Gosling not growing / anorexic

[wrenhen]

I have two goslings, approx 4-5 weeks old. One is growing huge and is heavy and the other is very light and bony and is smaller.
They seem depressed and wobble a little bit as they walk, but don’t fall. I let them outside the brooder to get some fresh air and that seemed to perk them up, they were eating mostly dirt and little stones. Later I saw them eating a little bit of food, but they seem disinterested in grazing grass like the other one. I’m worried it’s sick with something or has coccidiosis, which I hear is rare.
Their feces are infrequent and mostly clear liquid.

Is it just depressed from being in a brooder or is it something else? I’ve given them nutridrench and added grit to their area which she seemed to like.
I’m going to keep them outside during the day and the brooder at night since that seemed to be good today.

Their feed is purina flock grower and grass everyday.

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

Could be something internally wrong with it or it could just be smaller. You are feeding what I feed, and mine thrive on it. I do give grass clippings starting on day 2. Have you offered them before? I always use a scissors and chop them up into smaller bits. Mine are outside permanently now as one of my females took them.

 

[JRies]

could be genetic also. like a throw back to a genetic pattern that just lined up in that gosling. King George is 4 years old its my first babies from him this year. He paired with a goose that is a little more fine lined. Every hatch I have had big thick babies like he was and smaller babies like she was.

 

[wrenhen]

Could be something internally wrong with it or it could just be smaller. You are feeding what I feed, and mine thrive on it. I do give grass clippings starting on day 2. Have you offered them before? I always use a scissors and chop them up into smaller bits. Mine are outside permanently now as one of my females took them.

Yea I give them grass everyday, the big one gobbles it up and the little one I’ve never seen touch it. When outside she won’t graze any grass either. Hoping it’s nothing internal that’ll kill them, they are a sweet gosling

 

[wrenhen]

could be genetic also. like a throw back to a genetic pattern that just lined up in that gosling. King George is 4 years old it’s my first babies from him this year. He paired with a goose that is a little more fine lined. Every hatch I have had big thick babies like he was and smaller babies like she was.

Hoping maybe this is it and nothing is fatally wrong

 

[JRies]

Hoping maybe this is it and nothing is fatally wrong

Fingers crossed I went and got you a picture. All of these browns are his and only 1 week apart. There all healthy the mom is the buff in the picture the dad is the big gander in my profile picture.

 

[wrenhen]

Fingers crossed I went and got you a picture. All of these browns are his and only 1 week apart. There all healthy the mom is the buff in the picture the dad is the big gander in my profile picture.

Awe the cute little dulaps, thank you for the comparison photo.

 

[wrenhen]

Wanted to do an update but I started putting the goslings in an outdoor enclosure with the other birds and the older geese seemed very interested in them. Let them out to see what would happen and the male goose basically adopted them. The little goose has started grazing and her poops are actually a color other than clear now. I'm trying not to be too optimistic but I think being adopted and being outside has lifted her spirits. Hoping she gets to adulthood

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

Wanted to do an update but I started putting the goslings in an outdoor enclosure with the other birds and the older geese seemed very interested in them. Let them out to see what would happen and the male goose basically adopted them. The little goose has started grazing and her poops are actually a color other than clear now. I'm trying not to be too optimistic but I think being adopted and being outside has lifted her spirits. Hoping she gets to adulthood

It always amazes me how adults will take in young goslings just like they are their own. Good to hear it's feeling better, and enjoying being part of the flock.