Gosling Size?

[CrisAnderson27]

Hello there everyone!

I had a question about a gosling I received from Metzer Farms. I had ordered three, two females and a male...and they hatched last Monday. I received them Wednesday. The were all awake and active...though they seemed a bit disoriented. One of them (the smallest) was barely able to walk. I got her (and the others) into the brooder with some sugar water...and kept a close eye on her for the next few days.

Anyhow, she seems to be developing 'ok'. It's been near a week and a half since she was hatched, and she's behind the other birds quite a bit, in both size, and coordination. She gets around ok, and seems completely capable, but falls MUCH more than the others, and has a lot of trouble keeping up. As another example...the other two swim very capably (I limit their water time to 10 minutes or so in slightly warmer than skin temperature water)...and she does ok. But when they 'take off'...and she tries to follow, it basically just slams her face first into the water. She's about half their size...and an odd bird...but she's spunky and everyone's favorite.

We named her 'Loosie' because she doesn't get around super well and falls a lot, lol.

My question is, have you guys experienced a gosling that isn't seeming to grow with their hatch mates? What was the end result?

Am I going to end up with a 'bantam' French Toulouse goose lol?...or will she eventually catch up?

 

[Miss Lydia]

They are adorable. What are you feeding your goslings? Are you supplementing any niacin if so what?

 

[CrisAnderson27]

They are adorable. What are you feeding your goslings? Are you supplementing any niacin if so what?

I'm feeding them both dry and fermented chick starter. They have Bermuda hay, and some access to grass also. I supplement a 500mg niacin capsule in 5gal of water.

My big concern is Loosie. She's an easy favorite for anyone who meets her. I'm just wondering how she'll develop long term.

 

[Miss Lydia]

Too young for hay and long grasses too. They also need chick grit when eating anything but their starter. Maybe you could pick up some liquid BComplex for Loosie? TSC has Durvet brand and when one is having issues like Loosie we’ve seen great recovery using it. It will say injectable but we use it orally and not in water since that delutes it too much. We’ve found giving over a fav treat is a good way to get a full dose down. For Loosie a half ml daily to start. Chick starter doesn’t have near the niacin that waterfowl need for strong legs and for growth and neurological support. What niacin are you using? Not flush free or time released? Neither will work.

 

[CrisAnderson27]

No, it's standard Nutricost niacin, and they do have grit. I leave it loose for them and consistently sprinkle it over their crumbles. They actively eat it if I pile it up. Other than their short excursions on the lawn...I don't feed much grass, and what I do is clipped into 1.5-2" pieces. Same with the hay. The only reason I was using hay at all was because they refused to eat anything but their bedding for three days. Within the first 5 minutes I swapped the pine shavings for the clipped hay, so at least it was an edible with SOME nutritional value. Within 48-72hrs they stopped and now devour their chick starter...but I kept the hay as bedding until today though.

I'll check out the B complex tomorrow for sure.

Btw, what is it exactly we're treating lol? Just slow growth?

 

[Miss Lydia]

She maybe showing some niacin deficiency symptoms.
https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/niacin-deficiency-in-waterfowl.1367557/
Other than the symptoms you have mentioned does she have a good appetite? Putting the niacin in water for one thing dilutes it and they waste so much of it. And we have seen in a group of waterfowl all but one will be fine and there will be that one that just needs a little extra help and the Duvet liquid B complex has really been a life saver for many.
I mean it could very well be failure to thrive but on your video the little one looks alert.
If you decide to try the liquid B complex put half ml over a tasty treat for her for ducklings it's meal worms. I don't know if you've given any treats yet so over her feed would work but then the rest will be getting her dose you could just give it to her by mouth tiny drops right inside her bill giving her time to swallow.

 

[CrisAnderson27]

She maybe showing some niacin deficiency symptoms.
https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/niacin-deficiency-in-waterfowl.1367557/
Other than the symptoms you have mentioned does she have a good appetite? Putting the niacin in water for one thing dilutes it and they waste so much of it. And we have seen in a group of waterfowl all but one will be fine and there will be that one that just needs a little extra help and the Duvet liquid B complex has really been a life saver for many.
I mean it could very well be failure to thrive but on your video the little one looks alert.
If you decide to try the liquid B complex put half ml over a tasty treat for her for ducklings it's meal worms. I don't know if you've given any treats yet so over her feed would work but then the rest will be getting her dose you could just give it to her by mouth tiny drops right inside her bill giving her time to swallow.

Gotcha!

It's hard to describe her. She's active, alert, vocal, and loves to interact. She moves around good (albeit clumsily sometimes), and shows no signs of pain or even discomfort. Her legs look just like the other two birds...no turning or weakness. She's just...smaller.

The B complex doesn't sound like something that would hurt either way. I haven't done any treats with them other than clipped grass, but I'll grab some mealworms and try it.

I'll get some more video so maybe you can get a better feel for her as well.

Also, thanks!

 

[Miss Lydia]

Don't be alarmed when you see the bottle of liquid B complex it will say injectable but that's the one we just use it orally. Just peel off the foil over the top and use a dropper or syringe without a needle to pull you what you need. This is what it looks like but they changed the label to a darker color.

 

[CrisAnderson27]

Here they are this morning!

 

[Miss Lydia]

They are adorable and she sure looks good! Alert and keeping up. A few things I’d change is the chicken waterer they need to be able to dunk their heads so they can keep their eyes an nares cleaned and that feeder is for chicks I do use one for first week then it needs to be something that they can get their bills into easier. You can use a broiler and cover with puppy pee pads to protect their feet but will catch excess water. And set their feed bowl up where they can eat out of it but can’t climb in an stand an poop in. I made a waterer for my ducklings and just changed the size of the bottom as they grew. As for Loosie as far as I can tell by watching her she looks very healthy just tiny. Hopefully adding the BComplex will give her the boost to begin to catch up especially the stumbling. I never had that with gosling I’ve had but I always give mine their niacin over their feed ( Nutritional yeast) or if I noticed shaky legs or weakness they get the liquid B Complex.