Hangy tummy?

[zooweemama]

That's Chuck our 4 week old gosling. His mate Sarah has a smooth belly. From behind you can def see how loppy his belly is- is this normal on such a young goose and a male at that?


Excuse my typos. Sent from my iPhone.

 

[1MrsMagoo]

Some of my juvenile males have much larger paunches than the females. I don't recall seeing any quite that pronounced at that age, but then again, it may be a breed specific thing.

I would say as long as he is acting like himself it is probably just how he is growing.

 

[flockman]

My buffs didn't have that. I wonder if that is more common in Africans especially the dewlap Africans. Are they dewlap africans? How is Sarah's eyes?

 

[NanaKat]

From what I'm reading, some breeds have one lobe and some have two lobes. Someone with more experience will give a better reassurance than mine.

 

[zooweemama]

He's doing fine! He is eating like a champ, swims, grooms himself, already protects Sarah if something startles them (hisses) and puts himself in the way. very chatty. They are just Metzers Brown Africans. I will say from the back end only one lobe is really pronounced- the other side is smoother. I couldn't get his back end because if I am near- he is on me haha. And Sarah's eyes are almost totally clear. They are not quite as clear as Chuck's though but totally not bad looking at all. Not really weepy anymore. She is also acting very vigorous and healthy. He is now towering over her and she is a plump little thing. haha! Was the other way around.

 

[Going Bhonkers]

From what I'm reading, some breeds have one lobe and some have two lobes. Someone with more experience will give a better reassurance than mine.

I've read the same thing. It would make sense for Africans to have lobes (possibly 2) because they're a heavier breed

 

[Going Bhonkers]

Hmmm, although,

Quote:
I hope someone who has had African goslings can chime in...

 

[roboboy]

I can't say if that's normal or not and I don't believe i have any goslings that young anymore to compare him to. I certainly wouldn't fret over it and would say that as long as he's healthy and doing fine it's nothing to worry about. Seeing that you only have two and assuming they're have plenty of feed and grass it would not surprise me that they're growing quickly.

At one time it was prefered even for the larger show and exhibition type birds to be rather paunch less and have a smoother underline (though still show the desired double lobes). It was thought at the time that such birds with large lobes were the result of crosses with toulouse. It would appear though that being a heavier breed the large paunch was not a hinderance to show birds even and many today have ample paunches (though as the '01 Standard states "stern round, full, free from bagginess") and what that looks like is open to every judges interpretation. (Keeping that in mind the '01 edition makes no mention of lobes at all, but as shown by today's breeders and judges dual lobes are what is desired in this breed.) I realize that with your birds being of generic Africans from Metzer's this info may not apply to your bird in particular, but it does dispel a few of the other questions on the thread and with that being said we don't know what is exactly in his background and Metzers may have large birds in their breeding pen or the combination of genes was just right to lead to early develpment.

 

[zooweemama]

Thanks guys! Since he is seemingly quite healthy I will just watch him. He actually seems to have hit a growth spurt because a week ago Sarah was taller than him. Now he is taller than her and suddenly appears more slender. So maybe a fast height growth and now he'll fill out a bit more? Kinda like kids do... Grow up- then out- then up - then out.


Excuse my typos. Sent from my iPhone.