So I now have a $500 goose...Sadly, Frenchy's wing comes off next week

[Miss Lydia]

CMV, Hows Frenchy doing this week?

 

[CMV]

I haven't had a chance to get any new pics so far this week. She went back to the vet yesterday for a bandage change, but the new cast fell off as soon a we got home, so we went back to the vet for a second new cast. The new one is holding for the time being. She continues to need meds 4 times a day, but only until Friday when the course is finished.

Frenchy is not healing. The wounds are not festering, but she is not healing as well as the vet had hoped she would. She has been off her feed since this happened, but I have managed to get her to eat lettuce with her meds laced into it. I can get her to eat a few nibbles of feed, but then she refuses to eat any more. She is terribly lonely and is acting very depressed. We have been trying to spend time with her, but she wants nothing to do with us. The vet is worried that Frenchy's enforced isolation might be too dangerous to her. She needs to be back with her flock, but she cannot be allowed to mingle with them, and she definitely cannot get her bandages dirty or wet.

So, we have formulated a plan. I have already cleaned out the duck house to within an inch of its life. The house is as clean as it can be without re-painting the interior. I have re-built the pop door, making it larger and sturdier. I have started the ground work for an addition onto the chicken run fence. A little re-arranging of the land with the tractor should be all that is needed to smooth out a new place for the duck house to sit. This weekend the duck house gets moved out to the chicken yard. The new fence addition will be put into place connecting the duck house to the chicken run. Frenchy will be put in the duck house where she will be able to clearly see her flock through the new, larger pop door which will be temporarily blocked up with wire mesh. Her ducks should be able to walk right up to the door and visit with her. Once she starts to feel better, I have some poultry netting that has openings too small for Frenchy to walk through, but large enough for the ducks and chickens to walk through, so she will be able to actually mingle with the other birds, while also keeping her away from the swimming water.

I am really hopeful that this plan works. I have put too much money into this bird to have her die of a broken heart.

 

[Miss Lydia]

I haven't had a chance to get any new pics so far this week. She went back to the vet yesterday for a bandage change, but the new cast fell off as soon a we got home, so we went back to the vet for a second new cast. The new one is holding for the time being. She continues to need meds 4 times a day, but only until Friday when the course is finished.

Frenchy is not healing. The wounds are not festering, but she is not healing as well as the vet had hoped she would. She has been off her feed since this happened, but I have managed to get her to eat lettuce with her meds laced into it. I can get her to eat a few nibbles of feed, but then she refuses to eat any more. She is terribly lonely and is acting very depressed. We have been trying to spend time with her, but she wants nothing to do with us. The vet is worried that Frenchy's enforced isolation might be too dangerous to her. She needs to be back with her flock, but she cannot be allowed to mingle with them, and she definitely cannot get her bandages dirty or wet.

So, we have formulated a plan. I have already cleaned out the duck house to within an inch of its life. The house is as clean as it can be without re-painting the interior. I have re-built the pop door, making it larger and sturdier. I have started the ground work for an addition onto the chicken run fence. A little re-arranging of the land with the tractor should be all that is needed to smooth out a new place for the duck house to sit. This weekend the duck house gets moved out to the chicken yard. The new fence addition will be put into place connecting the duck house to the chicken run. Frenchy will be put in the duck house where she will be able to clearly see her flock through the new, larger pop door which will be temporarily blocked up with wire mesh. Her ducks should be able to walk right up to the door and visit with her. Once she starts to feel better, I have some poultry netting that has openings too small for Frenchy to walk through, but large enough for the ducks and chickens to walk through, so she will be able to actually mingle with the other birds, while also keeping her away from the swimming water.

I am really hopeful that this plan works. I have put too much money into this bird to have her die of a broken heart.

Thanks for updating, I hope she will accept her new living arrangements and start to perk up. I'm sure seeing her flock will help alot. How about the coyote?

