Please help! Goose having problems standing.

[yesterDAYNE]

Hello.

About two days ago, I came home and found one of our geese laying on the ground being pecked at by a half-blind female turkey. The turkey didn't do any damage (she can't really see so she was missing), but when I picked him up he flapped out of my arms and proceeded to fall forward with both of his legs shooting out behind him, causing him to end up on his stomach. My sister, who let the birds out that morning, said that he'd been acting kind of normal but then as he got further out of the pen started acting abnormal (walking odd).

We've brought him inside, and after a few days he can sometimes stand up and walk (very slowly, like he's trying carefully not to fall). Most of the time, however, he falls down and just sits on his stomach. He's alert. He moves his head around and drinks, but he won't eat. He poops diarrhea constantly. It's bright green and has developed a tan spot in the middle of it, sometimes it's just tan and wet or clear. He can't really honk, he tries but it's very quiet and shrill.

We've been giving him Poultry Cell and ACV (raw unfiltered with mother). We've also bought unsulphured molasses(not blackstrap though). I've been looking at things on the forums but nobody has ever had the same exact symptoms or if they have, they haven't replied with how it's turned out. If you have any tips on what could be, or what I can do to help him get better that would be great.

His feet seem fine. I don't see any bumblefoot or injuries on his legs.

For reference, he is an Embden Gander (he's under a year old, but he's very large and fully feathered).

 

[Miss Lydia]

I am sorry your poor gander is having problems. Can you give us info on what you feed and did you supplement any niacin when your gander was a youngster? Under a year old? how many months?

 

[yesterDAYNE]

I am sorry your poor gander is having problems. Can you give us info on what you feed and did you supplement any niacin when your gander was a youngster? Under a year old? how many months?

As of now they're eating Naturewise All Flock (we only have 2 geese, the rest are ducks, chickens, and turkeys) and Producer's Pride scratch, right now in the winter we're also feeding oats as well. While growing up I'm pretty sure we had him on Purina flock raiser? It's been awhile so I don't quite remember. If not then it was the Purina 24% chick starter. I tried to look for things with Niacin in it but we have been afraid it's maybe a niacin deficiency. I can't quite remember how old he is- I think we got him sometime in June, or possibly May at the earliest. So he's probably around 6-7 months.

If it is Niacin, do you know where we could purchase the flush non-time released type? I've looked everywhere but all of them I'd have to have shipped to me. Does Brewer's yeast work the same as the niacin?

 

[Miss Lydia]

Do you have TSC ? Best we’ve had work fast an best is Durvet liquid b complex. It maybe In the cattle dept an will say injectable but we give it orally 2 ml over a treat just enough he’ll eat it all an get full dose. If niacin deficiency you should see Improvement in at least a week. Purina Flock raiser has the amount of niacin water fowl need but even so some can still have problems and need extra. It’s a good place to start with him.

 

[SilkieLoverFarm]

Any wheezing? Sores in mouth? Nostrils, eyes clear? Feathers in good shape? When he does walk, is it in circles?

Imagining green poop is vile. Could be e coli or a few other things. Neon? Pics? Looks like your already doing a molasses flush.

While you're answering those questions above. I'd immediately suggest some electrolytes and getting him good and hydrated. Pedialyte Gatorade etc if you don't have fowl electrolites on hand. After he is hydrated, I would use a syringe make a food paste, get some in his mouth and see if he will swallow.

 

[Miss Lydia]

Green poop can be from not eating. I’d try a flush in case he has gotten into a toxin but be very careful forcing any thing down into his mouth if he aspirates into his lungs he could end up with pneumonia.

 

[SilkieLoverFarm]

Yes, on your Brewers yeast question. Many use it as a niacin sup.

 

[Miss Lydia]

The best way to get niacin once there is a serious problem Durvet liquid b complex from TSC. It’s been tried many times and found to work the best.

 

[yesterDAYNE]

Do you have TSC ? Best we’ve had work fast an best is Durvet liquid b complex. It maybe In the cattle dept an will say injectable but we give it orally 2 ml over a treat just enough he’ll eat it all an get full dose. If niacin deficiency you should see Improvement in at least a week. Purina Flock raiser has the amount of niacin water fowl need but even so some can still have problems and need extra. It’s a good place to start with him.

Thank you for the reply! We rushed to TSC before it closed, but they were all out of the Durvet liquid b complex... I was able to get some of the Rooster Booster Liquid b-12 though, in hopes that it might work until we can get the other. How much of it should I give orally? Just what it says on the bottle, 1-3ccs? I read about how you want to give them the fluids through the side of their mouth instead of directly on the tongue to avoid the trachea. If not I got some mustard greens which he seems okay to nibble on.

I'll reply to Silkie's questions soon! I just wanted to ask while I have this so maybe I can get him on that ASAP.

 

[DiYMama540]

My gander seemed to like the taste of the rooster booster so I didn't really need to stick it far back in his mouth....try a small drop inside his bill and see if yours likes it, will make it much easier.
If not, putting it on some greens that he will eat will work.