watch them all day long so at least I can see if they touch the grit I provide

 

[Isaac 0]

Like you, I once had a goose eat the string off a tarp, besides intimate monitoring of the goose, and ensuring she wasn't acting lethargic, or producing abnormal stools, the problem never really escalated to anything. Offering some grit, and adding some mineral oil to her feed are some precautious measures if you'd like to take them.

 

[amynw]

Update: I could tell he wasnt feeling well today when he willingly sat on my lap for over 20 minutes. He pooped on my leg, and this is what it looked like. What steps can I take next? He doesnt seem interested in his food yesterday or today. I gave him a syringe of coconut oil melted down because that's all I had on hand , hoping to lubricate something

 

[amynw]

View attachment 2527384
Update: I could tell he wasnt feeling well today when he willingly sat on my lap for over 20 minutes. He pooped on my leg, and this is what it looked like. What steps can I take next? He doesnt seem interested in his food yesterday or today. I gave him a syringe of coconut oil melted down because that's all I had on hand , hoping to lubricate something

I also gave him a syringe of just regular greek yogurt and unsweetened natural applesauce. Only to try to give him some calories and in hopes the yogurt can help with digestion. I may be totally wrong but I'm trying

 

[amynw]

Any help or advice on what to do next would be great

 

[amynw]

Like you, I once had a goose eat the string off a tarp, besides intimate monitoring of the goose, and ensuring she wasn't acting lethargic, or producing abnormal stools, the problem never really escalated to anything. Offering some grit, and adding some mineral oil to her feed are some precautious measures if you'd like to take them.

Posted a photo, he also started shaking his head aggressively and thick clear liquid came out like he was throwing up. This is all starting today