Gosling can't walk

[countrychix]

I have a 6 day old gosling that had/has spraddle leg. He was hobbled which did help but I believe there are other things going on as well. He can't seem to balance himself, his head bobbles from side to side, he refuses to walk, only runs on his toes, when he tries to run he runs with his head down- to the floor usually and usually in circles. He usually only gets a few steps in before he flops over and then can't right himself. He swims tilted to one side and paddles more strongly with one leg than the other. He is on electrolytes and vitamins and is growing well but his condition doesn't seem to be improving. He is the only one of 7 eggs to have hatched. Anyone out there with any thoughts? This is heartbreaking and we don't know what esle to do or how much longer to try as he is pretty much helpless- we can't even leave food or water in with him for fear of him drowning as he can't get up.

 

[Miss Lydia]

I have a 6 day old gosling that had/has spraddle leg. He was hobbled which did help but I believe there are other things going on as well. He can't seem to balance himself, his head bobbles from side to side, he refuses to walk, only runs on his toes, when he tries to run he runs with his head down- to the floor usually and usually in circles. He usually only gets a few steps in before he flops over and then can't right himself. He swims tilted to one side and paddles more strongly with one leg than the other. He is on electrolytes and vitamins and is growing well but his condition doesn't seem to be improving. He is the only one of 7 eggs to have hatched. Anyone out there with any thoughts? This is heartbreaking and we don't know what esle to do or how much longer to try as he is pretty much helpless- we can't even leave food or water in with him for fear of him drowning as he can't get up.

I'm so sorry to hear this, it almost sounds nerological or of someone who has had a stroke.. know what I mean? Don't know if theres any thing that can be done other than what your doing with vits and electrolytes. Hopefully someone will be able to help you..

 

[Enchanted Sunrise Farms]

i agree, sounds like a neurological issue. You may try sprinkling Brewers Yeast on his feed. i know with my ducks it prevents lameness. At 6 days old, it might work itself out. If the hobbling fixed the spraddle leg, maybe just give him some time to get used to his legs and walking normally.

It's a tough call. i have had issues like that with my ducks and chickens. Sometimes they come out okay, and other times i have coddled a chick only to see down the line that there were indeed some serious deformities that would never right themselves.

 

[countrychix]

He/she is slightly better today, we have added selenium, niacin and vitamin E to his diet. His spraddle legs seemed to be corrected but he is still very wobbly. He has been able to take a few more steps before falling over and is able to right himself at least some of the time now. He has started asking to be held and cuddled- so sweet- I sure hope he continues to improve.

 

[GosfieldAcres]

How is your gosling today? Any difference?

 

[countrychix]

He's doing about the same. His walking actually seems worse indoors today but once I took him outside and put him on very short grass he did much better, not great but good enough to think that he may be able to live independently someday. My daughter also happened to notice a tuft just above his tail which kind if looks like a tip of a second tail, if that makes sense. Don't know what this could be or mean. He really enjoyed swimming in the tub this evening, first time he seemed like a"normal" gosling.

 

[pcp goosy]

you goose is probably sick with an infection and too Weak to stand. I had the same issue and got antibiotics to inject and she's doing much better. take the gosling to dr. sometimes they injest something (metal) that may make them sick too. . she'll recover get her to an avian specialist about $200-400 dollars depends

 

[CelticOaksFarm]

Country the extra tuff is the oil gland and very normal in waterfowl. As they mature they preen more and more running their beaks over this area and distributing the oils over their feathers.

 

[countrychix]

The gosling is still having a lot of difficulty walking, or should I say running. He really doesn't walk at all, only tries to run and when he does, he runs on his toes never really putting his heels down. As such he is very unsteady. Another thing that I have noticed is that he never moves his wings, not for balance, not for anything. His head bobbling is barely noticeable anymore but his spraddle legs return after a couple of days out of the hobbles, probably because he spends so much time on his back just thrashing around, trying to right himself but unable to so. We can't watch him 24/7 so he does spends a lot of time in this position. Anyone out there with any thoughts, or should we just give up on him? (He's 12 days old.)

 

[Miss Lydia]

The gosling is still having a lot of difficulty walking, or should I say running. He really doesn't walk at all, only tries to run and when he does, he runs on his toes never really putting his heels down. As such he is very unsteady. Another thing that I have noticed is that he never moves his wings, not for balance, not for anything. His head bobbling is barely noticeable anymore but his spraddle legs return after a couple of days out of the hobbles, probably because he spends so much time on his back just thrashing around, trying to right himself but unable to so. We can't watch him 24/7 so he does spends a lot of time in this position. Anyone out there with any thoughts, or should we just give up on him? (He's 12 days old.)

Thats a call only you can make, looking at his progress and and then seems to go down hill again. So sad but you never know with some extra TLC and healthy food and vits he may just pull out of it. It all depends on how long you want to give him. If it was me because of being retired and having all the time in the world I'd probably wait longer. But not everyone can do this. Sorry you have to be put in such a place to have to make a decision.