HELP!!! Unexpected Addition

[UrbanChicks435]

So we came into possession of a very cold and hungry baby goose. (VERY long story short, it was abandoned.) We have some chick food so we fed it that, but I know this isn't what we should feed them. Does anyone know of a substitute? Example: green beans, lettuce, spinach, dandelion greens, etc... We don't want to spend more money than we have to on MORE baby poultry food. (My mom already hates that we had to spend so much on the food for our baby chicks that are coming on Friday.)

Please!!! I need all the help I can get!!! Any other tips are welcome!

 

[EvenLater]

So we came into possession of a very cold and hungry baby goose. (VERY long story short, it was abandoned.) We have some chick food so we fed it that, but I know this isn't what we should feed them. Does anyone know of a substitute? Example: green beans, lettuce, spinach, dandelion greens, etc... We don't want to spend more money than we have to on MORE baby poultry food. (My mom already hates that we had to spend so much on the food for our baby chicks that are coming on Friday.)

Please!!! I need all the help I can get!!! Any other tips are welcome!

As long as the chick feed is non-medicated, the baby can eat that. Any idea about how old? If not, post a picture and we can help! If it's more than a few days old, you can also give it cut grass. Geese aren't really expensive to raise, since the majority of their diet is grass! That should help Mom feel better! Plus, it will grow into a wonderful watchgoose for your flock!

 

[jtn42248]

So we came into possession of a very cold and hungry baby goose. (VERY long story short, it was abandoned.) We have some chick food so we fed it that, but I know this isn't what we should feed them. Does anyone know of a substitute? Example: green beans, lettuce, spinach, dandelion greens, etc... We don't want to spend more money than we have to on MORE baby poultry food. (My mom already hates that we had to spend so much on the food for our baby chicks that are coming on Friday.)

Please!!! I need all the help I can get!!! Any other tips are welcome!

About how old would you guess the gosling to be? Can you post a photo? Chick feed will pass for now but it is missing in some key ingredients that waterfowl need, specifically Niacin. You can add niacin by sprinkling Brewer's Yeast on the goslings feed. She will grow really fast, I have 8 Toulouse goslings that are just 6 week old and are already almost the same size as their parents. Geese are grazers so she need to have plenty of time outside in a grassy area and she will add almost as much poop to that area as grass that she eats. Also, like most birds, they are flocking animals so she is going to need another goose companion to keep her from feeling alone and forlorn. If you want to try raising her on feed alone you will need to find some that is specifically formulated for geese.

Good luck, and post pictures if you can.

 

[jtn42248]

Something else, she needs access to water at all times. The water should be deep enough for her to submerge her head in order to clean her nares (nose). Eventually she will need some sort of pool to bathe in. Geese like to keep clean and bathe and preens several times a day if they have access to water.

 

[UrbanChicks435]

Ok, so we are feeding her/him a mixture of lettuce, peas, green beans, cheerios and oatmeal (both moistened) It has a dish of water and a heating pad set on low. We should have a bigger box for it by tomorrow.

I will try to post pics as soon as possible.

 

[UrbanChicks435]

The baby goose is trying to jump out of it's box. It has a wire mesh cover that it keeps hitting its head on. Sometimes it falls backwards on it's back. I'm worried that it's going to hurt itself. What should I do???

 

[UrbanChicks435]

Ok, so I have found that if I sit and talk to it, it will calm down quickly. I don't think it likes being in such a small box, but we will fix that tomorrow morning.

 

[jtn42248]

A box is pobably not going to do it as a brooder. The gosling, depending on age, needs to be outside where it can forage and graze. If you are planning on raising it as a house goose there are others on BYC that can assist with that. In any case it needs to be able to stand upright, extend its wings and stretch. It also needs a companion and that is going to become harder to do as it grows older since you will have a more difficult time finding a companion goose that is the same age and size.

Also, the diet you mention is not a balanced diet for a goose. If nothing else put a plentiful supply of grass clippings in the box for it to eat.

Read, there are a number of articles on BYC related to raising geese as well as hatchery sites like Metzer.

And, carefully consider if you are really ready and wanting to take on the responsibility of raising a goose. If not, then try to rehome him/her while she/he is still young.

 

[EvenLater]

I am one of those oddball others that can help you if you are wanting to raise it as an indoor pet!

Feel free to ask questions. If you intend to raise it outdoors, I agree with jtn. A small box isn't going to work as a brooder. Knowing the approximate age of the gosling would also really help us, but for that we're going to need either a really detailed description, or a picture, or if you can, take a look at my thread here of Cas growing up week by week and see which one is closest to him? https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/987068/cas-week-by-week-a-helpful-guide-to-aging-a-gosling

 

[brittanimck]

What kind of goose is it? So, exciting! I've raised geese indoors and have successfully introduced a house goose to domestic fowl of all kinds, pretty much. When the goose is tiny, like a few days old, they have trouble grazing on their own. Grass clippings are great, but cut short at first. Also, they seem to LOVE dandelions, especially seeds. They are easy food in the first few days. Spinach is not recommended due to large quantities of iron. No nightshade plants like tomato or potato, they are bad for birds. Buttercup and ivy are also bad for birds. Generally, the goose will tell you what he doesn't want by not eating it. As long as they aren't starving that is. Boxes are upsetting for baby goslings. They love crawling on shoulders and into your hair. If you have a wide scarf, that you don't mind might get pooped on, they would love to be carried in that. So many more helpful tips to offer! If you make a list, I would be more than happy to try to answer them.