If you know of a good vet that treats birds - and you are prepared to spend a bundle - then this would provide you with the best advice.

In the meantime, my inexpert advice is that a four year old is not very heavy and the injury will probably heal on its own. Was your daughter wearing hard shoes and was the gosling on bedding (straw or wood shavings) or on a hard surface. That might make a difference. Can you detect any abnormal heat at the site of the injury, compared to the sound leg?

Last year (to my shame) I stepped right on a day-old chick. I'm no lightweight and I was sure the poor thing was a goner. But a day or two later it was just fine. I assume that the deep bedding saved it from worse injury.

In your place I would just keep it with its buddy in the brooder box and try to limit how far it has to go for food and water. Make sure that if it falls into the water dish it is not going to drown. I put stones in my water dishes as a precaution, just leaving enough room for the goslings to dip their heads.

If you are using a heat lamp or other source of heat, make sure that the gosling can get under it and away from it.

It's had a rough start: getting out of the shell, travelling to a new home, and then being stepped on. Let it rest as much as it needs to. Chances are good that with a few days rest and quiet, it will heal just fine on its own.

Do reassure your daughter that accidents sometimes happen and that it is not her fault. If she is a calm child, let her help feed the goslings so that she feels part of "making it better", but if she is one of the excitable types, this might not be a good idea right now.

I see from your Member Page that you are new to this Forum. Welcome! Are you new to geese as well? What breed are your babies? There are several goose enthusiasts who post here and if you read some of the previous threads, you will be amused and informed by our goose-stories. You can use the search feature to find goosey threads.

Please post again to let us know how the gosling is doing. We always like to read the conclusion to a story and not be left hanging.

~ Maggie

Thanks for the info Maggie. This morning our gosling is trying to walk with the bad leg and is doing better than yesterday. I gave it a quick examination by feeling around the bones and joints. The gosling has no trouble allowing me to feel around and does not seem to have any pain or soreness. However that leg does seem to be a bit loose at the joint up near the chest. When it trys to walk on it, the leg sort of angles out to the side.

Any suggestions on how to correct that or could it fix on its own in time. Thanks again.

Well, I'm glad he's getting around better and is managing okay, but that leg sticking out to the side doesn't sound so good.

There is a condition called "splay leg" that sometimes afflicts young birds, usually caused by a brooder floor that is too smooth and does not give sufficient traction. While this injury has a different cause, the treatment might be the same. The birds are hobbled using bandaids to hold the leg in position. It is a temporary thing, usually just for a few days.

If the gosling's leg is not showing signs of improved position by tomorrow morning, it might be worth trying this. I'll scout around for more explicit instructions, with pictures, if possible.

This is a good page. It gives good clear instructions. Splay leg, spraddle leg... it's all pretty much the same thing.

One of our most knowledgeable members, Velvet Sparrow, has put together a website with a wealth of information for people who have "Frequently Asked Questions." If you click on her member page, it will give you the web-address.

Here is a link that might be useful: Treatment for leg and foot injuries

Never mind, I did it for you!

Here is a link that might be useful: Velvet's Website

WOW! Thanks again Maggie. Your terrific! I went to Velvet's web site and will follow your advise if our little gosling has not improve enough by morning. My 7 year old is actually looking forward to helping me with the proceedure if needed. Though she'd like to see the bird well, the idea of "helping" it get better excites her. Very cute.

Thanks again and I'll keep you posted on our progress.

Just an update on our little gosling. It is doing very well, hardly a limp at all and it's feet are straight (whew). We were just about to treat it for splay leg when over night it had such a good improvment that we decided to give it one more day. My four year old is glad, my seven year old is glad but is ready to assist on the the splay leg proceedure if it takes a turn for the worst.

Thanks again Maggie for your input and advise. We are new to the country life here in Texas (and love it) and this is a great site to have access to with all that we plan to do out here.

Take care.

Hey, Coldiron... I'm delighted to hear such a good report on the gosling! They are resilient little critters. I just love them.

I have two geese, one American Buff and one Pilgrim... both a year old. Until recently we also had a mixed breed gander, but once the geese went broody and were occupied with their eggs, we culled him. He had become really aggressive during the breeding season to the point where he was dangerous. Not all ganders are this bad, but please be careful of your little girls along about next February.

My geese are raising seven goslings of their own and two Pilgrim goslings that I purchased as day-olds. They are five weeks old and already HUGE. Very cute and sweet-natured.

Your girls are lucky to be growing up in the country where they can learn self-reliance and homesteading skills. Not to mention the sheer fun of having animals about.

This is a very friendly forum, so don't hesitate to post questions at any time. And do share some of your experiences with the rest of us... That way we all learn together.