Goose Health
Thankfully,I have never lost a fully grown goose to disease.I find them the hardiest of all poultry and rarely if ever sucumb to disease,infestestion or injury.
Problems with Goslings
Worming geese
Geese are relatively easy to keep except for one problem, which can be avoided quite easily. Both ducks and geese can get gizzard worm but geese are far more likely to suffer from its effects and die. So always worm geese when buying or selling them. Do make sure that this is not done twice. Gizzard worm is a common parasite and its incidence would be considerably reduced if more people took this precaution. Wormers include the following products.
Levamisole 7.5% strength. This is available from a vet, using figures from veterinary handbooks. The dosages quoted are usually for cage birds. Scaling these cage bird figures up directly, for the larger geese, results in an over-dose. Average size domestic geese should not be given more the 1.0 ml. Never exceed 1.6 ml for even the largest geese. In the case of geese, the levamisole can be given as a drench i.e. a liquid dose down the throat. DO NOT EXCEED THE DOSE AND ALWAYS DILUTE THE PRODUCT WITH AT LEAST AN EQUAL AMOUNT OF WATER. The liquid is administered by a syringe (no needle) down the throat of the bird. Take care that the bird swallows, and do not introduce liquid into the lungs of the bird. The advantages of using a single dose like this are that:
the dosage is measured and known; it is useful to give a single, immediate-effect dose if a bird is ill. So it is useful for an emergency. The dosage can also be given diluted in a much larger volume of drinking water over 2-8 hours. However, spillage must be accounted for. It can also be put in the food if the amount consumed can be monitored.
Note that this wormer is unsuitable as a single drench for goslings under 10 weeks old. Side-effects are birds throwing their head and neck about. Over-doses can kill. Remember to read the information about withdrawal times on the product. Flubenvet is a multi-purpose wormer for waterfowl and poultry. It kills gizzard and gape worm, round worm, caecal worm and tape worm. The wormer is a white powder which adheres well to poultry pellets. The correct dose (given on the packaging for geese) must be fed for 7 days.
The advantage of using flubendozole, found in Flubenvet, is that it is easy to administer. It can be used with goslings. The disadvantage is that, with geese in particular, you do not know how much wormer they have consumed if they also graze. It does not give an immediate result if they are ill. Remember to read the information about withdrawal times on the product. Flubenvet can be obtained from the vet, and from suppliers of poultry and game products e.g. smallholder suppliers such asAscott
Panacur is not licensed as a poultry wormer but it is obtainable through your vet. It has simply not been specifically tested for birds. It contains fenbendazole which kills the gizzard worm, but not its eggs. Two doses, spaced at 2-3 weeks are therefore needed to eradicate the pest. It is also less effective than the above two wormers at killing worms in the windpipe (gapes). However:-
It is very useful for treating goslings at any age with a single dose, if they become ill with gizzard worm and are not eating. Flubenvet is of no use in this situation. Panacur does not give the side-effects of levamisole. Note that the 10% solution for cattle or cat&dog should be used. [The 2.5% solution for sheep results in a four-fold dose being required and other ingredients may be added.] The stated dosage for the 10% solution is 0.5 ml for up to 10kg. It can be given as a drench (see above) or put on food if you watch that the food is consumed. Remember to read the information about withdrawal times on the product. Birds are unlikely to suffer from gizzard worm if treated when new to the premises and then fed well, or grazed at a low stocking density. However, it is always a good idea to worm a goose just after she has commenced to sit (and the gander) so that if she becomes ill, you then know that it is not worms which are causing the problem. Aim to worm the birds twice a year in total, and observe appropriate withdrawal times if affected products (eggs or meat) were intended for consumption.
Further info on worms in waterfowl and poultry in articles at:
http://www.smallholder.co.uk/mostpopular.var.976875.mostviewed.worms_in_waterfowl_and_poultry.php
http://www.thepoultrysite.com/diseaseinfo/67/gizzard-worms-geese
How long will they live?
Tales abound of geese living up to 80 years of age. We have found that that 20-22 years is more likely for the average domestic goose. Heavy geese have a shorter life span.
Problems with Goslings
- Unable to get out of the egg in incubator------Geese can take 48 hours between pipping and hatching out.if you think one of your goslings is still trapped in the egg,break the shell around the pipped area of the shell and remove some of the fleshy membrane so you can see the beak of the gosling.If the inner membrane starts to bleed,stop,but do not panic this should not harm the gosling,it just means he needs some extra time to get out of the egg. To help him on his way ,i would spray him with warm water so as to soften the shell and membrane to enable him to break out easier.Other tips would include putting a warm damp cloth over the egg to increase humidity or a sponge beside the egg.
- goslings when a few days old are sometimes susceptiple to respiratory and bacterial infections.Symptoms may include opening and closing of the mouth repeatedly and general listlessness.I find Baytril or tylan extremely good remedies.Give it straight down the neck about 0.1ml suspended in about 0.4 ml of water.These problems seem more prevelent in larger more lethargic breeds such as the toulouse and african.
- Wobbly legs,inability to stand--- Goslings again take a lot longer to get their footing than chickens do.But no need to worry if you think a few of you goslings are a bit 'wonky',once they start growing this quickly dissapears.I once had a gosling whose foot seemed to be pointing the other way,but after a few days this soon righted itself somehow!
