Gosling w/no eyes?

[GooseOnLoose]

Hello everyone. I’ve had Chinese geese for a number of years and have hatched a few and my geese have also hatched their own. This time I’ve run into a few issues...too much to type here now, but the nutshell version is that the goose abandoned the nest and the three that were viable and close to hatching I stuck under a setting hen (chicken).

2 hatched just fine and are fluffy and active, the third was a couple days behind and it appears he has no eyes... my first reaction was to remove him, but a friend suggested I leave him with the hen so he gets to know their voices and the area where they are.

I’ll be honest in saying I simply am at a loss on what to do. I won’t cull the gosling but I’m very concerned at what kind of quality of life he would have, because my birds all free range and he would have to be kept in some type of pen.

Im not at all sure he is completely healthy, which adds to other concerns, but only being 24 hours old, it’s awfully soon to try to make any determinations.

I’ve read a lot of different threads and gathered a lot of info over the last 24 hours — but ultimately am looking for ideas, advice and suggestions for this little guy.

Any help would be greatly appreciated and thank you in advance.

 

[Lovem all]

Hi! I had a blind chicken and a half blind duck and a half blind chicken so I'm very aware of their special needs. I have a Blind Chickens thread where I and others talk about our blind babies. It is very possible for them to have a satisfying happy life.

 

[FlocksOfFluff]

Can he find out where the food and water is?

 

[GooseOnLoose]

Hi! I had a blind chicken and a half blind duck and a half blind chicken so I'm very aware of their special needs. I have a Blind Chickens thread where I and others talk about our blind babies. It is very possible for them to have a satisfying happy life.

If you can point me to the thread, I would greatly appreciate it. Thank you!

 

[GooseOnLoose]

Can he find out where the food and water is?

Not so much.. he’s just 24 hours old and I’ve been checking on him about every 2-3 hours to make sure he’s at least getting his bill in water and this morning, I actually sat him right in the middle of the pan of food and he seemed to nibble a bit, but fell asleep pretty quick.

I had put a tiny dab of terramycin on his eye lids, thinking to give him some comfort and I’m now noticing some movement and perhaps a tiny eyeball under the lid on one side. So I put a tiny dab on the other side as well.

As I type this, I’m sitting on my porch with a syringe of pedialyte mixed with some mostly dissolved crumbles ... and he’s pretty interested in that now.

im feeling hopeful but cautious.