My Magellan Geese

[destinduck]

Danny. No I dont vaccinate any of my birds. Im in the panhandle of Florida and west nile was really bad here coupla years ago.Yeah that really sucks when you find them dead like that. Do you vaccinate yours now? I truly hope that wasnt what was my youngster's demise. I didnt get him tested for what killed it. Although with what you say now you got me thinking it could have been that. Because I lost adult Impeyans to that 2 years ago. If I keep them( Impeyans) again I was going to screen in a pen. What state are you in and is it bad there? I actually thought he ate a toxic plant. I read west nile was(and still is but not near as bad) a problem with red-breasted but never even crossed my mind about magellans. Really hard to find much info on these birds anyway.As you probably already know they are doing great in the wild but not many folks keep them. Anyway Right or wrong on my birds I am on the side of building up the immunity factor kinda like the redbreasted have gone thru over time.The person I got them from never did vaccinate either as far as I know.Hope you get what your moniker says too from your birds.

Shawn

 

[MAX PRODUCTION]

I'm in southeastern New York we have WNV issues here on occasion. All the South American sheldgeese and swans (and even some of the SA ducks) seem especially prone to WNV and the equally frustrating avian plasmodium, which shows very similar outward signs (loss of balance, general lethargy). Red-breasted and some of the other arctic geese are also pretty sensitive to WNV but don't seem to have as much a problem with plasmodium, though when folks don't submit samples for histopath it's hard to tell what's really going on.

Yes, I vaccinate all the sheldgeese now as a preventative. I know, I know, you'll say there's no real proof of it's effectiveness and you're right, I know that, but it makes me sleep better at night. I'm not a big believer in the immunity concept. Young birds have very weak immune systems compared to adults and can't fight off WNV or plasmodium like older birds. Even previously exposed adult birds can drop dead of WNV. Is it an especially virulent strain? Who knows?

Fortunately for magellans they're still by far the most common of the South American sheldgeese in captivity in North America, though the barred breasted type is not as well represented as they once were. There's a slew of extra females out there at the moment but that will even out in time. The shelgeese that concern me most are Ashy-headed, they are few and far between these days. Ruddy-headed aren't much better. Do you keep either of these species?

Danny

 

[destinduck]

No ruddy or ashy heads for me..I only know of two people that have them. How many shelgeese do you keep? I only have the one pair of Magellans. I mainly have ducks. Thats cool that you vaccinate your birds. I wont say theres no proof vaccinations dont work. Of course they work sometimes. Its just like some people take flu shots and some dont. Im one of them dont's is all. I say If it makes you feel good , do it ! As for the plasmodium though Ive never even heard of it.

 

[MAX PRODUCTION]

I keep all the sheldgeese except kelp and egyptian. One effectively can't be had and the other I don't know why anyone would want! Guess which!

Definitely look up avian plasmodium...and talk to your vet about getting some necropsy/pathology testing. Yes, the only thing that stings more than losing a bird is putting money into a dead bird, but you learn so much. Once you know what the "usual suspects" are, meaning the top three things that your birds die from, you can make real advances on improving the health and longevity of your flock. Just my two cents...you've probably got your own ideas that may sound crazy to most.

Danny

 

[Wildfeather]

Hi Danny,
Glad you are talking about Shelgeese. I am planning to inject my Magellans and Andean this year. Just would like to know your protocol on West Nile. I also lost young last year in greater, lesser Magellans and although not a shelgoose Red Breasted. Have friends with Ashyhead and Ruddyheads. Any info would be appreciated. My problem was West Nile and not Avian Malaria. Many of my adult birds did fine. Mostly the male Magellans in young and old Red Breasted in adult and every one of my Impeyans 4 adults and 3 young.
Thanks Roger

 

[destinduck]

Hi Roger. I sure do enjoy mine and thanks for helping me learn about them. Also would this be your first time to vaccinate your birds? Danny I dont have an aviain vet. But I guess i could check with my regular vet if I lose several babies this go round. Do either of you happen to know if I were to freeze birds I could check fo west nile later on?. Or start vaccinating which I prefer not to do. Like I said earlier I really want just the parents .

 

[JJRS]

I was told by the agency doing WNV testing in my area not to freeze specimen birds. Refrigeration is OK.

 

[destinduck]

Thanks JJRS

 

[Wildfeather]

Hi Shawn,
Good luck with your Magellans. The most knowledgeable person I know on Avian Malaria &
West Nile is Ian Gereg in Conn. The Andean here are on loan from him. He injects his Shelgeese for W.N.
and has had issues and treated geese and some S. A. ducks for Avian Malaria. I am sure Danny knows
him.
Rogo

 

[MAX PRODUCTION]

Dear Wild Feather,
Yes, I know Ian and the Conservancy very well and we're on the same vaccination routine. Have you been there? You can't be that far from them. We're just about 2 hours with city traffic.

Good luck with the Andeans...they are among my favorites. So showy and active!

Danny