Goose case method: 50 questions

7 a.m. on an October morning, in the concrete-floored run in the yard, a 3-year-old Embden female is sitting with one foot held up and will not move even as the flock heads for the pasture. When you pick her up and look at the sole, the center is red and swollen with something like a black scab on it. She pulls the foot back when touched, and when stood up she sits down again after a few steps.

Which is the most appropriate first action?

1. Cut the scab open with a utility knife to drain pus, then pour on antiseptic
2. Isolate her in a box of soft, dry straw, photograph the sole and see the vet the same day
3. Pain fades with walking, so drive her out to the pasture with the flock
4. Stick a human compress patch on the sole and watch for a week

AnswerB. Isolate her in a box of soft, dry straw, photograph the sole and see the vet the same day

ExplanationA swollen sole with a black scab is classic bumblefoot (pododermatitis), a bacterial infection caused by hard ground or dirty bedding. As it progresses it reaches bone and tendon and the bird cannot walk, so the correct action is to isolate on soft, dry bedding and see the vet the same day. Lancing it yourself invites bleeding and worse infection. Forcing her to walk puts weight on the lesion and worsens it. Human compress patches contain ingredients that can be harmful to birds, and a week's delay gives the infection time to reach the bone.

IssuesThe run was concrete-floored, putting constant strain on the soles. There was no habit of weekly sole checks, so the swelling went unnoticed until it became a black scab. Damp bedding may also have encouraged the infection.

ImprovementChange the run to soil or grass with gravel around the water area; remove the concrete or cover it with thick straw. Check every bird's soles weekly, and at the first redness dry the bedding and consult the vet. Replace wet bedding daily.

In May, you are raising five 3-week-old Chinese goslings indoors in a box lined with a plastic sheet. You have been feeding leftover broiler chick starter. This morning, one gosling's legs are both bent outward and splayed, the joints are swollen and it cannot stand. It tries to move on its belly and is being trampled by the others.

Which is the most appropriate first action?

1. Straighten the legs, splint them firmly and keep it immobile until healed
2. Assume it will resolve with growth and increase high-protein feed to build strength
3. Switch to non-slip bedding and waterfowl feed, and see the vet the same day to discuss correction
4. A lame gosling will never rejoin the flock, so keep it apart from the others in the outdoor coop

AnswerC. Switch to non-slip bedding and waterfowl feed, and see the vet the same day to discuss correction

ExplanationLegs bending outward with swollen joints in a gosling is angular limb deformity, caused mainly by rapid growth on high-protein feed and slippery flooring. A firm home-made splint can cut off circulation and damage the growth plates, so first switch to non-slip bedding and waterfowl feed, and have the vet guide correction the same day. More broiler feed speeds growth further and worsens it. Alone in the outdoor coop it will be too cold; trampling is avoided but the gosling weakens. Caught early, correction is possible, but left alone the deformity becomes permanent.

IssuesLeftover broiler starter was repurposed and was far too high in protein for goslings. The slippery plastic sheet kept abnormal strain on the legs. Exercise was also insufficient.

ImprovementAlways raise goslings on waterfowl starter and line the floor with chopped straw or towels for grip. Let them exercise on safe grass during the day and check their stance and leg alignment daily. If legs begin to splay, consult the vet that day.

In July, the tip of a 7-week-old goose's right wing is twisted outward and sticking out; even when the wing is folded the feather tips stay away from the body. The neighbor's child comes every day to feed it bread crusts, and the bird loves bread. It shows no pain and eats well, but the two wings clearly look different.

Which is the most appropriate first action?

1. It will right itself once growth stops, so keep giving the bread it likes
2. Twist the wing inward by hand to push it back into shape and tape it
3. Stop bread and high-calorie food, switch to a grass-based diet, and ask the vet about wrapping
4. It is only cosmetic, so do nothing and keep it with the flock

AnswerC. Stop bread and high-calorie food, switch to a grass-based diet, and ask the vet about wrapping

ExplanationA wingtip twisting outward during growth is angel wing, caused by high-calorie, high-protein food such as bread making feather growth outpace bone growth. First stop the offending food and return to a grass-based diet; if the vet guides correct light wrapping while the bird is still growing, it can often be corrected. Forcing the wing yourself damages joints and bone. Continuing bread will certainly worsen it, and once growth ends the deformity is permanent: flying breeds cannot fly, and preening and waterproofing suffer. See the vet within a few days.

