Why week-old goslings die: causes and what to do, how to treat

The death of goslings in the first weeks of life is a common problem. Why do week-old goslings get sick and die, how to keep young animals - questions that concern all poultry farmers. There are several main causes of death of pets: infections, food poisoning. If the goslings were not provided with proper conditions for keeping, care, then the likelihood of death increases.

Poisoning

The diet of goslings needs to be constantly paid attention to, as a complete feed will help raise a he althy bird. You can not feed beets, potato peelings to pets, which provoke violations of the digestive system.The quality of the feed is also important, because food that is stale or moldy causes intestinal upset.

Main symptoms of poisoning:

• vomiting and diarrhea;
• rapid breathing, convulsions;
• increased salivation and thirst.

In the summer, when grazing goslings in the meadows, you need to control the composition of the greenery that the bird nibbles. Poisonous plants include: dope, henbane, potato tops, colza, ambrosia, euphorbia. If the goslings are not provided timely assistance, they may die.

First aid - the chicks are given to drink acidified water, to which a little sunflower oil is added, and the bird is also gently doused with cold water.

Infectious diseases

If timely treatment is not started, infectious diseases spread quickly in a flock of birds.

Geese die most often from the following diseases:

• salmonellosis affects chicks from 3 to 30 days old and occurs due to feed contaminated with the virus, lack of vitamins. Overcrowding, poor conditions of detention lead to the rapid spread of the disease;
• week-old goslings become infected with enteritis, the mortality rate from which is approximately 95%. The disease affects the liver, cardiovascular system, intestines and is spread by airborne droplets;
• causative agent of colibacillosis - Escherichia coli. The main symptom of the disease is diarrhea. Violation of the rules of maintenance, feeding and care provokes the appearance and spread of infection.

With high humidity, wet straw, the bird becomes infected with aspergillosis. Molds affect the respiratory organs (paranasal sinuses, lungs), skin, kidneys, brain.

Invasive diseases

A group of diseases caused by parasites quite often affects young animals. Diseases can cause growth retardation in birds, weight gain:

• sources of infection with worms are dirty ponds, puddles, uncleaned poultry houses. In the presence of parasites, the bird loses its appetite and weight. It is difficult to treat the infection, the recovery period is long, so the bird must be constantly looked after;
• echinostomatidosis is caused by trematode and echinostomatoid parasites that enter the bird's body when pecking small fish, tadpoles, and frogs. Weakness, diarrhea, loss of appetite are symptoms of infection.

Skin parasites (mites, lice) cause itching, suck the blood of a bird. Goslings do not gain weight, they pull out feathers, depression appears, dermatitis develops on the skin.

Problems of feeding and maintenance

With a good content, goslings grow quickly, gain weight. However, it must be borne in mind that this bird is selective in terms of feed. Chicks up to 20-25 days old are fed with complete feed or grain-and-meal mixtures.

You can make food yourself: mix wheat bran, boiled carrots, peas, fish oil.

Compliance with the standards of maintenance is the key to growing he althy goslings. Young growth needs a warm and dry, ventilated room. The recommended temperature regime is 25-30 °С. The floor is covered with sawdust or straw.

Prevention measures

A correct diagnosis and timely treatment can save goslings. Through prevention and compliance with the requirements for rearing young animals, the occurrence of diseases can be prevented:

• regular disinfection of the poultry house (the walls are periodically treated with slaked lime). Feeders and drinkers are constantly cleaned;
• due to periodic disinfestation, larvae and eggs of parasites are destroyed;
• fortified diet improves bird immunity;
• special feed additives (Kormogrizin, Biovit, Paraform, potassium permanganate solution) will help prevent food poisoning.

Separate keeping of adult birds and young birds is encouraged. This measure will prevent the spread of infections. For walking, a site protected from drafts and direct sunlight is selected.

Reducing the mortality rate of goslings allows preventive measures, ensuring comfortable living conditions, and a properly selected diet. It is important to isolate sick individuals from the rest of the flock, to correctly diagnose pathologies. Timely treatment increases the chances of recovery goslings.

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