Goose legs stuck behind - can't walk.

[Medalrider]

My Toulouse been started laying a week ago. Big nice eggs. Friday, suddenly tonight, she's can't walk. Both legs stretch behind her. She can stand, falls face first when she tries to walk

Eating fine. On Purina unmedicated layer crumbles, 16% protein. Free feeds on yard grass w no fertilizer etc, free feeds on 100% orchard grass for the horses. Occasional organic "spring mix" salad mix but not in last 14 days.

Appetite good. Drinks water.

She talks, and squawks, can stand but not walk. Interacts normally with her jumbo Pekin hen buddy. In water self cleans, can paddle and stand.
Legs were very cold.

We've had wild pigeons go hypothermic and warmed and kept them a fed days till they could be released.

We put her in a small swim tub with warm water. Have massaged and tried leg stretches to loosen possible cramped muscles. Pekin hopped in tub w her and kept nuzzling her legs. ?

When she tries to get out the tub she's goes face first with legs v sick behind her.

She has had no access to anything toxic or dead for botulism.

Please help! I'm at a loss!! Bedding her down in deep hay w heat lamp for tonight. Am taking her to avian specialist tomorrow. Just want to help her for tonight.

 

[Goosebaby]

The only thing I can think of is a vitamin deficiency, even when fed feed that’s supplemented it may not be adequate because as the feed ages it can loose potency and it’s hard to say for sure if there’s enough vitamin percentages mixed in.
Vitamin deficiency can cause ataxia and paralysis, if you can get poultry nutri-drench and b vitamin complex or equivalents start giving it to her, it can take a few days for symptoms to improve.
Sometimes with choline and some of the B vitamins, deficiency sometimes makes the hocks swell or feel warm to the touch, because she hasn’t been moving she hasn’t had much blood circulating to her legs so that might explain the coldness.
There are other possibilities that can cause leg problems, strep, nematodes, and other issues so honestly a vet is the only person that can actually figure out what’s wrong but if that ends up not being a possibility I understand, I’m in the same boat and so are many others, hence why sites like this exist, I hope the advice I’ve given is of some help to your goose.

Let us know what the specialist thinks, it’s always helpful to others who may be in the same situation, expanding the knowledge basically.

 

[Medalrider]

Thank you so very much for your quick response goosebaby! You're wonderful! Funny you mentioned the vitamin deficiency. When she started laying she looked like she was getting thinner, and just looked tired. She is a very spunky, chatty, bossy hen. She is absolutely the queen of our place. I was actually in this forum over the weekend looking to see if there's any extra vitamins or minerals or supplements that she would need as a now laying hen. I know we give extra supplements to our broodmares when they're carrying and then they foal and are nursing. So I wondered if you do the same with waterfowl.

She gets the laying feed, but we also add extra brewer's yeast for the niacin, because of our jumbo Pekin and concerns for her legs. I'm wondering if she also needs some calcium because she is laying every other day and the eggs are huge.

I really truly appreciate your advice. I'm going to run up to Tractor Supply in the morning to pick up some of the things you mentioned just so I have them on hand for heaven forbid any problems in the future.

I'm calling Dr Kenton in the morning and getting her in. I just don't want to take any chances.

I live in the Northwest area of Las Vegas and our weather has been beyond bizarre. From the '80s to below freezing, we had snow, then it was 70°, we get these tornado strength winds so I moved to her and the duck into my horse trailer because their pen was just being pelted with dirt and sand. The poor birds - and horses, don't know whether to grow a coat or shed it's been really hard on all of them. So I didn't know if all of these changes in addition to her starting to lay was contributing to what happened tonight.

I will definitely let you know what Dr Kenton says tomorrow. Thank you so much for all you guys do here to help educate us newbies to take better care of, and give better lives to these sweet babies!

My son was playing his guitar on our back patio, and Figgy decided to sing along with him. Quacks was there strictly for moral support. Lol

 

[Goosebaby]

Don’t mention it, we all learn as we go with geese and I learned everything from other goose owners here myself so I’m happy to pass on that knowledge when it’s in need!
You can get some oyster shell from tractor supply, it’s always good to have around Incase she isn’t getting enough calcium from her layer feed.
Some other useful things to have around is poultryRx for the minor colds, apple cider vinegar with the mother, it’s good for the kidneys and immune system, and corid, this time of year and in fall coccidia starts becoming an issue and corid works as a treatment and preventative.

Some other useful thimgs to have is tums, it can give an emergency boost to a bird that’s calcium depleted.

Jeffers pet carries these syringes online https://www.jefferspet.com/products...84c49fa2600f00000651/533884c49fa2600f00000660 they’re the easiest way to get medicine down a goose’s throat, you can also ask your vet for them.
If it helps the best way to give a goose medicine is to place one hand over the top of a goose’s head and with your fingers apply pressure to the corners of her mouth until she begins opening her beak, carefully open her mouth wth the other hand and with the same hand place the syringe to the right corner of her mouth just passed the tongue and hit the plunger or if it’s a pill place it in behind the base of her tongue and hold her mouth closed for a second or two, the faster the process the better.
I find it easier to keep their mouth open if you wrap your first hand around the top of the beak once it’s open too.
Small pills can be hidden in big blueberries or grapes too, it helps to offer the one with the hidden pill and to offer another grape as soon as they have the first in their mouth so that they immediately swallow it without dissecting it in a rush to get the second.

If a goose or duck isn’t eating much watering down their feed into soup can really help, waterfowl can’t hardly resist it.

Other useful things to have around for geese are activated charcoal, vet wrap, and moringa powder.
Some good nutrieNt rich foods to have around are romaine lettuce, cabbage, kale, broccoli, carrots, pumpkin, pumpkin seeds, cucumbers, apples, tomatoes and berries. Grapefruit and lemon have a calming effect on the liver and pancreas. Geese are picky eaters though so don’t be surprised if it takes her awhile to get used to something or won’t eat something ever.

 

[Medalrider]

Dr Kenton said that she has ingested something metal which being on horse property is very possible. She's staying at the clinic over the weekend and we'll go into surgery on Monday morning to remove the object we'll find out what it is at what he takes it out. I will post an update on Monday after she has surgery.

 

[Goosebaby]

Dr Kenton said that she has ingested something metal which being on horse property is very possible. She's staying at the clinic over the weekend and we'll go into surgery on Monday morning to remove the object we'll find out what it is at what he takes it out. I will post an update on Monday after she has surgery.

Praying she gets through surgery and has a full recovery!

 

[Goosebaby]

Dr Kenton said that she has ingested something metal which being on horse property is very possible. She's staying at the clinic over the weekend and we'll go into surgery on Monday morning to remove the object we'll find out what it is at what he takes it out. I will post an update on Monday after she has surgery.

How is your goose?