What the heck is wrong with these goslings?!!

[Tclloyd0812]

Please note these are NOT from our beautiful stock of Toulouse. ***FIRST 2 PICKS ARE THE GOSLINGS IN QUESTION, LAST PICK IS FROM MY FLOCK***

Someone on a local Facebook farm group said they had Toulouse goslings for sale and we are always looking to expand our flock with new bloodlines, so of course I wanted to pick them up. Little did I know, they are all missing feathers!!! I went for 2 or 3 but came back back all 4 because they were in horrible conditions. Poor babies! I also don't think these are purebred Toulouse goslings. I always hatch from our own stock (LAST PICTURE) and have never gotten any that look like this or had such long skinny necks. The "breeders" didn't show me any pics beforehand and I also felt so bad for the babies that I just took them anyways, I have experience with "fixing" injured or ill birds, but have never came across something like this. I just picked them up this morning. They were CAKED in nasty muck and feed and I had to bathe them for a while. But they were missing feathers before that. Could that be because they had too much heat on them?? Or something else? I checked for lice and mites but didn't see any. Yes, they are temporarily in a box to dry off it but they will move to a bigger brooder soon.

What do y'all think will help get their feathers grown back? We have them on fresh food and water with rooster booster with niacin. I don't need advice on how to raise them, just on what solutions will help with the feather loss.

 

[FoodFreedomNow]

My guess as to the cause of the feather loss would be improper nutrition and the conditions they were kept in. Poor babies - as someone who raises geese, those photos are hard to look at.

If they were mine, I'd ensure they have clean water to bathe in (supervised only, of course) regularly and fresh grass/greens to eat along with the formulated feed and supplemental niacin.

Best wishes for their speedy recovery. Will be hoping to see them looking great in your next updates!

 

[Tclloyd0812]

My guess as to the cause of the feather loss would be improper nutrition and the conditions they were kept in. Poor babies - as someone who raises geese, those photos are hard to look at.

If they were mine, I'd ensure they have clean water to bathe in (supervised only, of course) regularly and fresh grass/greens to eat along with the formulated feed and supplemental niacin.

Best wishes for their speedy recovery. Will be hoping to see them looking great in your next updates!

They were outside in a thick muddy pen with other birds with 2 heat lamps. I have never seen anyone raise goslings like that and I have definitely never seen any have this problem. I'm crossing my fingers that with a clean brooder, food and water, as well as vitamins, they will recover soon. Poor things! And she said they were spoiled and loved on, but they are SO antisocial and scream like wild hogs when you go near them. ☹

 

[FoodFreedomNow]

TLC can work wonders, and you seem like just the person to provide it to them. They may have had a rough start, but things are looking up for these babies.

Waterfowl do love their mud, but if they can't get out of that mud, it's definitely a problem. That the person raising them didn't seem to understand that is clearly also a problem. You raise geese, so you already know this, but I had to say it because it really made me shake my head; frankly, some people just shouldn't raise animals because they don't do it properly.

Do you know if the goslings were artificially incubated or hatched under a broody? If they were broody-hatched, they imprinted on their goose mother and that may explain at least some of their behavior. Time, affection, and bribes can help them see you as a positive presence, rather than a scary one.

 

[Tclloyd0812]

TLC can work wonders, and you seem like just the person to provide it to them. They may have had a rough start, but things are looking up for these babies.

Waterfowl do love their mud, but if they can't get out of that mud, it's definitely a problem. That the person raising them didn't seem to understand that is clearly also a problem. You raise geese, so you already know this, but I had to say it because it really made me shake my head; frankly, some people just shouldn't raise animals because they don't do it properly.

Do you know if the goslings were artificially incubated or hatched under a broody? If they were broody-hatched, they imprinted on their goose mother and that may explain at least some of their behavior. Time, affection, and bribes can help them see you as a positive presence, rather than a scary one.

They were incubator babies. This lady apparently mixes all of her hatchlings (goslings, chicks, poults, and keets) all in one small tiny muddy box, all different ages. I don't think they even saw the light of day. ☹

They are improving some today and I can see some light down/fuzz coming back already, but they are still screaming and not eating and drinking super good. But I'm trying to do my best given the circumstances!

