New gosling having a hard time eating crumble

[RoosterHuggerLiz]

I have a young gosling rescue that was brought to me yesterday and it's imprinting on me so I'm guessing it can't be more than two or three days old, my issue is I was worried about it last night so I kept feeding it cockroaches and mealworms to keep its protein and calories up until I could get its food in the morning but now it won't eat the food! I got him some proper crumble for young goslings and he won't eat it unless I dampen it and feed it to him, anyone have any experience with training goslings to eat crumble?

 

[Miss Lydia]

Put warm water on it and then take the gosling to the feed and use your finger to move the feed around and put a little on the side of it's bill. Gosh I hope it didn't get tummy upset from eating those cockroaches. It can take a bit of time for them to get the hang of it so be patient.

 

[RoosterHuggerLiz]

Put warm water on it and then take the gosling to the feed and use your finger to move the feed around and put a little on the side of it's bill. Gosh I hope it didn't get tummy upset from eating those cockroaches. It can take a bit of time for them to get the hang of it so be patient.

Understood, And I do think he needed the protein boost because the people who found him said he had been swimming for around 4 hours straight before getting rescued. I'll give him time and be as patient as possible! In a couple of days I'm going to get a little duckling to put alongside him in the brooder just so that he has a buddy to help him learn and grow

 

[Miss Lydia]

I'm sorry I said welcome I saw the date and the year but my brain said this is a new member.
That's a great idea on him a buddy they do so much better when they have one. Also in the meantime, a mirror can keep him company until you get the duckling.

 

[RoosterHuggerLiz]

I'm sorry I said welcome I saw the date and the year but my brain said this is a new member.
That's a great idea on him a buddy they do so much better when they have one. Also in the meantime, a mirror can keep him company until you get the duckling.

Understood and thank you so much! Do you have any other advice on raising goslings? This is my first time with geese and this little guy is so affectionate I'd hate for something to happen to him..

 

[Miss Lydia]

Well my goose lost her only gosling during hatch so thankfully I was able to find 2 -day old goslings for her. it took her a couple weeks before she would show any interest in them. So I brooded them inside my home and took them out daily to see the other birds and let the geese see them. Main thing they need is good feed and a warm brooder and lots of attention which isn't hard to do they are so precious. And of course this little one is going to look at you as it's mama. At 3 weeks I finally gave my pair the goslings after they spent a week getting to know them.
It was hard for me to give them up but I got them for her not me.
Be sure to keep us updated on how the little gosling is doing.
Did you get waterfowl starter? if not and you got poultry starter you will want to add some niacin as a supplement because reg chick starter doesn't have the amount water fowl need for their legs to be strong. I have always used Nutritional yeast if you get this it's 1 tab over 1 cup of feed and it will need this daily until at least 10 weeks old. Also your duckling will need this. Some niacin supplements don't work as supplementation for waterfowl the time-released and flush-free are 2 you don't want if you decide to go with just adding niacin. What ai like about NY is they like the taste so they eat it better.

 

[RoosterHuggerLiz]

Well my goose lost her only gosling during hatch so thankfully I was able to find 2 -day old goslings for her. it took her a couple weeks before she would show any interest in them. So I brooded them inside my home and took them out daily to see the other birds and let the geese see them. Main thing they need is good feed and a warm brooder and lots of attention which isn't hard to do they are so precious. And of course this little one is going to look at you as it's mama. At 3 weeks I finally gave my pair the goslings after they spent a week getting to know them.
It was hard for me to give them up but I got them for her not me.
Be sure to keep us updated on how the little gosling is doing.
Did you get waterfowl starter? if not and you got poultry starter you will want to add some niacin as a supplement because reg chick starter doesn't have the amount water fowl need for their legs to be strong. I have always used Nutritional yeast if you get this it's 1 tab over 1 cup of feed and it will need this daily until at least 10 weeks old. Also your duckling will need this. Some niacin supplements don't work as supplementation for waterfowl the time-released and flush-free are 2 you don't want if you decide to go with just adding niacin. What ai like about NY is they like the taste so they eat it better.

I bought Purina flock raiser and it has a gosling and a goose on the front along side of a chicken, I'm going to read over the ingredients list and see if it has all the right stuff

 

[RoosterHuggerLiz]

The bag says that it has all the proper nutrients for Young and old goslings, ducklings, chickens, turkeys, pheasants, and quail. Do you know any natural ways to give them 'niacin'?

 

[Miss Lydia]

Thawed green peas have some niacin in them and most waterfowl like them. Flock Raiser is an excellent feed. But I can be over cautious and still give my birds Nutritional yeast on their feed. I'd just rather be safe than have one come down with a niacin deficiency. When I did use Flock Raiser though I never did have one come up lame. I switched to a NON GMO feed which isn't an all flock and since then I have always used Nutritional yeast.

 

[RoosterHuggerLiz]

Up date, He's eating plenty and growing quickly, Now I just gotta figure some other stuff out!