what would kill a goose?

[daisyacres]

I was horrified to find one of my Toulouse/Emden mama geese dead in the barn this afternoon. She was fine this morning. The male and other female I had were standing by her. They seem to be in shock. The two goslings I kept out of their hatched eggs were snuggled up under her. She was lying on her tummy with her wings kind of flattened out. Her head was tucked under slightly. Her neck is kind of dirty up high and there were some broken feathers on top of her right wing. There were a few small feathers scattered about. I have a feeling the nasty muscovy drake did something to her and I am giving him away ASAP. He has jumped on them before. But would he have killed her?

 

[Miss Lydia]

I was horrified to find one of my Toulouse/Emden mama geese dead in the barn this afternoon. She was fine this morning. The male and other female I had were standing by her. They seem to be in shock. The two goslings I kept out of their hatched eggs were snuggled up under her. She was lying on her tummy with her wings kind of flattened out. Her head was tucked under slightly. Her neck is kind of dirty up high and there were some broken feathers on top of her right wing. There were a few small feathers scattered about. I have a feeling the nasty muscovy drake did something to her and I am giving him away ASAP. He has jumped on them before. But would he have killed her?

I really don't think he could kill your goose, did you look for any puncher wounds possibly a mink or weasel bite marks around her neck? Very sorry for your loss. I'd lock up securely the geese and goslings that survived because what ever did this will be back.

 

[8GeeseALaying]

Miss L is right. It could be a mink or weasel. Even an escaped ferret could be the culprit. Look for puncture wounds on the neck and head, under the feathers. They all attack by puncturing with their teeth then lick the blood leaving the body.

 

[daisyacres]

Interesting. I'll check her body again tomorrow but I think it's odd that she was kind of flattened out like she'd been jumped on. I was thinking about my 7 week old dairy goat kids. I wonder if one of those might have jumped on her just the right way? The geese go in and out at will but the goats are in the barn. I just don't know but I'll check her again tomorrow before I bury her.

 

[Miss Lydia]

Interesting. I'll check her body again tomorrow but I think it's odd that she was kind of flattened out like she'd been jumped on. I was thinking about my 7 week old dairy goat kids. I wonder if one of those might have jumped on her just the right way? The geese go in and out at will but the goats are in the barn. I just don't know but I'll check her again tomorrow before I bury her.

Now a goat jumping on her may have killed her it is very odd though that the others seemed to be in shock. what did you do with the goslings? She may have flattened herself out to protect her goslings.

 

[daisyacres]

I just don't know. If one did jump on her it was by accident as they are just babies and sometimes run and jump boisterously. They are in their pen right now but I like to let them out. Nothing was amiss this morning. I guess I might not ever know.

 

[Miss Lydia]

I just don't know. If one did jump on her it was by accident as they are just babies and sometimes run and jump boisterously. They are in their pen right now but I like to let them out. Nothing was amiss this morning. I guess I might not ever know.

You didn't see any bite marks on her? possible one of the goats could have broken her neck it it landed just right on her. Poor thing very sorry for your loss. I think I'd keep the goslings away from the geese until they are much older to keep them from being stepped on or jumped on.