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

[desertdarlene]

Thanks. She was sick for 3 1/2 weeks, but I don't know from what. I'm thinking maybe she ate some non-lead metal, though I never saw her foraging in the water, but she did forage along the shoreline. Her mind seemed to be affected, somewhat, but she seemed OK other than not eating.

I still have a lot of food left over. How long can I keep it in a sealed container? I want to keep it for a while in case some of the other geese or new dumped ducks get sick or skinny.

 

[Miss Lydia]

Thanks. She was sick for 3 1/2 weeks, but I don't know from what. I'm thinking maybe she ate some non-lead metal, though I never saw her foraging in the water, but she did forage along the shoreline. Her mind seemed to be affected, somewhat, but she seemed OK other than not eating.

I still have a lot of food left over. How long can I keep it in a sealed container? I want to keep it for a while in case some of the other geese or new dumped ducks get sick or skinny.

They recommend it be kept in a cool dry place so sealed tight maybe a couple months, Not sure though. When my fish go dormant I seal their food up and keep it in the freezer,. But these are 2lb bags.. Maybe she picked up a lead weight from a fishing line, what do they do with them when they die do you know?

 

[desertdarlene]

Sadly, I think they dispose of them in the trash. I don't think they can do anything otherwise probably for health and legal reasons. I know the staff was attached to her, so I'm hoping maybe they'll have a little funeral. I know this sounds grisly, but if it were me, I would have left her to the vultures who do a great job of cleaning everything up and can do it quickly and even eat a lot of the feathers. They've been eyeing her for a couple of weeks and about 10 of them were hanging around the area.

A lot of the fishermen there don't use lead weight and she didn't act like she had lead poisoning, but it could have been iron or another metal. Or, it was a very small amount of lead.

 

[Miss Lydia]

Sadly, I think they dispose of them in the trash. I don't think they can do anything otherwise probably for health and legal reasons. I know the staff was attached to her, so I'm hoping maybe they'll have a little funeral. I know this sounds grisly, but if it were me, I would have left her to the vultures who do a great job of cleaning everything up and can do it quickly and even eat a lot of the feathers. They've been eyeing her for a couple of weeks and about 10 of them were hanging around the area.

A lot of the fishermen there don't use lead weight and she didn't act like she had lead poisoning, but it could have been iron or another metal. Or, it was a very small amount of lead.

Well at least we know she isn't suffering.

 

[RURU]

Yesterday, when I went to feed her, she wouldn't eat anything, though she really looked like she wanted to. I figured I would try again today and if she doesn't eat this morning, I would come back and try again in the afternoon. But, this morning I found her collapsed on the ground near the water, dead. I don't even think she went to bed (her night-time roost) last night.


She's now with her Jack who disappeared a couple of years ago.

DD, I am so sorry that you found her passed away. But you did try your best to help....

 

[Aaisha]

i hope it turns out like that old cene and then she is ok, he was sooo precious.

 

[desertdarlene]

i hope it turns out like that old cene and then she is ok, he was sooo precious.

Sorry, she is not. I saw her this time. All the other geese are very healthy right now. Louie, the other gander that watched over her after Jack disappeared, is a bit lethargic and limps sometimes. But, he's very old (the oldest goose there way up in age) and I think he has arthritis.

 

[desertdarlene]

As a final update to this thread, unless something big happens. I wanted to mention that Louie, the gander, was ostracized by the rest of the geese in the flock after Jill's death. He mostly stayed by himself, but within sight of the group. For a couple of weeks, he constantly called and looked for Jill and even went to other sides of the lake where he never goes. But, his health and energy was really good. One bad thing is that he began to harass the poor ducks, herding them around and nipping at them.

Last Wednesday, Louie looked like he was going to be allowed back in the group and was swimming close to them. But, on Friday, he had disappeared without a trace. I thought I saw him across the lake, possibly looking for Jill, but couldn't be sure. Well, today he was still missing, and I saw a lot of feathers spread out around the reeds near where all the geese sleep. This might mean that his life has ended. I think he was more than 20 years old and may have died in his sleep during a cold rain storm. Louie was fairly tame and would eat out of your hand if he liked you, but he was often suspicious of people he didn't know, so I'm not suspecting that anyone stole him. There was one goose that got stolen during the holidays a couple years ago.

I remember when Jill disappeared when I first posted to this thread and she showed up later. I'm hoping that Louie will, too, so if I see him again, I will let everyone know.

 

[Miss Lydia]

As a final update to this thread, unless something big happens. I wanted to mention that Louie, the gander, was ostracized by the rest of the geese in the flock after Jill's death. He mostly stayed by himself, but within sight of the group. For a couple of weeks, he constantly called and looked for Jill and even went to other sides of the lake where he never goes. But, his health and energy was really good. One bad thing is that he began to harass the poor ducks, herding them around and nipping at them.

Last Wednesday, Louie looked like he was going to be allowed back in the group and was swimming close to them. But, on Friday, he had disappeared without a trace. I thought I saw him across the lake, possibly looking for Jill, but couldn't be sure. Well, today he was still missing, and I saw a lot of feathers spread out around the reeds near where all the geese sleep. This might mean that his life has ended. I think he was more than 20 years old and may have died in his sleep during a cold rain storm. Louie was fairly tame and would eat out of your hand if he liked you, but he was often suspicious of people he didn't know, so I'm not suspecting that anyone stole him. There was one goose that got stolen during the holidays a couple years ago.

I remember when Jill disappeared when I first posted to this thread and she showed up later. I'm hoping that Louie will, too, so if I see him again, I will let everyone know.

I hope Louie is okay and shows up soon. Just hard to know what might have happened.

 

[mothergooz]

Oh my God I am so sorry!!! First Jill and now Louie.

What kind of feathers are at the spot where Louie sat? If they are small white feathers, its down and he may just be preening himself. If they are larger feathers they may be flight feathers, and even if he loses a few of them he will be okay.

He may have not gotten attacked, and even if he did the fact that you DIDN'T find the body is a good sign. Of the geese that I have found murdered, you usually find the body not too far from the pile of feathers (or the place the assault took place.)

Now to the important part: if Louie returns and he is not in good shape contact your local wildife rehab center. They will take the animal and when he's better they will return him to the wild. If they refuse to capture the Louie and bring him there,(which is the case with my rehab center) they will tell you how to do a rescue by yourself.

Try to get friends to help if you can. Wait till he slows down or sits and literally jump on top of him. Make sure he doesn't open his wings because you can break one in the struggle. Watch out for his head because he will use it like a fist and beat you silly.

Your rehabber will give you more details.

Monitor your pond daily and good luck.