We have a gosling on the way!
- Thread starter Isis
- Start date
So the only thing I can get him eating this morning is lettuce and water. He's searching like crazy and walking now. 
We will get the starter feed in there asap.
For Canada Geese it takes the first swim for their oil gland to start working.
We will get the starter feed in there asap.
For Canada Geese it takes the first swim for their oil gland to start working.
Margaid
Well-known member
Any chance of another photo please Isis?
but thats our little tweety bird.
chrismahon
Well-known member
Cute little thing he is. Guess he makes all the stress worthwile Isis. Really so pleased he hatched OK. Did you manage to get the chick crumb?
We got starter chick feed but he's not eating it. He'll only eat the lettuce in water. So not really sure here... =/ Thinking maybe we'll take him over to where we found him and let him roam in the grass there or something.
chrismahon
Well-known member
He needs protein to grow and there is none in grass. He may find the odd grub, but to give him the best start try turning the crumb into a sloppy/ runny mash. They are filter feeders so he needs the water content to slosh it through his little beaky. Dip his beak in it and get him the taste, sure he will get the idea.
So I've made birdie oatmeal from the starter feed, he had a couple bites but doesn't seem to be too into eating at the moment. Is it possible the yolk is still enough for him? When can I expect him to start eating more? He has eaten a bit of the lettuce and he drinks water fine. But he's mostly just sleeping and chirping.
chrismahon
Well-known member
i read Lewis Wrights book where he said Turkeys are incredibly stupid and don't know how to peck. Maybe Tweety is the same in a goosy way? Chickens don't need to feed for the first day as they have sufficient reserves built in -they are still absorbing the remains of the egg yolk. Perhaps he doen't want to feed? Think you need guidance on this aspect from someone who has hatched a single goose before Isis.
Darn. I was hoping you guys would be able to help.
He seems to do okay. He's not starving. He's peeing and pooping, and I've seen him eat some lettuce and he has evidence on his beak that he's dipped into the "birdie oatmeal" once or twice. So I think he's okay. If he starts going downhill we'll be taking him to the wildlife center sooner.
He seems to do okay. He's not starving. He's peeing and pooping, and I've seen him eat some lettuce and he has evidence on his beak that he's dipped into the "birdie oatmeal" once or twice. So I think he's okay. If he starts going downhill we'll be taking him to the wildlife center sooner.
chrismahon
Well-known member
At least he's curious about it. You need to make fresh 'runny gloop' every day as it goes mouldy fast. You may find tomorrow he will have an appetite. Night night Tweety. Good luck again Isis.
chrismahon
Well-known member
Not if it's kept dry Isis. Then it will have a 3 month shelf life, plenty for Tweety.
Thought I would just do a quick update.
Tweety is doing fantastic. At first he wasn't eating and had to be fed with a spoon and given water using a syringe, but thankfully this passed and he began eating on his own later that night. He officially figured it out by day 2.
Day 2, we filled up the tub with about an inch of water and just let him stomp around and splash and get used to it. He dipped his head in but showed little interest - so we thought. When we put him back in his house to get warm and dry, he jumped straight into his water dish and sat down. Silly goose!
We find that Tweety is a very social little guy. He doesn't like being left alone in his house. So in the evenings after my son has gone to bed and the house is quiet, we take him out and just have him sit in our laps while we watch shows and movies. Tweety seems to enjoy this as he falls asleep within minutes. Our cats have noticed him but only 1 of them has taken an interest in him, so we watch her carefully or lock her in a room when we have Tweety out.
Day 3, Today Tweety officially learned to swim. We had been gradually increasing the amount of water in the tub. Yesturday he swam a little bit but still made the effort to touch the bottom. Today when placed in the water he just took off swimming around. We put some lettuce in the water to encourage him to multi-task and practice swimming and eating as it's a skill I've seen them use in the wild. At first Tweety seemed unsure, but quickly became acustomed to the idea and gobbled up a good portion of the little bits of lettuce.
Overall he seems like a very healthy, happy little gosling and it'll be sad to see him go to the wildlife center. We plan to take him sometime between this week and next. I wish we could keep him... but a piece of information I haven't shared yet; We live in an apartment in the city.. there's just no way
I'm taking lots of pictures of our little guy, and we will certainly always remember this experience.
Thank you for the support and guidance you offered throughout this experience. This website, along with information I found on others, has really helped me to make sure Tweety has the best possible start to his future.
Tweety is doing fantastic. At first he wasn't eating and had to be fed with a spoon and given water using a syringe, but thankfully this passed and he began eating on his own later that night. He officially figured it out by day 2.
Day 2, we filled up the tub with about an inch of water and just let him stomp around and splash and get used to it. He dipped his head in but showed little interest - so we thought. When we put him back in his house to get warm and dry, he jumped straight into his water dish and sat down. Silly goose!
We find that Tweety is a very social little guy. He doesn't like being left alone in his house. So in the evenings after my son has gone to bed and the house is quiet, we take him out and just have him sit in our laps while we watch shows and movies. Tweety seems to enjoy this as he falls asleep within minutes. Our cats have noticed him but only 1 of them has taken an interest in him, so we watch her carefully or lock her in a room when we have Tweety out.
Day 3, Today Tweety officially learned to swim. We had been gradually increasing the amount of water in the tub. Yesturday he swam a little bit but still made the effort to touch the bottom. Today when placed in the water he just took off swimming around. We put some lettuce in the water to encourage him to multi-task and practice swimming and eating as it's a skill I've seen them use in the wild. At first Tweety seemed unsure, but quickly became acustomed to the idea and gobbled up a good portion of the little bits of lettuce.
Overall he seems like a very healthy, happy little gosling and it'll be sad to see him go to the wildlife center. We plan to take him sometime between this week and next. I wish we could keep him... but a piece of information I haven't shared yet; We live in an apartment in the city.. there's just no way
I'm taking lots of pictures of our little guy, and we will certainly always remember this experience.
Thank you for the support and guidance you offered throughout this experience. This website, along with information I found on others, has really helped me to make sure Tweety has the best possible start to his future.
chrismahon
Well-known member
What a relief Isis. Didn't hear from you yesterday and feared the worst! So pleased to hear the little chap is OK. Sure it will be a surprise to him to realise he is a Goose and not a human.
Well guys this is where I take my leave.
I'm not in a position where I'll be hatching or raising birds anytime soon so I'm afraid that while you've all been a great help I'm really of no use to you.
If you ever want to just check up on Tweety or follow his story and see what happens when/after we bring him to the shelter you can follow my blog: www.espyridion.blogspot.com - I'll be updating it after we take Tweety to his new home, so I would expect a new post in about a week or so. Or if you want to stay in touch I have a parenting forum where folks support eachother and whatnot, it's fairly new but heres the link: www.justusmoms.forumotion.ca or you can click the little globe under my location.
Thanks again for all your help and I wish you all the best of luck with your hatches.
I'm not in a position where I'll be hatching or raising birds anytime soon so I'm afraid that while you've all been a great help I'm really of no use to you.
If you ever want to just check up on Tweety or follow his story and see what happens when/after we bring him to the shelter you can follow my blog: www.espyridion.blogspot.com - I'll be updating it after we take Tweety to his new home, so I would expect a new post in about a week or so. Or if you want to stay in touch I have a parenting forum where folks support eachother and whatnot, it's fairly new but heres the link: www.justusmoms.forumotion.ca or you can click the little globe under my location.
Thanks again for all your help and I wish you all the best of luck with your hatches.
