[goosepimple]

Goose (female) 4 years old, I think impacted crop.  Lop sided breast area, general demeanour that of a burdened goose.  Had her at the vet, we syringed water and he syphoned it up, nothing major coming up. He's given her antibiotics and she's taking them since 3 days ago.  Vet is shut until Monday.  Have taken it upon myself to give her olive oil in warm water and live yoghurt for her gut. 


Question is - I'm massaging the lump fairly firmly - it's pretty hard and bigger than half a golf ball - nearer tennis ball.  Is it ok to be firm doing this?  It seemed to 'move' when I was doing it although I wouldn't say 'empty' - how long should I be massaging - I gave her 3 lots of oil / yoghurt and massaged 3 times (all within 5 mins).  Anyone any advice please?  Thanks in advance. 

[jaykay]

I've only done it with a chook, not a goose. With her, I held her on my knee, head down, did the oil and then massaged the stuff beakwards and got it out eventually. Took a couple of days to get it out. She had been eating long grass and then her crop had filled with corn 

[Hevxxx99]

Same. Only done a hen.  Are you bringing stuff up or trying to massage it down?  Getting it up works surprisingly well with hens but geese have very long necks and rather a lot of attitude..

Good luck!

[Alicenz]

Hi there, good luck with your goose, things always happen when the vet is closed eh.  I would be very gentle with massaging her crop, as it is likely to be very uncomfortable, and the goose sounds not too happy as it is- so any extra stress will make things harder for her.

Keep in mind it may not be an impacted crop, it could be a growth or an abscess etc.  I would keep her warm and quiet with food and water or whatever she needs. 

Talk to your vet asap, about what you need to do when you are at home with her. 

I suggest that if you need urgent information that you email the duckman - in NZ. He has set up a centre for injured and orphaned waterfowl and was very helpful when i emailed him a few weeks ago asking advise about handrearing a paradise duckling. He looks after 300-400 birds a year.  If you do email him, let him know you are in the UK so he emails rather then says ring.  email [email protected]  All the best.

[Marches Farmer]

I've found that olive oil, gentle massage and tipping the bird forward and extending its neck so the gunk comes out naturally helps.  I just take it slowly and give the bird a longer rest after every three or four goes.  A couple of times the crop has impacted again by the next day, despite the bird having eaten nothing that would cause a blockage, so I concluded it must be a growth and culled it.

[goosepimple]

Thanks all and yes I've done a hen before too.  We have just 'done' her again - it's about the size of a golf ball and feels about as hard.  She doesn't seem to mind my massaging it.  She looks pretty much the same as a couple of days ago.  She has a little house and yard and I'm keeping her away from the others or she'll be wandering for miles trying to keep up with her clan and exhausting herself.  I have left a bucket of water and a scoop of grain but I put baked/sanded eggshells in to make sure she gets enough grit.


I'll check it out tomorrow again before I phone the vet.  He did say that they could operate which in some cases they have to as it just won't shift.  Hmmm, think I'll wait a bit more before going down that route. The geese are pretty wild and it's likely the stress of the operation could kill her.    Will keep posted. Thanks all.

[Alicenz]

hi there,

ive looked after alot of wild birds and it is surprising how well they cope with surgery etc - watch with the grit - i know it is different but i had a 15 year old cockatiel that died very quickly from an impacted crop full of grit.  Odd when she had always had it available.  Since i have read that with small birds anyway that one needs to take care with the grit in this regard.  I dont know, but wonder if soft food may be a good thing then she can get nutrients and energy in without her crop having to grind it up.  Anyway all the best.

[goosepimple]

Yes, one of our goats and one of our shetland ponies have both had impaction / indigestion and the advice was to keep the digestion going with sloppy food, oil and yoghurt are good in it. 


She does get a bit of very wet brown bread with her antibiotic neatly inside it    they never get white bread (glue) and it's always given wet.  I think maybe it was the shredded spring greens I was giving the goats and threw a couple of handfuls to the geese that may have caused the impaction.  Looks just now as though she's not eating the grain just taking water and the 2 wee bits of wet bread in the morning.


I've let her out to swim and cheer up with her group, that's all the antibiotics taken, so will see how she is in a day or two and take it from there.

[StephB]

Hi

Just read your posts on your impacted goose.  I just love my trio of geese and wondered how yours in getting on?.  Is she ok now?.

[goosepimple]

Thanks Steph and everyone, she grew gradually worse, vet thought there was possibly something else before the possible impaction, took her back this morning and both vet and myself thought it was time for her to be put to sleep.  I stayed and helped and talked to her knowing their hearing is so good and I think hearing is the last thing to go.  She was 4.  Pity, I love my geese too.


Now have 2 ganders (1 definite) and 1 female.


Jaykay, any hatching eggs via your unrelateds would be most welcome second half of April if poss, I could send you a special box to put them in, but see how it goes with your girls - only if it's convenient. 


Thanks all.

[HesterF]

  Sorry - I was watching but had no advice to give. Any point of a PM to find out exactly what the problem was? The physical side of it is not too expensive.

What breed are your geese?

H

[darkbrowneggs]

I too, was watching but as you had taken her to the vets didn't want to interject.  I have read geese being very inquisitive will sometimes eat things like long lengths of baler twine or electric wire and all sorts of rubbish which then gets stuck in the neck (apparently geese don't have crops)  and the advice is never to pull it out if you see an end protruding as it can damage them.  But it could easily have been some sort of growth.  Its sad, but you have done the right thing by her. 

[shygirl]

thats sad, i read the thread but had no advice either. 

[Cheviot]

Hi Goosepimple,
Was it a steinbacher goose that you lost?
I have just received my goose club journal, there is someone in west cumbria advertising 3 steinbacher 2013 hatched females for sale, if you are interested PM me and I'll pass on their e mail address.
Regards
Sue

[goosepimple]

Just got that Cheviot, I'll pm you.  Thanks!


Thanks all.  No PM.  I did take her home, she's buried in our quarry - we had a massive digger in that day landscaping and the digger man dug a hole about 12ft deep for her, so not much chance of anything digging her back up.


As it happens I think our gander No2 is now a girl so that helps the situation a bit.