IssuesA neighbor's child was feeding bread out of kindness and the owner had not stopped it. The owner did not know how diet during the gosling stage affects growth and was not watching for wing changes.

ImprovementPost a sign on the fence saying 'Please do not feed bread or snacks' and explain to neighbors. Raise goslings and young birds on grass and waterfowl feed only, avoiding rapid weight gain. Compare how the wings fold each week and see the vet during the growth period if anything is off.

In June's rainy season, on the evening round, a 4-year-old male is sitting in a corner of the coop with his bill open and neck stretched, making a wheezing sound as he breathes. He has eaten less and lost weight over the past few days. The coop bedding was changed last week, but the straw used had been sitting damp and whitish in the barn.

Which is the most appropriate first action?

1. Move him to a cool, well-ventilated place away from dust and smoke and see the vet within a few hours
2. Treat it as a cold: shut the coop tight, warm it and watch until morning
3. Assume something is stuck in the throat and probe deep inside with a finger
4. Record the breathing sounds and search online for a matching medication

AnswerA. Move him to a cool, well-ventilated place away from dust and smoke and see the vet within a few hours

ExplanationOpen-mouth breathing and respiratory sounds, plus a history of damp, moldy straw, strongly suggest aspergillosis (a fungal respiratory infection). It worsens rapidly and can cause sudden death, so first move him to a cool, ventilated place to stop exposure to mold and dust, and see the vet within a few hours. Sealing and heating the coop raises humidity, grows more mold and worsens breathing. Probing the throat when there is no foreign body irritates the airway and risks suffocation. Online searches and self-medication waste time, and antifungal drugs require a vet's diagnosis and dosing.

IssuesDamp, discolored straw was not recognized as moldy and was used as bedding. Coop humidity was high in the rainy season and ventilation was poor. The reduced appetite and weight loss were not recognized as warning signs.

ImprovementStore straw and bedding in a dry place and discard anything damp or discolored. In the rainy season replace wet bedding daily and keep vents open. Check feed for mold each time, and make breathing sounds or loss of appetite a trigger to see the vet within half a day.

On a late-March morning, a 2-year-old female in laying season is hunched in the straw nest, pumping her tail up and down and straining repeatedly, but no egg comes. She has not eaten since yesterday; her lower abdomen feels hard and swollen, and the vent looks slightly distended. When she tries to stand she walks as if dragging her rear.

Which is the most appropriate first action?

1. Press hard on the abdomen with both hands to push the egg out
2. Laying is natural, so put her back in the nest and watch until evening
3. Apply oil to the vent and pull the egg out with tweezers
4. Isolate her in a quiet, warm place, record her weight and symptoms, and see the vet right now

AnswerD. Isolate her in a quiet, warm place, record her weight and symptoms, and see the vet right now

ExplanationRepeated straining without an egg and a hard, swollen abdomen during laying season is egg binding, an emergency that can lead to oviduct rupture, prolapse, circulatory failure and death if left. Isolate her in a quiet, warm place and see the vet immediately. Pressing the abdomen can break the egg, tear the oviduct and damage organs, so it is strictly forbidden. Pulling with tweezers damages the vent and oviduct. Waiting until evening lets her weaken until treatment comes too late. The vet will give fluids and calcium and, if needed, remove the egg under anesthesia.

IssuesNo calcium supplement was given despite the laying season, and she was somewhat overweight. The loss of appetite the day before was not linked to a laying-season problem.

ImprovementKeep a calcium source such as oyster shell available during laying season and avoid obesity. Provide a thick straw nest in a quiet spot. In spring, check each morning for straining or abdominal swelling, and decide in advance that straining for more than half a day without an egg means an immediate vet visit.

