Dying goose - disease?

[Teal]

I'm right by the river and a goose - one of the white greylags which the tourists feed -was wandering around the road outside my house looking extremely sickly. It was clear that it wasn't going to live for much longer, a few days at most, with dull eyes ruffed up feathers and trouble walking. To cut a long story short I killed it and it fell into the river.

 

I am now concerned, I wouldn't have given it much thought before, but i got its blood and saliva on me. With the threat of bird flu still around- and given that it's only going to show up with colder weather in the winter, should I be concerned, or is it very likely that this was just dying of another disease. Should I report it to defra - I don't have the corpse.

[henry d]

I think it`s worthwhile reporting it, but it could also have been lead poisoning.

[dazza]

I think you should report it Teal, better safe than sorry

[Teal]

Thanks reported it to Defra- i'm not in a survelliance zone (highest risk) so they will not send someone out to collect it, got a reference number and have been told if I find anymore to let them know.

Thanks for advice and getting me to do it, a load off my mind, girl on the phone was really good.

[Lancs Lad]

Thanks reported it to Defra- i'm not in a survelliance zone (highest risk) so they will not send someone out to collect it, got a reference number and have been told if I find anymore to let them know.

Thanks for advice and getting me to do it, a load off my mind, girl on the phone was really good.

 

Give yourself a blast down with anti bacterial wipes or wash, sort of stuff they use in the hospitals just in case.......

 

Usualy carry some in my game bag to have a "detox" if I get any birdy/animal blood on me.

[pavman]

Teal

 

dont panic, I was out with Highlander on the river and shot a sick looking goose for the same reason, turns out it was full of woodie shot in the chest and like HD says prob had lead poison.

 

What happens is mr goose flys over some stubble and some lad out for woodies takes a pot with 28grs of number 8 lead and the bird keeps going, settles with others local park, lake or other and dies a slow death, very nasty not sporting and should not be done, but it happens.

 

If DEFRA had any concern they would have been out in a flash,

 

take care and let me know if you start to sneeze

[Suffolk shooter]

How long would it take for Lead poisoning to take effect on a goose that had been shot with 8's? Bearing in mind that it would really have to get into it's digestive tract to make an real difference, hence the ban on lead weights for course fishermen upto a certain size.

 

The main thing is that there could be any number of illnesses that affect an animal, and bearing in mind that the goose would have migrated recently, could have been abit malnourished after it's journey or just have got to old age (it affects us all eventually).

 

Regardless of what it was suffering with, you did the right thing in reporting it, at least you can sleep soundly at night knowing you have done as has been recommended by Defra.

[Highlander]

Again on this (unusual for me, he must be talking my language for once or been listening to what I say ). Probably a wounded goose rather than one dying of old age (don't see too many birds of any sort dying of old age). Teal said it was white so I don't think it would have been a migrant more likely a cross bred feral type, we have 6 of them around the farm here they live wild and fly just like wild greys.

 

If you keep a look out when out and about you'll notice numbers of birds (and mamals) that don't look right. Mostly they've been shot or hyave broken limbs etc rather than diseased as when they're sick they tend to lie up somewhere and die which is why you won't see too many old, sick ones.