Fat African male, or surprise female goose?

[FenrisMau]

We've raised two baby African goslings from Metzer farms. We paid for 2 females. However, one is larger overall, has a blockier head, and starting to make different noises now at 5 months old. This apparent male is named Brownie. HOWEVER, Brownie has some very saggy britches, and my mate insists I'm feeding him too much. I see he does have 2 lobes underneath, but there's an additional pouch behind that kind of looks like an egg pouch. Regardless, it almost seems like the weight of everything underneath inhibits his walking some. It's started to worry me a little. I've attached a photo of Brownie.

1. Is it possible for Brownie to be a female?
2. Could I be feeding him too much? The other goose (definitely a female, Lizzy) does not have all this hanging skin and her pouch is not near this size.

 

[Goosebaby]

What feed are they on?
Can you post a picture of his/her rear from the back?

 

[Goosebaby]

Also can you explain more what you mean by him/her have trouble with walking sometimes due to the pouch?

 

[FenrisMau]

What feed are they on?
Can you post a picture of his/her rear from the back?

Hes 5 months old, on New Country Organics duck layer feed. Ill have to get another pic of the rear tomorrow.

As far as the walking, its not like a niacin issue, its more like hes trying to walk around the skin rolls? Kind of rotating his body as he slings each leg foreward. He gets around fine still but it looks awkward. Its hard to explain, but the other doesnt walk like this. Itd be easy for me to send a video if you had Telegram, not sure if ya do though.

 

[Goosebaby]

Yeah the only way to post vids here is to post on Vimeo, YouTube, and instagram and post a link here.

 

[FenrisMau]

Yeah the only way to post vids here is to post on Vimeo, YouTube, and instagram and post a link here.

 

[FenrisMau]

Yeah the only way to post vids here is to post on Vimeo, YouTube, and instagram and post a link here.

There's a couple pics of his rear... a little muddy today from the rain but you can see the shape.

 

[Goosebaby]

View attachment 4009817

That does kinda look like a broody butt, however that isn’t enough to be affecting his/her walking which is concerning and if it’s a male that could be the beginning of ascites.

Is a vet an option?

@JRies does this look like a normal rear to you?

 

[Goosebaby]

If you can get them off the layer feed. Layer feed is for laying females, not non laying birds and males, they can tolerate it for awhile but excess calcium will cause nutrient absorption issues and kidney problems.


They should be on a waterfowl formulated feed for non layers, an all flock, multi flock, or flock raiser type feed.

 

[JRies]

We've raised two baby African goslings from Metzer farms. We paid for 2 females. However, one is larger overall, has a blockier head, and starting to make different noises now at 5 months old. This apparent male is named Brownie. HOWEVER, Brownie has some very saggy britches, and my mate insists I'm feeding him too much. I see he does have 2 lobes underneath, but there's an additional pouch behind that kind of looks like an egg pouch. Regardless, it almost seems like the weight of everything underneath inhibits his walking some. It's started to worry me a little. I've attached a photo of Brownie.

1. Is it possible for Brownie to be a female?
2. Could I be feeding him too much? The other goose (definitely a female, Lizzy) does not have all this hanging skin and her pouch is not near this size.

This one looks to be more a part true African (metzers calls it super African) instead of a production and looks like a healthy weight for that breed. Looks female look at the girl in my logo. would like to see a full profile picture of the 2 of them. Geese really dont need layer feed but waterfowl feed is a good idea. Offer oyster shell in a separate feeder for the calcium. They will eat it when they need it.

I know metzers is trying to get the flock numbers back up they lost a huge flock 2 years ago to AI. I think there trying to get there CA farm stocked again. They could have been doing some crossing there Africans with there supper Africans.