Early one April afternoon, you find about 5 cm of red, fleshy tissue hanging from the rear of a 5-year-old female in the yard. Other geese are curious and coming to peck at it. She is sitting still, and the surface of the tissue is starting to dry and has dirt on it. Your regular vet is a 40-minute drive away.

Which is the most appropriate first action?

1. Push the tissue back in with your fingers and watch
2. Cover the tissue with clean, moistened gauze, separate her from the flock and see the vet immediately
3. It shrinks back when dry, so sit her in the sun to dry it
4. There is no bleeding, so rest her today and see the vet during tomorrow's hours

AnswerB. Cover the tissue with clean, moistened gauze, separate her from the flock and see the vet immediately

ExplanationRed tissue protruding from the vent is an oviduct or cloacal prolapse; if the tissue dries and dies, or other birds peck it and cause bleeding and infection, it is life-threatening. The correct action is to cover it with clean, moistened gauze to prevent drying, isolate her and see the vet at once. Pushing soiled tissue back in forces dirt inside, causes infection, and it will not only come back out but may tear. Drying it advances necrosis until amputation is needed. Waiting until tomorrow raises the risk of necrosis and sepsis. Keep the gauze moist during the trip.

IssuesThe vent of a laying female was not being watched, so time passed after the prolapse and the tissue began to dry. She was left in the flock, exposed to pecking by other birds.

ImprovementIn laying season, check around the vent every morning and consult the vet at the stage of straining or swelling. Keep clean gauze, saline and an isolation box as a first-aid kit, and find in advance an animal hospital that treats birds on holidays and at night.

At 3 p.m. in November, a 6-year-old male who always leads the flock is today sitting alone in a corner of the run, head down, not moving even as the others move to the pasture. He left most of his morning feed, does not seem to have been in the water, and his feathers are dry and dull. No wounds are visible.

Which is the best assessment of this situation?

1. Geese are tough birds; he will eat when he wants to. Watch for a few days
2. Judge it as bullying by the flock and scold the other birds away
3. Staying apart from the flock and not moving is a sign of serious trouble; isolate him and see the vet the same day
4. Assume it is the cold, warm him in front of a heater for 2 hours and put him back

AnswerC. Staying apart from the flock and not moving is a sign of serious trouble; isolate him and see the vet the same day

ExplanationWhen a strongly flock-minded goose sits alone, does not eat and does not enter the water, a bird that instinctively hides weakness can no longer hide it; this signals serious illness such as organ disease, infection or poisoning. Isolate him somewhere warm and see the vet the same day with photos of droppings and video. Watching for days lets him weaken further, and birds recover poorly once they have lost weight. Assuming bullying misses the real cause. Sudden heating advances dehydration and does nothing to identify the cause.

IssuesThe early signs of reduced appetite and not bathing were missed in the morning. There was no habit of tracking each bird's leftover feed and use of the water area.

ImprovementEach morning, check and record whether each bird eats, enters the water and moves with the flock. Decide that any of staying apart, sitting down or not preening means a same-day vet visit. Keep an isolation box and warming supplies on hand.

One September evening, after bathing in the tub, a 3-year-old female's feathers have soaked through and will not dry, and she is shivering. Previously, water beaded right off her when she got in. For the past week you have rarely seen her preen, and she keeps pecking at the area around the base of her tail.

Which is the best assessment of this situation?

1. Loss of waterproofing is a sign of illness. Dry her, keep her warm and see the vet within a few days
2. She is simply bathing too much, so take the water away for a while
3. Spray a waterproofing spray on the feathers to make them repel water
4. Drying the feathers completely with a hot hair dryer will restore them

AnswerA. Loss of waterproofing is a sign of illness. Dry her, keep her warm and see the vet within a few days

ExplanationA goose's waterproofing is maintained by spreading oil from the preen gland over the feathers while preening. Not preening and losing waterproofing most likely means inflammation or blockage of the preen gland, illness, or feather parasites are preventing preening; feathers that have lost their oil should be treated as a sign of illness. Wet feathers drain body heat, so towel her off, keep her warm and see the vet within a few days. Removing the water takes away even more chances to preen. Chemicals in waterproofing spray are swallowed during preening and are harmful. Hot air damages the skin and does not address the cause.

