Help with waterfowl and oil?

Question

I'm a old lady in MO and need help with new chinese goose I recieved from my granddaughter. I recently got a goose and it's very young. I took it a bath for the first time but the water kept running off so I rubbed as hard as I could because I figured it got in when of those oil spills....I used dawn of course. Well now all of it's feathers are all ruffled and are not smooth like they are supposed to be. If I pluck it wll it live? I think that may be the only way for it not to be so ruffled up. Any ideas would help please.

Answer 1

Hi there. Just rinse your Chinese goose well. Plucking feathers is painful and will not help your bird. It serves no purpose and the bird will preen its feathers to smooth them out. Bathing in the future should only require the bird to play in a basin of water. Since you are perceived as it's leader, just splash your fingers in the water and talk to the bird like it is fun. He will get the idea. No soap, just let the bird bath itself in warm water. Guard yourself from salmonella poisoning by using good hand washing after handling your bird. Many geese are carriers of salmonella and other diseases and may not show symptoms of disease. May things improve soon. Feed your goose a feed made for geese, add 10-20% fruits and veggies. Bread and crackers are not a healthy treat. Avoid avocados. Geese poop a lot. I believe they do not have sphincter muscle control, so potty training cannot be done. Be sure the bird is not exposed to cold temperatures. Good luck with caring for this pet. Advice related to geese in general is appropriate for your breed also. Have a great year.

Answer 2

You AREN'T SUPPOSED TO WASH A GOOSE! Leave the poor thing alone, are you trying to kill it? Plucking it won't do anything but make it cold. Put the poor thing under a heat lamp (a 60 watt light with a light shield), let it be able to get away from the light if it wants. When birds feathers are ruffled that means they are either cold or sick.

check this link out before you try to do any more goose laundering.
http://www.welphatchery.com/duck_gosling_care.asp

Answer 3

Are you silly, washing all the oils out of your goose and then complaining that the feathers are not smooth?
If it still has its downy feathers, just don't set it to swim or if you do, make sure it dries before you put it outside.
If it has regular feathers, it will re-oil them itself pretty soon.
And don't wash out its feather oils any more; geese need them.
You had better get a book on how to care for geese. They can protect you from intruders, you know, so take good care of it.
Some ladies on this site are older than you.

Answer 4

Feathers will re-oil themselves in time and it is very important that they do. Do not pluck the feathers because that will invite disease and parasites. Never use soap especially detergent on a waterfowl unless you have pulled one out of an Exxon oil spill. The natural oil in a birds skin and feathers acts to keep it afloat and warm and an added benefit is that it forms a natural barrier to parasites.

Answer 5

Your not sopossed to wash a goose Just leave it alone
As for what you did you should probably wait because pretty soon its feathers will grow smooth like they used to be but next time in the future learn more about them before you do anything to them because you might just be putting its life at stake

Answer 6

waterfowl have an oily veneer on their feathers, that is how they keep water off their skin: ever heard the expression, like water on a duck's back? I wouldn't mess with it. Let goosie dry off. When in doubt, call wildlife rehab, or even the st. louis zoo.

Answer 7

I think you should have an old army helmet for a pet.

Answer 8

Major edit in my answer:

THIS PERSON IS A TROLL, TREAT THEM AS SUCH.