Got A Call From A Frantic Gosling Owner

[ChristineR]

Talked to the lady last night to find out the name of the feed that she had been feeding the gosling and she said that there wasn't a name on the bag. The feed store had sold her a "brown" bag of feed with no name on it, no nutritional information. NO NOTHING! I held my breath after she said that. OMG!!!! She has no idea what she has been feeding them. She relied on the feed store to sell her feed without her having any knowledge of what to buy or feed.

She could have been feeding them horse feed for all we know. I told her to STOP feeding them the mysterious feed IMMEDIATELY. She followed my advice and had already purchased the Flockraiser crumble. I also mentioned to her what you all suggested about the Niacin and Brewer's Yeast. She had purchased that and had given it to them. She also said that the feed store tried to sell her (and she bought a bag) of GAME BIRD FEED. I was speechless again. I asked her what was the protein percentage. After minutes of trying to locate it, she said that percentage was 30 %. I told her DO NOT feed that to those babies. I explained that the protein was too high for them. I explained that I only feed game bird feed to my poults and I allow my turkeys to have such a high protein. I asked her if she knew what angel wing was and she said no. I explained that to her.

So now it's just a waiting game.

Why doesn't she call the feed store to find out what it was that she was feeding? A lot of feed stores will package feed in smaller quantities for people who don't want or need a 50 lb bag. They usually write what it is on the bag, though.

 

[RugenerGooser]

I know that some medicted chick starters have an ingredient that is bad for water fowl, perhaps this is a clue.. I also feed flock raiser and never had a problem but my geese and gosling range in the field more than they eat the flock raiser.

Never give waterfowl medicated feed. It has ingredients that are supposed to prevent coccidiosis that can kill the waterfowl. I absolutely agree.

 

[RugenerGooser]

Why doesn't she call the feed store to find out what it was that she was feeding? A lot of feed stores will package feed in smaller quantities for people who don't want or need a 50 lb bag. They usually write what it is on the bag, though.

I think looking for a different feed store is in order.

 

[kuntrygirl]

Why doesn't she call the feed store to find out what it was that she was feeding?  A lot of feed stores will package feed in smaller quantities for people who don't want or need a 50 lb bag.  They usually write what it is on the bag, though.

I think looking for a different feed store is in order.

x2

 

[kuntrygirl]

Just got off the phone with her and she said that the gosling is eating, drinking, great poop but still not walking. I heard her mention that she had the gosling on TILE!!!!! I was like, "HUH? TILE"? The back patio was all tile and that's where they were living. Before I could say anything she went on to explain that they were moving the gosling to the garden so that she can get some traction to walk. They were also going to do some swimming pool physical therapy in hopes of strengthening her legs.

I am in no way an animal expert but I wouldn't have my babies on a tile floor. :/ I don't know if the slippery tile has anything to do with the gosling not walking or not. But the others don't have a problem. So, I am confused. I told her that I would call her back in a couple days to check on the status of the goose.

 

[Miss Lydia]

Just got off the phone with her and she said that the gosling is eating, drinking, great poop but still not walking. I heard her mention that she had the gosling on TILE!!!!! I was like, "HUH? TILE"? The back patio was all tile and that's where they were living. Before I could say anything she went on to explain that they were moving the gosling to the garden so that she can get some traction to walk. They were also going to do some swimming pool physical therapy in hopes of strengthening her legs.

I am in no way an animal expert but I wouldn't have my babies on a tile floor.

I don't know if the slippery tile has anything to do with the gosling not walking or not. But the others don't have a problem. So, I am confused. I told her that I would call her back in a couple days to check on the status of the goose.

If the gosling was already having leg problems, keeping it on tile sure wasn't helping any.

 

[RURU]

When I was new to waterfowl I had NO IDEA of what to do. So I got on the computer and found out what I should to with them, how to feed, what to feed. How to keep their pen clean, ect. The good thing is this woman is asking and trying to make things right with the goslings. I had NO idea that they should not be on a flat floor like hardwood, tile, newspaper. You have to learn and that is what these sites are all about... Had no idea you could not feed medicated chick food. I did rely on the people at the feed store on what to feed. and how long on it. But they were wrong on how long to feed Geese Sebastopols growth feed. It is only 3 weeks then change to adult feed. Then one needs to learn what to feed for the winter on the sebbies. You have to get the protein down to 15-16%.
As we all know they are many many things that need to be learned about waterfowl.