Gosling poop

[mothergoose19]

Hi all, I have just bought 6 American buff goslings they are 4 weeks old. This is my first experience of keeping geese and they are pooping really runny poop. Is this normal for goslings or do they have diarrhea?

 

[Brianlee543]

My goslings are 16 days old now and have a lot of runny poos too, I think it might be that they do eat a lot of grasses and thinks like that.

 

[LadyGwendolyn]

In my (limited) experience, I found the more greens and grass they eat, the healthier/more solid the poop (less stinky too)! When my gosling was on mostly Mazuri Starter his poops were pure liquid and very frequent. If they are on mostly grass or greens, I would make sure to look out for any signs of illness. And make sure they have grit! Hope your babies are okay and that this helped a bit

 

[N ID Goose mom]

Yes this is normal. They drink lots of water which increases frequency. I have also found the poops after eating greens is of course darker green but also more formed. Mine are only 1 week old so I have a ways to go before they can be turned out more frequently.

 

[N ID Goose mom]

Ok the babies cooperated and gave a sample of both right after bedding was changed. Here is a picture on Mazuri food vs greens poop. The bottom right is thicker and darker. Some of the greens poop is thick enough to pick up if you wanted. Mazuri poop is more liquid.

 

[Pgw]

In my (limited) experience, I found the more greens and grass they eat, the healthier/more solid the poop (less stinky too)! When my gosling was on mostly Mazuri Starter his poops were pure liquid and very frequent. If they are on mostly grass or greens, I would make sure to look out for any signs of illness. And make sure they have grit! Hope your babies are okay and that this helped a bit

What kind of grit do you recommend for goslings? I have both oyster shell- soluble and granite- insoluble. Read where not to give oyster because they will eat too much and have read granite will cause crop impaction. Confused. Thanks!

 

[Pgw]

Ok the babies cooperated and gave a sample of both right after bedding was changed. Here is a picture on Mazuri food vs greens poop. The bottom right is thicker and darker. Some of the greens poop is thick enough to pick up if you wanted. Mazuri poop is more liquid.

View attachment 1809147

I too have just 2 buff goslings 4 weeks old and need advice! They are so big! I have been brooding inside my house in the utility room and never expected the amount of poop from 2 birds to be so frequent and abundant! I have a 4x2x2 ft high brooder and needless to say it has become too small literally overnight. I sometimes hear them kinda scream as if 1 is bullying another. Haven't seen feathers yet! That could be due to cramped space. I have no other brooding area except my large 10 x 20 ft run. My electric fence isn't here yet but due within a week. Finally my question. What do you use as bedding? I had been using puppy pads but now they are sooo strong ( had corners secured with rocks!)they pull them up and chew them to death. Needless to say it's a poop nightmare to clean! I also tried my pine shavings. I think they amplified the poop smell and made a bigger clean up. I am cleaning their brooder at least 4 times a day. They have hanging, safe baby toys/ bird toys, a mirror which they love. My plan is to move them outside in a corral set up within the run. Then let them out within another no-shock poultry fence to graze until older. I try to take them outside at least once a day . That's another ordeal. I pick grass for them as well a few times a day /and feed with chick grit. Just wanting to hear from anyone else if this is what I should be doing or if there are any better ideas????Thanks for listening!
Pam