Goose standing around, not grazing or moving--update she's ALIVE

[Miss Lydia]

Yeah, I can't be certain about her age, though I know it's at least five years old. Louie, the gander, is much older than her.

I would think the junk food probably makes a big difference in their health. I hope she comes around and lives a long life.

 

[desertdarlene]

Definitely makes a big difference. I see it especially with the domestic ducks. I'm sure the sickness I see with the ducks that have been around for more than a few years is directly caused by their diet. Three to four years of eating junk takes a toll on their systems. The wild ducks do much better because they eat a varied diet with wild foods, but the domestics almost eat all junk all the time. I'm sure that's what the last three older ducks died from.

The geese tend to live longer probably because they eat more vegetation than the ducks and are constantly grazing. But, they usually live half their lifespan than they would if they were fed their proper diet (not to mention predators picking them off now and then).

One thing I'm not sure if I should do, since Jill is not my own goose and I can't take her to the vet for a proper diagnosis, is try to give her medicine on my own. I'm not sure if the staff and other people around there would like that.

 

[Miss Lydia]

Definitely makes a big difference. I see it especially with the domestic ducks. I'm sure the sickness I see with the ducks that have been around for more than a few years is directly caused by their diet. Three to four years of eating junk takes a toll on their systems. The wild ducks do much better because they eat a varied diet with wild foods, but the domestics almost eat all junk all the time. I'm sure that's what the last three older ducks died from.

The geese tend to live longer probably because they eat more vegetation than the ducks and are constantly grazing. But, they usually live half their lifespan than they would if they were fed their proper diet (not to mention predators picking them off now and then).

One thing I'm not sure if I should do, since Jill is not my own goose and I can't take her to the vet for a proper diagnosis, is try to give her medicine on my own. I'm not sure if the staff and other people around there would like that.

If she would eat bread from your hand no one would have to know I used Zimectrin Gold once for worming and it was a pain having so many but to just do one goose it would be easy just putting a dab on a little bread and closing the bread up and handing it to her but if she won't eat it won't work. To bad there are groups that would come and look into health issues of domestic geese/ducks that are dumped seems someone would take responsibility for their care.

 

[desertdarlene]

Thanks, I'll look into that if she doesn't get any better.

At this lake, no one really looks after them. I know many years ago, people would "donate" animals to the lake and sorta look after them. Now, any type of interaction with them, including feeding them, is discouraged.

 

[Miss Lydia]

Thanks, I'll look into that if she doesn't get any better.

At this lake, no one really looks after them. I know many years ago, people would "donate" animals to the lake and sorta look after them. Now, any type of interaction with them, including feeding them, is discouraged.

Why is that? I mean if someone wanted to donate healthy feed would they discourage that?

 

[desertdarlene]

A friend of mine used to feed them, but he also liked the feed the squirrels which overpopulated the area and dug holes all over. Then, people were getting injured by the holes, so they told him to leave. They told other people to stop, too. All I get as an explanation is that the feeding causes problems and they say it's "harassment of wildlife" even to feed domestic animals.

The animals were so much healthier back when they were being fed regularly.

 

[fluttervale]

Can you offer to buy her? $20 or so? Maybe they'd be willing to sell her, since she's a domestic breed.

Though she probably wouldn't like being separated from her mate.

 

[desertdarlene]

No, they were dumped and they don't want any taken away, plus I don't have anywhere to take her. She would need immediate veterinary attention. I've offered to help rehome them before, but they said they don't want the geese messed with.

I don't think she has much longer to live. She refuses to go anywhere near the other geese, but keeps in sight and sound of them. They call to her all the time, but she ignores them. I was able to pet her wings and tail and the feathers were not oiled and soaking wet with her tail feathers being dry and brittle. She has bugs crawling all over her. She has no fat on her at all now. I've noticed that she stands nearly all the time, so I'm wondering if her abdomen hurts. I don't know for sure, but I think she might have ascites. I don't know if that can be seen in the photos above. She refuses to eat. It's almost as if she's depressed.

I think the only reason she has lived so long is that she was overweight to begin with. She seems to have some brief periods of normalty.

 

[Miss Lydia]

No, they were dumped and they don't want any taken away, plus I don't have anywhere to take her. She would need immediate veterinary attention. I've offered to help rehome them before, but they said they don't want the geese messed with.

I don't think she has much longer to live. She refuses to go anywhere near the other geese, but keeps in sight and sound of them. They call to her all the time, but she ignores them. I was able to pet her wings and tail and the feathers were not oiled and soaking wet with her tail feathers being dry and brittle. She has bugs crawling all over her. She has no fat on her at all now. I've noticed that she stands nearly all the time, so I'm wondering if her abdomen hurts. I don't know for sure, but I think she might have ascites. I don't know if that can be seen in the photos above. She refuses to eat. It's almost as if she's depressed.

I think the only reason she has lived so long is that she was overweight to begin with. She seems to have some brief periods of normalty.

So heart breaking.

 

[RURU]

I will be honest with you that if they want the geese left alone they are wishing they would die..... It is terrible to allow people to put the birds on the lake then not allow anyone to feed them! That is just foolish! Domestic geese eat differently then wild geese. Our domesticated geese are more of grass eaters but their are other things that they need to stay alive. I know my Sebastopol's do not eat fish I do not see them eat bugs either. Just grass, dandelions and their waterfowl feed.