Here we go again - I'm hatching more goslings!!

[Marty1876]

And you are offering grit, right? They MUST have it, if they are getting anything other than prepared starter, or something similar. whole grain and real food need grit.

 

[aaajjss1]

Yes I give them grit too

 

[Marty1876]

Well they sound like they've found baby goose heaven! Heck, I want somebody to spoil me that well! I'm sure they are happy and loving it. They sure were cute.

 

[aaajjss1]

Marty, I know right! I want to be spoiled like that too. Now if only I can find a goose for Willow hmmm...

 

[Iain Utah]

aaa, you are being a great mom! I'm sure Willow is happy with his duck buddy and you can take your time to find the right mate. I expect juvenile goslings will start becoming available pretty soon.

 

[psue]

Well they sound like they've found baby goose heaven! Heck, I want somebody to spoil me that well! I'm sure they are happy and loving it. They sure were cute.

x2

 

[Iain Utah]

I think I may have found a way to help Spirit! In my research, I found that the company Teva made a custom shoe for a penguin whose foot looks just like Spirit's foot. So, I hunted down the specific person who works at Teva who designed the penguin shoe and called him. We had a great talk and he said he would like to help my goose!! I sent him pics and he wants me to trace the foot and send him the outline, then he will look for samples of different materials. He will be in town for the big trade show in August, so we have a goal to have something to try to fit on her when he is here.

I really think if Spirit had a shoe like the penguin, she could live a normal life with the rest of her dewlap clan.

 

[bayyjayy]

Good for you, Iain! What a neat thing for you to find. I can NOT wait for pictures!!! I am so excited for you.

Maybe a new movie coming out??

 

[bayyjayy]

Dangit! Now I want a penquin.

ETA: http://ca.news.yahoo.com/blogs/good-news/teva-designs-custom-shoe-lucky-penguin-175443290.html

 

[Iain Utah]

Isn't that a great story about the penguin? Since we started outside turnout time of only 30-45 minutes a day, by evening her legs will get tired, she cannot get up from laying position and she will wind up completely splay legged. Instead of hobbling her (like I've done the prior nights), I played with vet wrapping her club foot, and while it was tough for her to rise from laying position, the vet wrap gave the club just enough traction to get up.

I respect my vet's opinion that if Spirit develops a sufficient callous on bottom of club that it will give her better traction. But without the traction now, she can't build the leg muscle strength to keep up with her rapid weight gain stage of growth, which to me is more critical than building a callous. In my opinion, a teva custom shoe will give her far better long-term traction than a callous. I am thrilled I was able to reach the Teva designer and that he was so generous to offer to help.

These are the pics I sent to the Teva designer. First one taken about 18 hours after hatch. The other two were taken 3 days ago.