Hi y'all, I live on a ranch and the ranch owners have 30 geese. They are all laying eggs- one mamma hatched four eggs and left the nest. The ranch owner asked me to take care of them, so I gladly said yes. She gave me some
feed to feed them and a box and heating lamp and said I
should be good to go. I feel so stupid for not looking further into it, but just thought everything would be fine because I thought she was experienced in this.
First days the goslings were healthy and happy. Grazing outside some and eating grass and bugs well. Then one of the baby's eyes started shutting or looking like the eye lids were stuck. Next morning it was dead. The next day another one died, it flipped around and flopped for awhile and finallydied. I thought it looked a as if it was poinsoned the way it's body and head was flopping The third did the same. I spoke to a vet and she said they were probably starving. The feed they had was some corn mash used to feed horses! And all they had was plain
water to drink. Since that time I bought some chick starter feed and some electrolytes to put in water.
Last night when I got home from the store the last baby looked to be dying. Wouldn't move or eat. I forced some electrolyte water down her beak and also forced feed in its beak as well. Every hour last night I woke up and fed water and feed. It started to regain strength! Today it looks better but still hangs it's head and squeaks all the time. I have her under a heat lamp with availability to move to a cooler side. I have her nestled in a small towel she seems to like that. Her eyes are starting to get small and eyelids look sticky like the last ones. And it's face around its beak is getting sunk in a bit.
My question is- should I keep forcing water and feed to the baby? If so how often and how much should I feed and water it? Should I mash the feed with water?
It will now drink on its own but still won't eat. Any thoughts on how to convince it to eat? Or if it won't- what I should feed it other than chick starter?
Any other advice or ideas is helpful! Thank you so much! I really love these little goslings and so upset from my ignorance they died. I just pray I can get this last one healthy!