gosling hatched later than siblings & can't walk

[Goosygoosygander]

Hi
I need advice on the above. He hatched last night. He is a tufted roman/pilgram. We have called him Lucky. The others 7 had their first day out yesterday & hatched 4 days ago. when they left the nest this am he was left behind because he can't walk. He was very cold. I warmed him up skin to down then popped him on the grass near his gaggle which he joined by staggering, flipping & rolling. However when they move he gets left behind. I want to get him with his gaggle asap so he needs to be able to walk as they free range over 30 acres and 6 dams. Is there anything else I can do he has had water and is eating grass.

 

[Alaskan]

You will need to give him a good once over... see if the mobility issue is a deformity... or ???

With late hatches... left behind eggs... . I usually keep them in the house until the "left over" eggs hatch AND the new hatchlings are running well. Then I put the new ones in with the others and usually (as long as the new one matches in color to the old ones) everything goes well.

With chicks and ducklings a week spread or less is fine. But if the broody is in a more restricted area I can add new chicks up to 2 weeks apart. (I have had geese...but haven't brooded them, but I am sure the main points are the same as with ducks and chickens)

So... my points....

Get the later to hatch gosling, look him over closely and see if you can figure out the issue. A funky foot can easily be taped flat... splay legs are a bit harder, but can often be splinted and fixed when found early. Etc. Figure out what is wrong

You might have to raise him until he can move more easily. With geese, yes!, this can be a problem since he might bond to you and not want to follow mom...however, since he heard mom from the egg.... there is still a chance that it will work.

Another option is if you can pen up mom and the goslings, or at least give them feed and water then she might not walk as far and make it easier for the late one to keep up. So, make it so he dosen't have to walk as much to keep up while he gets stronger or heals.

 

[Goosygoosygander]

Thanks Miss Lydia
"Lucky" runs over to the gaggle everytime she sees them & Mum just picks her up & tosses her away so I am avoiding that gaggle altogether now. Absolutely no problems walking running jumping since 3 days ago now. I think she was just too young. I make sure she has time with the "Uncles "so she still has quality goose time. But she lives with us now till she can fly then she can hang with all the other geese.

 

[Goosygoosygander]

We had noticed this 2nd gosling was always about 2 foot behind. Perhaps this one was the second last to hatch. It is half the size of lucky. Mum lost a lot of weight on the nest but has 24/7 access to mixed grain and 30 acres to graze on. She & her hubby are very active with the other 6 goslings

 

[Goosygoosygander]

thanks Alaskan,
I don't think I have a chance of penning the goose & goslings and they have food & water at the house. The trouble is they move every 30 mins or so to a different position around the house . I have checked him out and can't find anything wrong with his appearance. We will keep him with us till he can catch up with the others he definitely goes to mum & gossies when I put him down but can not keep up with them when they move so I don't think it will be a problem for him to follow mum later. I thought once she stopped sitting on the nest the other eggs would not hatch. Should we leave the other eggs in the nest once she leaves it all day ? she does go back at night.

 

[Alaskan]

I thought once she stopped sitting on the nest the other eggs would not hatch. Should we leave the other eggs in the nest once she leaves it all day ? she does go back at night.

You are correct, if she is no longer sitting the other eggs will not hatch.

I have an incubator in the house, so I put unhatched eggs in there when mom leaves.

 

[Miss Lydia]

From all I have seen it’s survival of the fittest and if one is not doing well it will get left or run off. This protects the flock from predators who prey on the sick or injured. If you can get this little one on his legs good they may take him back. Are you using any type of B complex it’s the best stuff when waterfowl have leg issues. Let them all continue to see the little one but try and keep him from over doing until you have been treating for a few days if you haven’t been giving him any BComplex. They bounce back pretty quick if it’s a niacin deficiency.

 

[Miss Lydia]

So happy to hear how well she is doing. Thanks for the update.

 

[Goosygoosygander]

Wow mum just abandoned another one ! she is in pretty poor condition compared to "lucky" . Now they will have each other to hang with when we finally let them free range.

 

[Goosygoosygander]

The second gosling is eating & drinking and getting around well with lucky on the deck. They spent the night together under the light. Their mum & dad must have heard them on the deck yesterday afternoon as they turned up at the bottom of the ramp. dad (Eric) came right up to the glass door and had his head cocked listening.