IssuesThe reduced preening and attention to the tail base were noticed for a week but not linked to waterproofing as a health indicator. Basic knowledge that feather condition reflects overall health was lacking.

ImprovementAdd to the daily checklist whether feathers shed water after bathing and whether the bird preens. Check around the preen gland monthly and see the vet if swollen or red. In cold weather, give a bird that has lost waterproofing a dry, draft-free place to keep warm.

One August morning while cleaning the coop, you find watery droppings mixed with dark red blood. Of the eight birds, one 2-year-old female has soiled feathers around her tail, is sitting down and is clearly less lively than yesterday. She has barely eaten. It is already 28°C in the morning, and the other birds are grazing as usual.

Which is the most appropriate first action?

1. Dissolve a human anti-diarrheal in water and give it to her
2. Isolate the bird with bloody droppings, photograph the droppings and see the vet the same day
3. It is the heat, so spraying her with water to cool her will fix it
4. Give the whole flock antibiotic-laced feed as a precaution

AnswerB. Isolate the bird with bloody droppings, photograph the droppings and see the vet the same day

ExplanationBloody watery droppings with loss of appetite and lethargy indicate a serious condition such as enteritis, parasites or poisoning, and in summer, when dehydration advances quickly, the bird can crash suddenly. Considering infection, isolate her and see the vet the same day with photos of droppings and video of symptoms. Human anti-diarrheals are unsuitable for birds and may stop gut movement, trapping toxins and pathogens inside. Heat measures alone do not address the cause of bleeding. Giving antibiotics to the whole flock on your own hinders diagnosis and creates resistance and residue problems. Watch the other birds' droppings closely for several days too.

IssuesThe lethargy was noticed the day before but action was put off until the next day. Awareness that summer heat speeds dehydration was weak, and dropping color and consistency were not monitored daily as health indicators.

ImprovementCheck dropping color, shape and any blood every day while cleaning the coop, and photograph anything abnormal that day. Keep an isolation box and clean water ready, and decide that abnormal droppings plus loss of appetite means a same-day vet visit. Add shade and cool water in summer.

One February evening, a 7-year-old male is in front of the coop with his neck hanging limp and his head trembling finely. He tries to stand but staggers and sits down, and does not lift his head when called. In the morning he was walking, though unsteadily. His feed intake had been down for about 2 days, but you assumed it was the winter cold.

Which is the most appropriate first action?

1. Push feed into his mouth to build his strength and watch until morning
2. Judge it as cold-related weakness and warm him near a heater until morning
3. Put him in a dark, warm box to rest, record video of the symptoms and see the vet right now
4. Support his neck straight by hand and walk him to use his muscles

AnswerC. Put him in a dark, warm box to rest, record video of the symptoms and see the vet right now

ExplanationA drooping neck, trembling head and inability to stand indicate neurological signs and severe weakness, pointing to lead poisoning, serious infection or nutritional disease; a limp bird with a drooping neck that cannot stand is a see-the-vet-now situation. Rest him in a dark, warm box, record video and go immediately. Pushing feed into a bird with a drooping neck causes aspiration, choking or pneumonia. Blaming the cold and only warming him until morning delays treatment of the cause and carries a high risk of death. Forcing him to walk invites falls and fractures and drains his strength.

IssuesThe loss of appetite and unsteadiness over 2 days were self-diagnosed as the cold and the vet visit was delayed. The owner did not know that a healthy goose's appetite does not drop in winter. The yard had not been checked for lead fragments.

ImprovementSet a rule to see the vet when appetite loss lasts 2 days regardless of season. Treat head tremor and staggering as neurological signs requiring an immediate visit. Pick up metal scraps in the yard regularly, and in winter record feed intake and weight weekly to catch changes early.

