Sick Goose - Lethargic/Tired

[Pumperkinz]

As the post says I have a 5 month old Sebastopol. She's just started acting off this week.

I was worried vitamin deficiency, but realized she's been drinking out of a chicken water more frequently which is an older galvanized metal slow waterer.

I added some Rooster Booster + B to the water in case it was that, and ensured upgraded food etc.

I spent time cleaning out the coop too to ensure clean bedding and nothing is dirty.

My only worry is somehow the galvanized metal was leaching into the water and since she's the only goose who really drank out of it could be causing some sort of toxicity?

She's still drinking constantly, poop is clear, and she is still up and moving but wants to sit in the grass and closes her eyes to try and relax.

I don't thinks she could be getting broody or anything, but with the weather changing could this be a thing at 5 months old?

Would you go ahead and bring her inside and give her a flush?

 

[Goosebaby]

I would give her a flush just in case.

What feed is she on?
Has it been very hot there?
Is she eating?
Do any of your other animals have coccidia, giardia, or any other infection or recently had one?

 

[Pumperkinz]

I would give her a flush just in case.

What feed is she on?
Has it been very hot there?
Is she eating?
Do any of your other animals have coccidia, giardia, or any other infection or recently had one?

Yeah it's been hot out.

I swapped them to Nutrena all flock a few weeks ago from Kalmbach.

None of my chickens have cocci as far as I know and I don't see any blood in stool etc. I'm not sure if anyone is sick but no one is showing signs of anything.

It was nearly 90 the other day and now it's been in the 50s and 70's during the day.

 

[Goosebaby]

Yeah it's been hot out.

I swapped them to Nutrena all flock a few weeks ago from Kalmbach.

None of my chickens have cocci as far as I know and I don't see any blood in stool etc. I'm not sure if anyone is sick but no one is showing signs of anything.

It was nearly 90 the other day and now it's been in the 50s and 70's during the day.

I would do a flush and then start adding some electrolytes to her water and see how she does. Keep giving her B vitamins.

If she has zinc toxicity from the galvanized feeder her odds depend on how much is in her system but on the positive zinc leaves the body easier than lead.

 

[Pumperkinz]

I would do a flush and then start adding some electrolytes to her water and see how she does. Keep giving her B vitamins.

If she has zinc toxicity from the galvanized feeder her odds depend on how much is in her system but on the positive zinc leaves the body easier than lead.

Yeah I realized today that she had been solely drinking out of it and (chickens).

She is drinking a load of water and is up and moving a bunch in the coop now. (Gray)

With all the flushes is it safe to allow the other geese around it and just up their electrolytes? Her boyfriend is very attached to her is why I ask.

 

[Goosebaby]

Yeah I realized today that she had been solely drinking out of it and (chickens).

She is drinking a load of water and is up and moving a bunch in the coop now. (Gray)

With all the flushes is it safe to allow the other geese around it and just up their electrolytes? Her boyfriend is very attached to her is why I ask.
View attachment 4202670

What kind of flush is it?

 

[Pumperkinz]

What kind of flush is it?

Epsom. But I can swap to molasses. I don't have charcoal on hand, but I see it's the least effective.

They are up now in the coop right now sleeping. She finally is settled down and doesn't look as rough. I didn't want to pull her out of the coop, but if I don't see improvement I'm going to bring her in the heated basement with some blankets and can watch her food intake.

I also spent all night with a metal detector going through the yard to ensure no trash was around. (luckily nothing) but just needed to make sure no one accidentally dropped some screws or something from the few projects going on.

I'm just shocked a galvanized waterer could cause such a bad effect on this poor baby. She's eating some grass, mud, and corn as well as her feed but she's not super interested.

Do you know how quick I should see improvements assuming it is zinc and not something else?

 

[Goosebaby]

Epsom. But I can swap to molasses. I don't have charcoal on hand, but I see it's the least effective.

They are up now in the coop right now sleeping. She finally is settled down and doesn't look as rough. I didn't want to pull her out of the coop, but if I don't see improvement I'm going to bring her in the heated basement with some blankets and can watch her food intake.

I also spent all night with a metal detector going through the yard to ensure no trash was around. (luckily nothing) but just needed to make sure no one accidentally dropped some screws or something from the few projects going on.

I'm just shocked a galvanized waterer could cause such a bad effect on this poor baby. She's eating some grass, mud, and corn as well as her feed but she's not super interested.

Do you know how quick I should see improvements assuming it is zinc and not something else?

The others should be fine with the flush for the night but definitely make sure everyone has access to electrolyte water tomorrow.

If it is zinc how quickly she recovers depends on how much is in her body so I can’t say unfortunately. One of mine ate candle which had a zinc coating “faux gold” and he was off for a few days. If she’s eating something that’s a good sign that she may be feeling a little better, if she’s eating a lot of dirt “pica” that means she either has a nutrient deficiency or she has a nasty stomach ache.

If you have any cilantro that can help scrub metals out of her digestive tract.

 

[Pumperkinz]

@Goosebaby

Ended up taking her to my local farm vet an hour away.

They pumped her with fluids & a b12 subcutaneous.

She has a hard time believing that it would be zinc leaching into the water, but more of when I changed feed she didn't like the taste and just stopped eating. Her keel is almost pointed and her fat reserves are dwindled down to nothing.

Her legs were pale, and beak dull, now an hour later from the vet and she's eating some mashed oats w/ complex B + nutridrench. Also has some peas she's eating. But basically a picky eater is what was going on. I feel so bad but going back to her normal feed and making sure she eats from now on.

 

[Pumperkinz]

Also of note no hardware they did extensive x-rays and she didn't want to waste work ups on blood work that can be costly when fluids and flushing should do just fine. I spent nearly an hour this morning searching for someone and just got lucky.

She is seeming much more happy and walky around. Keeping her in the A/C and wanting to see her eat a bunch of oats + peas before letting her out to free range where I can't monitor food intake.