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Farming Friends Forum » Geese

1. fagusabello
   Member

   I realized that Phoebe, my sweet Goose is actually Blind.

   I had thought/worried that she'd become (well) feeble. I couldn't figure it out. I mean that she is only ten years old and was stumbling while walking, getting stuck in wooded areas/uneven ground, walking into walls-fencing-trees.

   At first she spent all of the time in the COOP (right after she hatched/brooded little Drew, her Adopted-Duck-son). She would only occasionally came out to join the flock but when I called the flock back to the COOP at night, she would just linger behind (not follow the other birds).

   Night after night, I ended up having to fetch her back to the COOP. Finally I stuck her in the first year restricted side-pen, so she doesn't wander and get lost. I then noticed that she stayed in the corner away from the ducklings - jumping at their quacks but not flinching when they ran towards her (well until they bumped into her).

   Went in and waived my hand/wiggled my fingers in front of her, realizing that she didn't even flinch. Also that she hadn't been eating, so I put her beak into the food bowl and immediately she started to devour the feed. Going to have to start hand feeding her. I think she must have started to go gradually blind.

   Does anyone know what might have happened? Anyone with experience with a blind bird? Anything I can do?

   Help!

   Cheers,
   Jonathan

   Posted 2 years ago #

2. Mama
   Member

   Oh Jonathan, How sad for you and Phoebe. Sorry I can not help but she is still young so may respond to some treatment. Do Geese get catarachts? Regards Mama

   Goose Girl

   Posted 2 years ago #

3. Kojak
   Member

   Hi Jonathan,
   Considering most birds don't move when it's dark and that it's dark for your bird all the time this is a tricky one.
   I have never owned a goose so don't know much about them but consider them clever birds; so maybe you can train your goose into "moving in the dark" by assuring her it's safe to do so?

   Here's what I would try - but again, not having any experience with geese don't know their intellectual capabilities.

   i) Condition your girl to certain sounds for different situations that announce something is going to happen and safe to do; e.g. "time to go outside" - one noise/melody; "time to eat" - another one; "time to go back inside" - yet another one.

   ii) Will she follow noise, e.g. you tapping against your let or "pecking" a bowl, splashing water?
   If so, you can train her to use certain walks/paths to walk on and you can distinguish them by using different surfaces such as pebbles, sand, gravel, grass, turf, textiles, straw etc.; so she can learn that "sand" will take her to a bathing spot or "grass" will lead to her feed, "straw" to her bed and so on and so fort.

   Good luck!
   Kojak

   Posted 2 years ago #

4. pinkpoultry
   Member

   Kojak,
   I hope that works, that sounds amazing if it would work! I hope Phoebe can figure it out! I dont have geese but I would like some!
   Good luck to Phoebe!!
   xxx

   Posted 2 years ago #

5. Mama
   Member

   Geese are very inteligent more so than any other fowl but also very sensitive to change, colour and strangers. My geese know what (bed time )means when I say it too them . Kojak's suggestion sounds good. Mama

   Goose Girl

   Posted 2 years ago #

6. maggenpie
   Member

   Among my birds I have three with no or only partial sight in one eye, and they manage fine. My 18 year old duck has cataracts in both eyes and doesn't see much at all any more but still bosses everyone around. I keep the dishes always in the same place and she finds her way around ok. The drake shepherds her around as well. My elderly jackdaw has almost no sight now and she suffered the most when her sight first started to go. She became depressed and lost weight, then suddenly pulled herself together and I watched her very deliberately practicing getting up and down from her perches. Since then she has adapted well. She finds her dishes ok, but loses food that she drops. She feels for it with her feet to find it again.
   My guess is that with your support Phoebe will adjust in time, but be patient. Make sure she gets her feed and feels safe, talk to her and project the feeling that she's ok. Its my belief that birds are very empathic, and if you're fretful so will she be. Maybe select a quiet companion for her. Kojak's suggestions are good, I tap dishes, tell them whats going on and although I haven't deliberately done the textures thing I realise it occurs anyway. Good luck with her.

   Posted 2 years ago #

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