One late-July morning, lots of feathers are lying in the run, and both 4-year-old birds, a male and a female, have lost feathers all over with new feather shafts visible. Both have good appetites, graze and bathe as usual and move with the flock. There are no skin wounds, redness or signs of itching.

Which is the best assessment of this situation?

1. This is the normal summer molt; keep up nutrition and water access and continue observing
2. Feather loss means parasites, so spray the whole body with a store-bought insecticide
3. Judge it as serious illness, isolate the whole flock and go to the emergency (after-hours) animal hospital
4. Ban bathing and shut them in the coop to reduce feather loss

AnswerA. This is the normal summer molt; keep up nutrition and water access and continue observing

ExplanationGeese molt in summer, and feathers dropping all at once while new shafts grow in is a normal physiological process. If they eat, bathe, preen and move with the flock, it is not illness, and continued observation is appropriate here. Insecticide spray damages the skin and new shafts and is swallowed during preening. Taking healthy birds to an after-hours hospital stresses them with transport and can actually make them ill. Banning bathing prevents care of the new feathers and hinders waterproofing. However, if skin redness, itching, loss of appetite or bleeding from feather shafts appears, see the vet within a few days.

IssuesThe owner did not know about the seasonal molt and could not tell normal from abnormal. The habit of checking health indicators such as appetite, bathing and flock behavior before judging was not established.

ImprovementNote in the care log that feather loss during the summer molt is normal and record the timing each year. During the molt, new shafts are easily damaged, so avoid handling and increase nutritious feed. See the vet for skin abnormalities or bleeding.

In January, an 18-year-old Chinese goose female has lost so much weight over the past month that her breastbone can be felt. She comes to the feed area but tears grass weakly and eats less. She follows the flock but walks slowly and enters the water less often. Droppings are a little scant but normal in color, and her breathing is calm.

Which is the best assessment of this situation?

1. Old age cannot be treated, so do nothing and let nature take its course
2. Record her weight, prepare soft food and see the vet within a few days to find the cause
3. Give plenty of high-calorie foods like bread and snacks to build her strength
4. It is sad that she cannot keep up with the flock, so keep her alone indoors

AnswerB. Record her weight, prepare soft food and see the vet within a few days to find the cause

ExplanationGeese live 15–25 years and 18 is old, but weight loss that exposes the keel within a month cannot be explained by aging alone; possibilities include bill or mouth problems, organ disease, parasites, or poor digestion typical of a toothless bird. Record her weight, prepare soft food such as soaked feed or chopped grass, and see the vet within a few days to find the cause. Writing it off as old age misses treatable disease. Bread and snacks cause malnutrition and are especially hard on an old bird. Separating her from the flock causes severe stress and further loss of appetite. The key is to make eating easy within the flock.

IssuesThe elderly bird's weight was not measured regularly, so the month-long decline was noticed late. The weaker grass-tearing was noticed but the bill and mouth were not checked.

ImprovementWeigh birds over 10 monthly and see the vet if weight drops 10% or more. Provide soft food and a shallow water area for elderly birds and secure a place where they can eat within the flock. Check bill wear and the mouth monthly and have an annual health check.

One April morning, a 2-year-old male pushed his wing through a gap in the run's wire mesh, and right after struggling free he is dragging his left wing along the ground. The area near the wing base is swollen, and he struggles in pain when it is lifted. There is no bleeding, but he cannot fold the wing, and the tip hits the ground with every step.

Which is the most appropriate first action?

1. Hold the wing against the body, secure it lightly with a towel, rest him in a dark box and see the vet the same day
2. Spread the wing to check the position of the bones and push them back if bent
3. Flapping will heal it, so put him in the water to swim and move the wing
4. It is only drooping with no bleeding, so watch for a few days

AnswerA. Hold the wing against the body, secure it lightly with a towel, rest him in a dark box and see the vet the same day

ExplanationDragging the wing, being unable to fold it, and swelling and pain at the base most likely mean a wing fracture or dislocation. Each flap lets bone ends damage surrounding tissue, so hold the wing against the body, secure it lightly with a towel or bandage, limit movement in a dark box and see the vet the same day. Spreading the wing to check or resetting it yourself risks sharp bone fragments cutting vessels and nerves and turning it into an open fracture. Swimming means flapping, which displaces the fracture. Left for days, the bone begins to set in the wrong position and wing function is lost permanently.

