When is paranoid TOO paranoid? Or is there such a thing?

[EvenLater]

Ok where do I start...

So first, there's been a LOT of confirmed cases of Bird Flu in my state, causing hundreds of wild birds to just drop from the sky, and thousands upon thousands of farm raised production (both for meat and eggs) chickens have been euthanized to avoid spreading it. So that's ONE thing that's got me on edge...

Then there's been some perfectly healthy, well cared for geese here that just seemingly drop dead. Some by accident, some by mosquito borne illness, etc, so that's ANOTHER thing that's got me on edge...

Add to those the fact that the mosquito over population in my area has caused the gov to do wide spread spraying of toxic pesticides as well as the every day John and Jane Doe doing the same...I'm even MORE on edge...

And then there's reported cases of contaminated run off around here too...

As a result, I've become incredibly paranoid about Cas. I DON'T take him outside for those reasons, and the grass I bring in goes through a long process of multiple cleanings (I use a human food grade veggie wash and then wash again with ACV and then rinse/soak in purified water) before he gets it. I DON'T take him over to the park pond anymore for fear of Bird Flu wild duck or goose or bird droppings. He's now a completely INDOOR goose, taking twice daily swims in my tub, eating his overly washed greens and fresh salad. HE doesn't seem to mind in the least, but am I being TOO careful?

I even threw out one of his toys that had a long thin metal piece with straws and things attached to it. He LOVED that toy, but with what happened this week with my friends goose...

Is there a point where someone can worry TOO much? Be TOO over protective and careful? TOO paranoid? Or am I just doing what a good goose Mama should do and keeping him extra safe?

 

[HeritageGoose13]

He should still be going outside, but not to the park- he could pick up a disease. Don't you have a yard?

 

[EvenLater]

I have a very nice size yard yes, but our county has been flying over and dropping pesticide everywhere because of the mosquitos and confirmed West Nile virus. So I worry my yard may be contaminated from the spray, not to mention just how bad the mosquitos are around here...Can't be out myself more than a few minutes without getting eating alive. I brave it everyday to pick his grass, but I worry about just letting him out to graze. The grass I pick gets vigorously washed before he gets it (in case it's got any spray on it), and he's not exposed to the mosquitos (thus avoiding the West Nile). And we get a LOT of birds and wildlife in the yard too, so I'm worried about Bird Flu droppings...Also, there's been a lot of rain lately and the run off in my county (we had flash flooding) has been confirmed contaminated with salmonella too (we're surrounded by huge factory farms), so I worry that even the DIRT in my yard could harm him...

I'm probably just being waaaaaay over-protective, but he's my baby boy and if he got sick because I wasn't careful, I would NEVER forgive myself...

 

[Carrosaur]

He really needs to get that fresh air and sunlight.

 

[EvenLater]

He really needs to get that fresh air and sunlight.

He LOVES going out on our enclosed porch and 3-season room. I always have the windows open and their floor length so he can see outside and enjoy the breeze.

 

[HeritageGoose13]

I have a very nice size yard yes, but our county has been flying over and dropping pesticide everywhere

Oh, right. That is so terrible, I can't imagine living in a place where people do that. In that case I don't know what to tell you. Try sprouting some grass for him indoors. Look up "fodder system" you'll find some good stuff on BYC and elsewhere.

 

[Carrosaur]

I have a very nice size yard yes, but our county has been flying over and dropping pesticide everywhere because of the mosquitos and confirmed West Nile virus. So I worry my yard may be contaminated from the spray, not to mention just how bad the mosquitos are around here...Can't be out myself more than a few minutes without getting eating alive. I brave it everyday to pick his grass, but I worry about just letting him out to graze. The grass I pick gets vigorously washed before he gets it (in case it's got any spray on it), and he's not exposed to the mosquitos (thus avoiding the West Nile). And we get a LOT of birds and wildlife in the yard too, so I'm worried about Bird Flu droppings...Also, there's been a lot of rain lately and the run off in my county (we had flash flooding) has been confirmed contaminated with salmonella too (we're surrounded by huge factory farms), so I worry that even the DIRT in my yard could harm him...

I'm probably just being waaaaaay over-protective, but he's my baby boy and if he got sick because I wasn't careful, I would NEVER forgive myself...  

That's disgusting. We would never allow that here. Wow. ): where do you live?

 

[Miss Lydia]

I think for now what your doing is the right thing he has a sun porch and your keeping him in greens, and protected for pesticides which water fowl are very sensitive too. I think you need to be the judge as to what can be allowed in Cas life right now, I know mosquito's carry disease that can kill water fowl or make them sick so just keep doing what your doing to protect him and yourself. Hopefully soon this AI will be contained, your lucky you just have one goslings to look out for I hope it doesn't come to NC I have way to may to keep inside.

As long as he is happy. Please don't ever take him to a park where there are wild water fowl even in the best of circumstances it is too much of a risk.

 

[EvenLater]

Thanks guys for easing my mind a bit. I'm in Illinois and this summer has just been one thing after another. The heavy rains led to the flooding and standing water, which led to the massive mosquito overpopulation, then they kept finding so many dead birds, which led to the testing and then finding the AI and WN, that led to the spraying, then we continued to have rains that led to the runoff...It's a mess! Last year in Illinois, 54 people came down with WN and of those 5 died. The numbers of pets and animals it's affected is unclear. Waterfowl are very susceptible to illnesses and I guess I just think "better safe than sorry" when it comes to Cas.

He still gets plenty of sun and greens, and HE doesn't seem to mind, and I feel safer. I'm the same way with my human children too. If I don't feel right about something, then it's just not going to happen. Food in the fridge looks funny or smells a bit off? I'm tossing it.