Gosling plucking out siblings feathers

[TwistedTayy]

I have two pilgrim goslings (male and female) that we hatched ourselves, they are a week and a half old and either the female is plucking out the males baby feathers just above the rump or he is doing it to himself. The female is definitely the alpha of the pair. Just wondering what to do? If they are separated they freak out but the spot dries.. do they need some kind of mental stimulation? Is it something to even worry about at all? The brooder they are in is 2ft by 4ft by 2ft so it’s plenty big… the other threads I found on byc suggested to the poster that they maybe had two ganders but that’s for sure not the case unless I was sent the wrong or mixed eggs (I ordered pilgrims and they were marked with p’s… she accidentally put in a buff marked with a b but it didn’t develop).

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

They might be bored. Can you put them outside in a secure pen during the day? Have you introduced any greens or grass? Some nibbling can be normal. Usually once they get outside more it stops.

 

[TwistedTayy]

They might be bored. Can you put them outside in a secure pen during the day? Have you introduced any greens or grass? Some nibbling can be normal. Usually once they get outside more it stops.

It’s been torrential down pouring during the day (4” in the last two days) and they’ve only just started getting their feathers in so I’m not quite comfortable leaving them unattended yet but I’m hoping to move them outside this weekend/next week because I need the brooder that they are in. I have been taking them on little adventures (weather and work permitting) for about an hour at a time. I hatched them and they are very attached to me so they just follow me around

 

[TwistedTayy]

UPDATE

they have moved outside since this past weekend and the plucking stopped until today… they have plenty of room except when they get locked in their coop at night which is the tsc sentinel coop (not their forever home) and then the free range all day.

I’m not sure exactly what the sq ft is but it’s definitely bigger than some apartments I’ve lived in. They share the free range space with 4 five week old jumbo pekins (goslings are 4 weeks… time sure does fly).

he’s definitely got a bald spot. I don’t really care if he has a bald spot because he’s still a cutie either way but she is definitely hurting him. I’ve caught her doing it and he squeals from pain. I’ve tried separating them and it just stresses them both out.

 

[TwistedTayy]

He’s bleeding now… suggestions?

 

[FoodFreedomNow]

This thread may be helpful. That kind of behavior is usually boredom-driven, so offering some safe toys and perhaps walks may help burn off that energy.

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

I might try spraying the nub with bluekote. Release while it's still wet. It tastes terrible if they nibble while it's still wet. Otherwise they have no pick sprays that I might try.

 

[TwistedTayy]

This thread may be helpful. That kind of behavior is usually boredom-driven, so offering some safe toys and perhaps walks may help burn off that energy.

I might try spraying the nub with bluekote. Release while it's still wet. It tastes terrible if they nibble while it's still wet. Otherwise they have no pick sprays that I might try.

thank you both so much! Got the blue kote and some bag balm. Put the blue kote on tonight and also moved them to a larger brooder so we shall see if that helps. Fingers crossed!

 

[Tiffhill01]

thank you both so much! Got the blue kote and some bag balm. Put the blue kote on tonight and also moved them to a larger brooder so we shall see if that helps. Fingers crossed!

Did the blue kote help? I just purchased two goslings this past weekend. They are close to one week old. The female is picking all the feathers from the males back- constantly. I have them separated now and they are both freaking out. It's their first separation since birth, and I feel horrible about having them in different brooders. But he was in pain, and she would not stop.
I am open to anything at this point. Thank you for any help you can offer.

 

[rosehower]

omg, i just searched this exact type of tissue and didn’t see this, so i posted my own.

did the blue kote work?