sick gander

[tzipporah]

Gulliver is a chinese gander 2yrs old. Eats and drinks fine.His crop doesn't feel abnormal now though it did initially. thought maybe it was slow crop but wouldn't he stop eating altogether? now weight loss,ruffled and rumpled dull feathers. wobbles on his feet as he eats. Its especially bad in the morning--looks like he is moon walking as he tries to keep up with the flock. Haven't seen his poo yet nor have I seen any weird poo in the goose yard. No discharge. No coughing or head shaking. I have been massaging his crop and giving him molasses and electrolytes or sometimes olive oil in water to shift anything that might be in his crop. today is the 4th day since I noticed he was sick.

 

[DiYMama540]

Do you have any pictures or a video of him you could share? The feather thing could be part of his molting, but not the unsteadiness.

You should go ahead and start a B Complex and Poultry Nutridrench, you can either give it to him straight in a syringe dropper or mix it with his food or water. Both of these can be found at TSC in the chicken feed aisle.

I will try to find the thread or article that has the dosing information, though I'm pretty sure it's on the bottle.

If you zoom in to that pic, you can see what the supplements I'm referring to look like.

 

[DiYMama540]

Also, what do you feed them on a daily basis? And is there any chance he could have gotten into anything he wasn't supposed to?

 

[Miss Lydia]

@tzipporah How's your gander?

 

[tzipporah]

Ms Lydia,
I have been seeing your responses to similar issues. Hope you can help with this gander.
Mon morning I see Gulliver can't stand up. When I pick him up he weighs very little.
I massaged crop gave molasses and a little olive oil in water. Same later that day and the next. But he looks worse sitting alone and not preening so he is dirty and miserable and not drinking.
I gave him a bath inside no detergent just water then a blow dry. You'd think he'd had a bath and blow dry every Tue for years--he loved it. He pooped during that time very dark thick puddle. then small solid poos not as dark. He is staying in laundry room to stay dry and warm.
Tried again Wed to get him to dislodge anything. held him in my arms and tipped him forward as i massaged his crop. He brought up seeds,feed,water but was not better. It didn't smell so I assume it was more recent and just in his crop? He can't swallow water it just dribbles out of his beak and down his chest. He holds his neck and head back and slightly to one side more so each day. He ate this morning and that was a mistake. he seems to know it won't go well. I am afraid I have hurt him trying to massage his crop and made things worse.
I got to the tractor store today to get liquid vitamin supplements and flock starter but he won't/can't take any now.
I have been reading about tube feeding but if his neck is injured I don't know if that would be the best course of action. He is such a character its hard to see him going down like this.

 

[Miss Lydia]

Any chance of a vet examine? What makes you think it’s crop? @casportpony she’s our expert on tube feeding

 

[DiYMama540]

Can you make a video of him for us? Just a short clip on your phone is fine. You will have to post it on YouTube and then send us the link.

 

[Miss Lydia]

Also you mentioned his neck do you think he has been injured? Maybe tube feeding would at least tell you if he has something stuck in his throat. Since you say he can’t swallow. But it’s very important the tube be put in the right hole in the back of his mouth.

 

[tzipporah]

Thought we would loose Gulliver yesterday afternoon,couldn't lift his head and his beak open. By Evening he was sitting up but his beak open labored breathing. This morning he is walking around the laundry room honking. I gave him just a small amount of flock starter to see how he goes today . There is ACV and rooster booster poultry cell in his water I don't know how much he actually gets down. When the sun came up I took him outside to the flock. He walks slowly but he is determinedly grazing with the others. I will keep cking on him and let him spend another night in the laundry room. Here is a video of him this morning. Notice his stripe is twisted to the side? Its been like that for several days. I don't know what to think, I am just pleased to see him walking around.
https://photos.app.goo.gl/iUyPS6oFLVrQuW1m8

 

[Miss Lydia]

Is his neck swollen? No ones been picking on him you know like ganders twist their necks around each other fighting?