Need advice for off balance goose. URGENT

[Sunsong99]

My (big) gosling pippen cant take more



than a couple steps before he lays down again. When he does try to walk he is off balance, stumbles, and moves his head in a strange way. It isn't bumblefoot, I checked for that already. His stools are very watery. Do you have any suggestions? I have given him electrolyte water and that hasn't seemed to help. My poultry have been shut up in their coop for a couple days and it's been rainy today. everything is wet right now and pippen refuses to go into the hen house. I am hoping that someone has advice for me, as there isn't a vet nearby that deals with poultry. It's been a few hours in the house and his balance is getting worse.

 

[The goose girl]

Is he your only gosling?
Who or what is he imprinted on?
Who are his companions?
Does he eat?
Did you give him niacin?
How old is he and how much does he weigh?
Does he sneeze, wheeze or cough?

From the picture he seems a bit scrawny. I'm worried he has been sick for a while and hasn't had enough to eat.

 

[Sunsong99]

He is my only gosling and is imprinted on us, and also on our duckling we got on the same day. He patrols and protects our baby chicks and ducklings and they all sleep with him. I feed him a blend of scratch grains and organic chick starter he also forages grass almost every day. I got him at least a month ago. I will attach some other pics. Tonight I have been giving him electrolytes and vitamins in water, and grass. the starter is 20% protein. I haven't given him niacin. He is breathing fine. No wheezing or coughing. He is still young and only has wing feathers and a few back feathers.
These photos are from april 23
We love him so much, he is our second goose, but the first one we have raised from a baby. I am very open to any and all advice. He is the most amazing little guy!

 

[The goose girl]

Comparing with pictures of my gosling, yours must be around 4 1/2 to 5 weeks old now. Mine weighs 5 1/2 lbs. now, and she's only four weeks old today.

Goslings (and ducklings, too) absolutely need niacin. Niacin is vitamin B3. You can probably get it at a drug store. Niacin deficiency causes leg problems - look here if you dare: http://metzerfarms.blogspot.dk/2011/03/are-my-ducklings-leg-problems-due-to.html

I'm guessing he's not eating as much as he should. Niacin deficiency can cause reduced appetite - the gosling doesn't gain weight and doesn't thrive. If his problems stem from a lack of niacin, you should see results within a few days after you give him niacin.

Starter feed is usually for the first four weeks. After that, you should switch to a grower feed. Scratch grain is like candy - lots of carbohydrates and low nutritional value. Don't feed him that while he's still growing. Grass and foraging is great.

Good luck with him and please let me know how he's doing.

 

[RURU]

If you can not get the niacin right away get out some frozen peas and microwave them to get them unthawed and give him some. The are loaded with niacin and this can do until you get the niacin... If the gosling is over 30days give the gosling grower or adult feed. Also brewer's yeast sprinkled on the food will help as well... Good luck. But get this done right away or you can lose the gosling.....

 

[Sunsong99]

Thank you for your help I think this is probably whats going on, he looks like the picture of a goose with a niacin defciency. I will get him some today!

 

[Sunsong99]

I want to thank you all again for the help. I am going to go to town and purchase a better feed today. Also going to add peas to their diet, brewers yeast, and going to put some niacin in their water. Hopefully it's not too late

 

[mystil]

Also brewer's yeast sprinkled on the food will help as well... Good luck. But get this done right away or you can lose the gosling.....

Hello. Sorry to hear about your gosling. I hope he makes a good recovery. Sorry to ask on your post but I was wondering if brewers yeast should be "live" or "dead" ?
I was speaking to a commercial head brewery man today and he said "live" yeast would/ could kill the goslings and that when he had a pig farm they fed "dead" yeast instead.
Any ideas?

 

[Sunsong99]

Pippen is not showing much of an appetite, but is standing up a little more and seems more alert today. I have given him niacin water and fresh veggies including peas. Grass and better feed. Hopefully tomorrow will be even better

 

[Miss Lydia]

Hello. Sorry to hear about your gosling. I hope he makes a good recovery. Sorry to ask on your post but I was wondering if brewers yeast should be "live" or "dead" ?
I was speaking to a commercial head brewery man today and he said "live" yeast would/ could kill the goslings and that when he had a pig farm they fed "dead" yeast instead.
Any ideas?

mystil, most all Brewers yeast I have seen for sale if buying from Natural food stores etc. say on the can inactive yeast which is the safe kind.