Thanks so much for the response! I definitely agree with your statement that not everyone should breed or raise animals. I think some people don't really care on the environment of their animals, as long as they're getting money out of them. It's a shame. Her dogs could barely walk and were living under an old school bus in the mud (these were not LGD dogs, they were small breed dogs), her mule was super skinny and had bad hooves, her birds were all left in super tiny, dirty, muddy pens, and her sheep were in a small paddock and looked pitiful. I don't normally judge people and I understand if the weather makes things nasty, but this was a totally different thing. I'm so glad I took the 4 goslings, but I feel bad for her other animals.

 

[BelovedBirds]

Please note these are NOT from our beautiful stock of Toulouse. ***FIRST 2 PICKS ARE THE GOSLINGS IN QUESTION, LAST PICK IS FROM MY FLOCK***

Someone on a local Facebook farm group said they had Toulouse goslings for sale and we are always looking to expand our flock with new bloodlines, so of course I wanted to pick them up. Little did I know, they are all missing feathers!!! I went for 2 or 3 but came back back all 4 because they were in horrible conditions. Poor babies! I also don't think these are purebred Toulouse goslings. I always hatch from our own stock (LAST PICTURE) and have never gotten any that look like this or had such long skinny necks. The "breeders" didn't show me any pics beforehand and I also felt so bad for the babies that I just took them anyways, I have experience with "fixing" injured or ill birds, but have never came across something like this. I just picked them up this morning. They were CAKED in nasty muck and feed and I had to bathe them for a while. But they were missing feathers before that. Could that be because they had too much heat on them?? Or something else? I checked for lice and mites but didn't see any. Yes, they are temporarily in a box to dry off it but they will move to a bigger brooder soon.

What do y'all think will help get their feathers grown back? We have them on fresh food and water with rooster booster with niacin. I don't need advice on how to raise them, just on what solutions will help with the feather loss.

Poor babies! I strongly suspect that the condition they were in caused this. Was it muddy, or was there a lot of faeces in their box/on them? If they couldnt get dried off from the mud, that probably contributed
I think with good care, good diet, and swim times, they should be okay... I've only raised ducklings before, not goslings- so not super experienced here- still.
I hope they do well now, good on you for taking them in! Keep us updated!

 

[BelovedBirds]

They were incubator babies. This lady apparently mixes all of her hatchlings (goslings, chicks, poults, and keets) all in one small tiny muddy box, all different ages. I don't think they even saw the light of day. ☹

They are improving some today and I can see some light down/fuzz coming back already, but they are still screaming and not eating and drinking super good. But I'm trying to do my best given the circumstances!

Thanks so much for the response! I definitely agree with your statement that not everyone should breed or raise animals. I think some people don't really care on the environment of their animals, as long as they're getting money out of them. It's a shame. Her dogs could barely walk and were living under an old school bus in the mud (these were not LGD dogs, they were small breed dogs), her mule was super skinny and had bad hooves, her birds were all left in super tiny, dirty, muddy pens, and her sheep were in a small paddock and looked pitiful. I don't normally judge people and I understand if the weather makes things nasty, but this was a totally different thing. I'm so glad I took the 4 goslings, but I feel bad for her other animals.

Is there any way you could report it? Any sort of animal rescue authority which could go and investigate?

 

[Tclloyd0812]

Is there any way you could report it? Any sort of animal rescue authority which could go and investigate?

I'm thinking about it for sure. I definitely feel that the way their animals are treated is unacceptable.

The goslings are doing a lot better now. We have been trying to socialize with them and they have almost all of their down/fuzz back.

 

[FluffyPenguin]

They were outside in a thick muddy pen with other birds with 2 heat lamps. I have never seen anyone raise goslings like that and I have definitely never seen any have this problem. I'm crossing my fingers that with a clean brooder, food and water, as well as vitamins, they will recover soon. Poor things! And she said they were spoiled and loved on, but they are SO antisocial and scream like wild hogs when you go near them. ☹

This breaks my heart, since I've rescued the current gosling I've been spending 24/7 with since the little imprinted on me after finding him maybe a day old alone on the road, People flying by almost hitting the baby, I'm the kind of person that did pull my vehicle in front of on coming traffic to save any animal especially innocent/scared babies. But since that day I've been momma goose and couldn't imagine ever leaving those babies in that condition. I'm so happy there is people like you out there that regardless of what breed your willing to step up cause you seen those poor babies needed your help.. as for the feathers I think your doing the best thing for right now, I'd say if it doesn't show any sign of getting better in the first week to then seek medical attention cause It might be from a parasite or sickness they could have picked up from being forced to be around the other birds.