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Not sure what if anything is wrong!!!

Discussion in 'Geese' started by chickenlady08, Aug 5, 2010.

Most Liked Posts
  1. Aug 5, 2010 #1
    chickenlady08

    chickenlady08 Songster

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    Eastern Shore, VA
    One of my Embden (not sure if boy or girl yet) looks like it is gagging. It doesn't do it all the time but I have seen it doing it most every day. Seems to be eating drinking and pooping fine. Seems to otherwise be healthy but not sure if this is something to be worrying about or not. I totally love these and want to make sure everything is ok. Does anyone elses gag? Is this just a reflex thing that they do sometimes to help food go down? Does anyone know what this could be?

    Thanks!
     
  2. Aug 5, 2010 #2
    Kim65

    Kim65 Songster

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    All birds esp those with a crop will open their beaks wide and hold them that way for a beat or two as it creates a muscle action to make the food in their crop proceed downward. Geese have a little bit of a crop, not near so big as a chicken's, but they will do the same thing.

    When you say "gag" I see in my minds eye a goose that might be holding his bill open and struggling like mad. When he does this, is it brief or does it happen over a longer period of time, where he looks distressed too?
     
  3. Aug 5, 2010 #3
    chickenlady08

    chickenlady08 Songster

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    Eastern Shore, VA
    Kim65 - It doesn't look like it is distressed. He/She shakes its head and his beak is up in the air but it doesn't look like it is struggling. these are my first geese I am just so afraid of doing something or not doing something to help. It does seem to be brief when he opens up his beak and he definitley is not starving. Looks to be around the same size as the other goose/gander.

    thanks for your input and makes me feel a little easier to know he/she is prob ok.
     
  4. Aug 5, 2010 #4
    Wifezilla

    Wifezilla Positively Ducky

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    My ducks do that sometimes...usually after they just ate something.
     
  5. Aug 5, 2010 #5
    chickenlady08

    chickenlady08 Songster

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    Quote:Gosh I sure hope that is it! I just love them so. Even though they have just started to peck my chickens a little bit now. lol
     

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