Injured Goose

[crj]

How's our nasty tempered sweet little Albert doing today?

LOL.... Albert seems to have mood swings but luckily they are not to severe. He got me good a few times but I may have been rushing his food. I've slowed down a lot between squirts and it seems to work out better. I had to make another shake since he finished off the other stuff. This time I added celery to the mix. It's the only greens I had on hand, oh, and grapes too. Albert seemed to like this batch the best so far.

He did well today. I only had to rescue him twice. I keep him in the veggie garden. Nothing in there but dirt so I am able to put feed and water out for him. Of course the chickens have to show him how to eat. The other geese sat with him for a while too. He is standing better and controlling his stopping a tiny bit better but still has a problem when he leans back. Over he goes.

I did look in his ear and used a wet q-tip to see if anything might be in there. He was pretty good about it and didn't seem to mind. I'm going to get a better look tomorrow since I was so busy today. I wish I could let him out of the veggie garden but it's actually the safest place for him. When he moves he moves fast! At least I'm getting some exercise...... lol. Ohhhh, to be a young goose.......

That's all I've got on albert today. Very slow improvements but I guess that's a good thing. I don't know if I am keeping him it's up to my friend. I have a feeling she will want me too since she does have 3 or 4 males and only 2 females. She thinks she has 1. My friend thought this one was a girl but I don't think so. But, who knows for sure???? Time will tell. This goose is smaller then my male but Albert has a good size head and neck and the way he honks and hisses makes it seem like a he.

 

[Lyre]

That is great to hear that he only fell twice today!!!

I went back and looked at the pictures you posted earlier, and it sure does look like he either got into a fight with another goose or got attacked by some predator. The scratches on his legs do seem to rule out his having a stroke or being abused by a human. Maybe an eagle got him and then dropped him and he hit his head?

Anyway it sure looks like you have saved him from certain death and that is so wonderful.

Good job crj!

 

[cdnley]

You are doing a great job, Albert is in good hands.

From what I read I think your goose has had a stroke or sustained a brain injury. The droopy eye and balance issues are a clear sign. Perhaps a hemorragic stroke. The paralysis or eye droop on one side, the balance issues from paralysis and dizziness, nosebleed. It can affect vision and speech which could explain him toppling over and tripping and his honking (does it sound normal?). Strokes can cause severe headaches, perhaps causing him to reject food. Depending on what area of the brain was affected he may have to relearn the basics. He may always be clumsy or have one weak side but he can be okay. I am sure some of the injuries he sustained may have been from flailing and tripping all over and the others maybe picked at him a little.

I am not a vet but asprin is a blood thinner. I know you can give it to dogs, not sure about poultry. It may help. Chamomile and red clover are plants which have blood thinning properties.

 

[Miss Lydia]

So happy to hear Albert is making progress even if it is slow. thats a great sign. No matter what happened to him he is in good hands now.. thats what counts. give him a big ole hug for me!

 

[crj]

I"m sorry I wasn't on yesterday but I've been super busy with birds. Got a coop made of my baby chicks so that's done. Still have more stuff to do.

I think Albert may be a girl. He's so much smaller then may gander, who btw, has been wonderful and helpful with Albert.

Ok, I have to run but a quick update. Albert is walking a lot better. He loves the shake I made him and actually at some out of the container!! Great sign. He is watching everything and seems to be relearning. Stinker now runs from me when I have to get him. Sure signs of feeling better but he's not out of the woods yet. I still can't leave him a lone for too long.

More later. Thank you for the complements you are all very kind.

 

[Miss Lydia]

Quote:

Alisha?

 

[crj]

Wow, lots have been going on around here so sorry I haven't kept up with posting. Trying to organize and it's only me since the kids moved out and my husband passed away last year. I'm finally getting around to clean things out I guess you could say and with all the new chicks I've got and some new chickens I'm running ragged.