- Angel wing---- This is probably the main physical deformity a goose is likely to get and happens when the wing is just about to get feathers and when the gosling is in the growing stage .It happens because they are being fed to much protein and early indications of the problem are as follows.....1. tip of the wing ,when folded sticks out a bit .As the condition progresses, the gosling is forever trying to fold its wings and sometimes lets them drag on the ground,the angle of the top of the wing that is sticking out becomes nearly 90 degrees with the body. Remedy.....What i do in these instances is to get a fairly stetchy bandage and wrap around the whole of the goslings body and maybe use a bit of tape to secure.Keep adjusting this as the gosling grows,to make sure it is able to breathe fully.Hopefully as the bones grow they grow back into place in the correct way.I have used this method with good results on my growing geese.
- goslings when first put out sometimes develop red feet and webbing and cracked underside of their toes ,it looks sore and is advisable to put some sudocreme on the sore areas As Adults
- Limping----geese hurt their feet for many reasons,if the goose is getting around and doesnt seem to be in to much difficulty i'd let her at it, geese heal quickly.If the patient is unable to walk, grab her gently and see if there is much heat in the affected area,if it is swollen she may have severely injured it or even broken it.I have had many cases like this and i have kept them inside away from the others and they were as right as rain within two weeks.If it is particularly bad i suggest getting anti-biotics for her,they come either as liquid(baytril)or tablet form Limping may also be caused by worms see below
- a knock to the head--the goose may be a bit dazed and clumsy in its walking,put her on her own away from the others untill she gathers herself.
- Foamy eye -- this can be a result from a blow to the head, just keep water deep enough for the "patien" to submerge its head and it should be fine.
Worming geese
Geese are relatively easy to keep except for one problem, which can be avoided quite easily. Both ducks and geese can get gizzard worm but geese are far more likely to suffer from its effects and die. So always worm geese when buying or selling them. Do make sure that this is not done twice. Gizzard worm is a common parasite and its incidence would be considerably reduced if more people took this precaution. Wormers include the following products.
Levamisole 7.5% strength. This is available from a vet, using figures from veterinary handbooks. The dosages quoted are usually for cage birds. Scaling these cage bird figures up directly, for the larger geese, results in an over-dose. Average size domestic geese should not be given more the 1.0 ml. Never exceed 1.6 ml for even the largest geese. In the case of geese, the levamisole can be given as a drench i.e. a liquid dose down the throat. DO NOT EXCEED THE DOSE AND ALWAYS DILUTE THE PRODUCT WITH AT LEAST AN EQUAL AMOUNT OF WATER. The liquid is administered by a syringe (no needle) down the throat of the bird. Take care that the bird swallows, and do not introduce liquid into the lungs of the bird. The advantages of using a single dose like this are that:
the dosage is measured and known; it is useful to give a single, immediate-effect dose if a bird is ill. So it is useful for an emergency. The dosage can also be given diluted in a much larger volume of drinking water over 2-8 hours. However, spillage must be accounted for. It can also be put in the food if the amount consumed can be monitored.
Note that this wormer is unsuitable as a single drench for goslings under 10 weeks old. Side-effects are birds throwing their head and neck about. Over-doses can kill. Remember to read the information about withdrawal times on the product. Flubenvet is a multi-purpose wormer for waterfowl and poultry. It kills gizzard and gape worm, round worm, caecal worm and tape worm. The wormer is a white powder which adheres well to poultry pellets. The correct dose (given on the packaging for geese) must be fed for 7 days.
The advantage of using flubendozole, found in Flubenvet, is that it is easy to administer. It can be used with goslings. The disadvantage is that, with geese in particular, you do not know how much wormer they have consumed if they also graze. It does not give an immediate result if they are ill. Remember to read the information about withdrawal times on the product. Flubenvet can be obtained from the vet, and from suppliers of poultry and game products e.g. smallholder suppliers such asAscott
Panacur is not licensed as a poultry wormer but it is obtainable through your vet. It has simply not been specifically tested for birds. It contains fenbendazole which kills the gizzard worm, but not its eggs. Two doses, spaced at 2-3 weeks are therefore needed to eradicate the pest. It is also less effective than the above two wormers at killing worms in the windpipe (gapes). However:-
It is very useful for treating goslings at any age with a single dose, if they become ill with gizzard worm and are not eating. Flubenvet is of no use in this situation. Panacur does not give the side-effects of levamisole. Note that the 10% solution for cattle or cat&dog should be used. [The 2.5% solution for sheep results in a four-fold dose being required and other ingredients may be added.] The stated dosage for the 10% solution is 0.5 ml for up to 10kg. It can be given as a drench (see above) or put on food if you watch that the food is consumed. Remember to read the information about withdrawal times on the product. Birds are unlikely to suffer from gizzard worm if treated when new to the premises and then fed well, or grazed at a low stocking density. However, it is always a good idea to worm a goose just after she has commenced to sit (and the gander) so that if she becomes ill, you then know that it is not worms which are causing the problem. Aim to worm the birds twice a year in total, and observe appropriate withdrawal times if affected products (eggs or meat) were intended for consumption.
Further info on worms in waterfowl and poultry in articles at:
http://www.smallholder.co.uk/mostpopular.var.976875.mostviewed.worms_in_waterfowl_and_poultry.php
http://www.thepoultrysite.com/diseaseinfo/67/gizzard-worms-geese
How long will they live?
Tales abound of geese living up to 80 years of age. We have found that that 20-22 years is more likely for the average domestic goose. Heavy geese have a shorter life span.