The Accidental Smallholder Forum

Livestock => Poultry & Waterfowl => Topic started by: Fraggle422 on August 03, 2011, 03:55:37 pm

Title: Sick Goose
Post by: Fraggle422 on August 03, 2011, 03:55:37 pm

We have a three month old adopted white goose that has lost the ability to walk, he can swim a bit, but is generally lethargic and not able to preen himself to the extent that we have had to bathe him in salt water to kill maggots.
Someone has mentioned he may have worms but local vet only has dog/cat wormer though we do have some granular sheep wormer.
Does anyone have any ideas please?
 >:(

Title: Re: Sick Goose
Post by: ellisr on August 03, 2011, 03:58:37 pm

try some poultry wormer. Feed him elder and dandelions as well that is a natural wormer. He is very young to have such a burden and also maggot infestation may mean he has a wound and would need antibiotics

Title: Re: Sick Goose
Post by: Fraggle422 on August 03, 2011, 04:55:33 pm

Thanks, I think you are right, we have antibiotics coming from the vet and have him tucked up indoors.
Cheers!

Title: Re: Sick Goose
Post by: goosepimple on August 03, 2011, 06:09:45 pm

Good luck Frag, geese are lovely creatures.  We need an icon of a goose.

Title: Re: Sick Goose
Post by: lill on August 03, 2011, 08:03:08 pm

i know this is going to sound harsh but if you bird is having that much bother trying to walk and preen, is it not better to put him to sleep?

Title: Re: Sick Goose
Post by: jaykay on August 03, 2011, 09:14:02 pm

No, keep going with him. If you're getting antibiotic from the vet get some levamisole or ivermectin wormer too. If the vet doesn't keep it, if you can find a feed merchant for farmers, they may keep it. In fact, you will need so little a friendly farmer would probably give you some  :) Squirt it directly down his beak.

I've had a very sick gander I bought in a dreadful state and he is mending well now, with care, good food and medicine. Good luck with yours  :-*

Title: Re: Sick Goose
Post by: lill on August 04, 2011, 06:48:31 pm

what ever you decide i hope it works our for you and your goose

Title: Re: Sick Goose
Post by: jaykay on August 04, 2011, 08:05:58 pm

How's he doing?

Title: Re: Sick Goose
Post by: fifixx on August 27, 2011, 07:02:42 pm

I have the same problem.  I have put panacur directly down his throat, put vitamin drops in the water and sprinkled brewers yeast (for the niacin) on his food.  He is still really wobbly though.

I wonder if I should separate him all the time (at the moment he is in the run by himself but can see the other geese) and how to help him eat, drink, bathe etc?