So, let me tell you how well she is doing. Last night was the first night she slept with the other geese and the ducks. Yes, I was nervous and I still am. Fred my male Sebastopol has been soooooo good with her. It's just amazing. The other female geese have done well with her too but Fred really knows what to do. If I don't know where they are I call friend and he just pops up out of thin air with the injured goose. I'm truly fascinated by it all. She is starting to eat on her own which does help me out. I don't have to force feed her now. I have her eat the shake mix out of the container. I do add layer pellets on top so she gets some solids in her. She takes really big bites!!! I watched her try and eat some grass. Still shaky on the feet but at least she is trying. When she falls she will usually fall into one of the girls. No biggie they move but don't run away. She ate some scatch tonight out of the trough I made for the birds. Still wabbly but she is doing it. She walks all day with Fred who seems to be showing her the ropes around here. I love watching them. If she gets lost from the other she will call out and eventually they meet up.

The little stinker does run from me when I want to catch her. Either I have to wait for her to crash or corner her someplace. She stands better but she has yet to be able to stand up straight without falling over. She keeps her balance by keeping her head fairly tucked in. I took pictures of her today so I will try and post them when I have more time. She is looking rough, no doubt so don't let the looks fool you. I still think she has a ways to go. Definitely head damage. No one knows from what and probably never will.

She still seems to have some swelling on the right side of her head. I don't know if she got a scull fracture or not. Her eyelid is still droopy but you can see she is trying to relearn stuff. You can actually watch her think.

That's all the update I have for you. Thanks so much for your interest in her. Miss Lydia, not big on that name for some reason. We'll have to keep at it till we find something. Happy St. Patricks Day!

 

[Miss Lydia]

Great news and so happy to here how comforting Fred is being, that is so precious,. But progress is just great.. Even if she doesn't fully recover which hopefully she will sounds like she has a supportive family to help watch out for her.. And I want to say how sorry I am about your Husband crj I know that has to be tough. I hope you are getting lots of help and I know your animals are a blessing to you just from reading your posts.. I like Alberta too but it is your decision after all. God Bless and hope you have a good day, it's raining here.

 

[crj]

Great news and so happy to here how comforting Fred is being, that is so precious,. But progress is just great.. Even if she doesn't fully recover which hopefully she will sounds like she has a supportive family to help watch out for her.. And I want to say how sorry I am about your Husband crj I know that has to be tough. I hope you are getting lots of help and I know your animals are a blessing to you just from reading your posts.. I like Alberta too but it is your decision after all. God Bless and hope you have a good day, it's raining here.

Thank you Miss Lydia. No, I don't get much help but I manage. Yes, the animals are a total blessing. They are the reason I get up each day. It's very busy around here and I'm hoping to get some time off today to rest...... lol. Today is overcast and a bit foggy. I don't know if it's going to rain so I will go back to bed and just rest for a while. I do miss my husband terribly but as they say, Life goes on and you have to make the best of it.

Those names just don't seem to fit her. I thought of Alberta too but looking at her it does't seem to match. She is comical when I try to catch her. She is kind to the geese around her and depends on them. I found her in the coop with the broody goose this morning. She came running out of that pen when I showed up to open the gate to the pen. She seemed very happy. I'm wondering if she was trying to make a nest. Don't know.

Here is a picture or 2 you may enjoy.


Notice how her head raises up on the left side (would he her right side of her head) She isn't raising an eyebrow. Yes, she is looking a bit rough but that's just cosmetic right now. She tries to fluff her feathers but does it sitting down. Hasn't been really grooming well. Her chest looks sunken in but it's not. I think it's from picking her up and when I put her down it messes up her feathers.



Here you see her droopy eye.




Here is Fred walking up the stairs and the female goose watching. I went back into the house and they never did come all the way up. Fred usually does though. He just likes to check things out.

Fred almost didn't make it when he hatched. The mother goose got off the nest early leaving him behind. He got cold and my friend found him and brought him in the house to warm him up. This is the same friend who's sick goose this is. Her name is Tess, this will make thing easier..... lol. Tess knew I wanted a couple of her geese so she gave me Fred and I found a girl and brought them home. It took 24 hours for Fred to be able to pick up his head. Once he did that he was good to go. Of course Ginger watched out for him.

These are my first geese let alone encounter with geese. I just love them.

 

[Lyre]

Such good news in here.H

Bigtime clouds over So Cal so no internet connect....or sketchy as it is now, taking 40 seconds or so for one sentence.

How about "Miss Prosper"? Or "Camillia" ? Or "Celica"? "Ketchup"? "Wonder Goose" "Courage" "Pluck"!!! I like Pluck! She's got pluck alright.