Sick gosling

[thatsitimdun]

I have a 7 week old gosling, almost fully feathered. His beak and legs are pale, pinkish rather than orange. He has been in a coop with pullets, under a heat lamp. 2 days ago, he seemed to be having problems getting around. Yesterday, he couldn't stand up. I now have him in a box in the kitchen, next to the wood stove. He's not eating and only drank a little bit. We gave him some grass and hay to nibble, but isn't interested. I gave him fish oil caps (pierced and squeezed into his beak). I even tried some alfalfa pellets (rabbit pellets), thinking he might need "grazing". Any suggestions????

 

[RURU]

First off goslings can not handle the same heat under a brooder as chickens do... Keep the heat at a lower temp use just a regular light bulb maybe a 40 watt or 60 watt. Keep plunty of water for the gosling might add some electrolites into the water. Geese neeed a different diet than pullets do. I would try and provide fresh gras. My geese do not like Alfalfa period. Dandoline greens are great for goslings and lettuce like romaine, any of that type of green from the grocery store. But try to get electrolites in the water, water is the main thing to help the gosling at this time. Let the gosling drink on it's own. Because if you try to force it can go into the lungs and that will kill the gosling.
But try and get fresh green for the gosling and put the gosling onto waterfowl feed.

 

[Miss Lydia]

Another thing to consider if your giving anything other than starter feed is you need to offer grit, sprinkle grit on the floor of the brooder, that way they can take it as needed, they need grit to be able to grind up anything other than starter feed. and RURU is right fresh drinking water and lower temps too. and don't squeeze anything down his throat it can go into his lungs.

 

[thatsitimdun]

Update on Eggbert....he is sipping water mixed with a good dose of Duravet's High-performance Poultry Pak. Actually trying to bathe himself a little. (now he's yellow!) Still can't stand unassisted, but is more active, "talking" to me, flopping around in his box, spilling his food/water. He has eaten a couple of bites of leaf lettuce and a few sunflower seeds (Shelled).

(BTW...his "heat lamp" is in the corner of a 12'x10' horse stall)

 

[Miss Lydia]

Update on Eggbert....he is sipping water mixed with a good dose of Duravet's High-performance Poultry Pak. Actually trying to bathe himself a little. (now he's yellow!) Still can't stand unassisted, but is more active, "talking" to me, flopping around in his box, spilling his food/water. He has eaten a couple of bites of leaf lettuce and a few sunflower seeds (Shelled).

(BTW...his "heat lamp" is in the corner of a 12'x10' horse stall)

Great news, I hope since your feeding him greens and sun flower seeds you have given him grit. he won't be able to process the food without it. Also Brewers yeast can do wonders for water fowl that are having leg issues just need to sprinkle some on top of their feed.

 

[RURU]

So glad to hear your gosling is drinking and a really good sign he was bathing in it. He may be yellow but better yellow and coming back to feling better!

Now has nibbled on some lettuce and sunflower seeds. Get some gritt in the gosling as Miss Lydia says so it can grind up the food.
I keep a bird seed mix that is all different kind of nuts all shelled that has calcium for the geese. I get it from Walmart it is called Patio, porch and deck bird feed.
I give this when super cold outside for energy to keep the geese with energy from the cold.
Boy do they attack all the different nuts in there. It has shelled sunflower seeds, shelled peanuts, shelled pastasio nuts.

 

[Miss Lydia]

So glad to hear your gosling is drinking and a really good sign he was bathing in it. He may be yellow but better yellow and coming back to feling better!

Now has nibbled on some lettuce and sunflower seeds. Get some gritt in the gosling as Miss Lydia says so it can grind up the food.
I keep a bird seed mix that is all different kind of nuts all shelled that has calcium for the geese. I get it from Walmart it is called Patio, porch and deck bird feed.
I give this when super cold outside for energy to keep the geese with energy from the cold.
Boy do they attack all the different nuts in there. It has shelled sunflower seeds, shelled peanuts, shelled pastasio nuts.

Sounds like something I'd like to snack on RURU

how much do you give them in cups?

 

[RURU]

Miss Lydia I mix about 1 cup into the feed for 16 sebbies and one duck..... Yes, it does look good and the geese and duck love to find all the nuts in the feed. It smells good too. I mix it up really good so it is evenly distrubited.

 

[thatsitimdun]

Thank you for all your suggestions. So far, so good. Might let him try to swim later........my hubby will be suprised to see a goose in the bath tub!!!!

 

[Going Bhonkers]

So glad to hear your gosling is drinking and a really good sign he was bathing in it. He may be yellow but better yellow and coming back to feling better!

Now has nibbled on some lettuce and sunflower seeds. Get some gritt in the gosling as Miss Lydia says so it can grind up the food.
I keep a bird seed mix that is all different kind of nuts all shelled that has calcium for the geese. I get it from Walmart it is called Patio, porch and deck bird feed.
I give this when super cold outside for energy to keep the geese with energy from the cold.
Boy do they attack all the different nuts in there. It has shelled sunflower seeds, shelled peanuts, shelled pastasio nuts.

Ruru, for some reason I'm always afraid that the shells are too big for my geese handle. I have literally de-shelled regular sunflower seeds (not BOSS), but your guys are ok with it? Maybe I worry too much...

Thank you for all your suggestions. So far, so good. Might let him try to swim later........my hubby will be suprised to see a goose in the bath tub!!!!

I'm not sure if Niacin is the same thing as Brewer's Yeast, but if it isn't, you may want to sprinkle a little bit into Eggbert's water - will help with leg issues, from what ive read. Hope Eggbert recovers soon!