 

[CMV]

The coyote got another neighbor's chicken 2 days ago. What's worse is that we have a large flock of wild turkeys that have been hanging around. The coyote is not preying or barely preying on the turkeys from our counts. It is strictly hitting the domesticated birds. Our neighbors have a busy weekend of expanding their runs, too. Their runs are too small and that's how their chickens escaped. We have not had a chance to contact any trappers, but once the birds are taking up less time, then the trappers get called in.

Ever wished there were more hours in a day? Lately that's how I feel.

 

[jdywntr]

Just saw this thread. So sorry about your goose and glad to hear that she is doing okay. Great idea to get something done so that she can be back with her flock. Sending good thoughts your and Frenchy's way.

 

[1MrsMagoo]

Poor Frenchy, I really hope you can get her eating. I am sorry her wounds aren't healing as quickly as the vet had hoped. Maybe if your plan, which sounds like a good one, works she will perk up and eat again. Are you giving her any vitamin supplements in the meantime to help keep her strength up?

The coyotes are probably going after the domestic birds because they can't catch the wild turkeys as easily: Turkeys are great flyers. The coyotes may also be staying close to the turkeys waiting for them to sit nests and/or hatch eggs, which would be easy pickings for them as well.

In our state we can call our Parish (county) animal control or the state Wildlife and Fisheries department to rid us of aggressive coyotes. Sadly, I looked up your states Department of Fish and Game and they do not offer free nuisance wildlife removal. I have put the link to their informational page on the subject below. They do offer free advice and a list of people who for a fee will remove the problem animals. I don't know if the fact that the coyotes attacked the goose nearly at your front door would change things: That is VERY aggressive even for a coyote.

http://www.wildlife.state.nh.us/Wildlife/nuisance_wildlife.html

Good luck!

 

[CMV]

After a very busy weekend, the duck house was moved and an extension was added to the chicken run. The chicken coop and duck house now share a common run. Frenchy was put out in the duck house where she was locked away from interacting with the other birds, but she could see all the birds. She was still refusing to eat and spent her entire days trying to escape from the house to be with her ducks, though. So, that was not working.

During her weekly trip to the vet, I discussed my concerns. Frenchy continues to not heal as well as the vet would like. Her fracture is still unstable, her wounds are still present, and her weight has dropped radically. We decided that Frenchy needed to be with the other birds regardless of her injuries. The vet put a new style of cast on her wing- one that is much lighter and less bulky. And Frenchy was given the go ahead to be released into the flock.

It was amazing when she walked out of the house. The ducks went nuts! They swarmed her and practically kissed her feet. Frenchy immediately walked over to the food dish and started eating up a storm. She eyed the pool for a while, but opted not to go swimming, thank goodness. The pool has since been removed and replaced with large feed dishes that she can soak her butt in, but can't get her cast immersed. The cast needs to be wrapped in plastic wrap every day to prevent it from getting too nasty, but that is a small price to pay for Frenchy's obvious happiness.

Unfortunately, if the wing has not shown any noticeable improvement in the next 2 weeks (now that Frenchy is happy and eating) it will need to be amputated. We don't want to do that, but the injuries may be too severe to save it. In the meantime, we are hoping that the new living conditions are going to make Frenchy's overall condition improve to the point where the injuries start to heal.

The coyote continues to be a problem. It snatched another chicken in the neighborhood when it jumped into a run over the fence. The coyote has not been back to our house, though. I can't shoot the bugger if it doesn't show its face. We are still in discussions with the neighbors about funding a hunter/trapper to come in and dispose of the animal. My birds are all safe regardless of whether the coyote goes or not.

 

[CelticOaksFarm]

CMV so good to hear she is eatting again! Sorry the yote is still snatching birds though in the area. Here's hoping you and the neighbors get it soon.

 

[Iain Utah]

Thank you for the update!! I am sure you did the right thing putting Frenchy back with her companions. With her emotional well-being restored, I have high hopes she will start physically healing as well. Kudos to you for your commitment to your goose!!

 

[1MrsMagoo]

Very glad to hear she is eating again. Saying prayers that her wing will finally begin to heal now that she is happy and eating again

. Please continue to keep us posted and I hope somebody gets rid of that pesky coyote for you very soon.