IssuesThe gaps in the wire mesh were left large enough for a wing to pass through. The risk of injury from struggling when caught was not anticipated, and first-aid supplies such as a towel and a dark box were not prepared.

ImprovementKeep mesh gaps under 5 cm and line the inside with finer mesh so wings and necks cannot enter. Practice as a family how to catch a goose by holding the body with the wings pinned. Prepare a towel, bandage and large cardboard box as a first-aid kit, and post the contact details of a hospital that treats birds.

One June evening, a 3-year-old female comes back from the yard dragging her right foot, leaving spots of blood where she walked. When you lift the foot, there is a cut of about 2 cm from the web to the sole, with dirt in it and bleeding. Shards of a flowerpot that broke last week were still lying in a corner of the yard. She is struggling and trying to head for the water.

Which is the most appropriate first action?

1. Put her in the water to wash the wound and wait for it to stop on its own
2. Pour antiseptic directly into the wound and pull the foot to open the cut and check inside
3. Rinse the dirt off under running water, press with a clean cloth, keep her off her feet in a box and see the vet the same day
4. The cut is small, so close it with superglue

AnswerC. Rinse the dirt off under running water, press with a clean cloth, keep her off her feet in a box and see the vet the same day

ExplanationThe problems with a foot laceration are contamination by soil and worsening from walking and bathing. First rinse the dirt away under running water, press with a clean cloth to stop bleeding, keep her off her feet in a box and see the vet the same day. In water the bleeding will not stop and bacteria in the water area cause infection, so keep her out of the water until it stops. Strong antiseptic poured into the wound damages tissue, and pulling the foot to open the cut spreads bleeding and damage. Superglue seals in dirt, worsens infection and hinders the vet's treatment. Sole wounds are also an entry point for later bumblefoot, so see the vet even for a small one.

IssuesShards of a broken flowerpot were left for a week. No yard safety check took account of the goose's habit of walking without looking at its feet, and no cloth or box was ready for stopping bleeding.

ImprovementInspect the yard weekly and remove glass, wire, ceramic shards and sharp edges. Clear up anything broken the same day. Keep a first-aid kit with clean gauze, bandages and styptic, and share the family rule that a bleeding bird stays out of the water until the bleeding stops.

At 6 a.m. in October, feathers are scattered around the coop, which you forgot to lock last night, and a 5-year-old male has several small puncture-like wounds at the base of his neck and on his back. The bleeding has mostly stopped, but parting the feathers shows red skin, and he is limp and unwilling to move. Raccoon dogs have been seen in the neighborhood.

Which is the most appropriate first action?

1. The wounds are small and the bleeding has stopped, so disinfect and watch him in the coop
2. Apply pressure to the wounds, keep him warm and see the vet the same day even though the wounds are small
3. He is limp from exhaustion, so put him in the water to perk him up
4. Apply human antibiotic ointment to the wounds and observe for 3 days

AnswerB. Apply pressure to the wounds, keep him warm and see the vet the same day even though the wounds are small

ExplanationWith predator bites, even small visible wounds come from teeth that reach deep, and damage spreading under the skin and bacterial infection are common. An attacked bird is also in shock with a falling body temperature, so the correct action is to press on the bleeding, keep him warm and see the vet the same day even though the wounds look small. Disinfecting and watching can end days later in pus spreading under the skin and death from sepsis. Water invites wound infection and hypothermia. Human ointment has unknown safety for birds, is swallowed during preening and does not reach deep infection. The vet will clean the wounds and choose appropriate antibiotics.

IssuesThe direct cause was human error: forgetting to lock the coop at night. Despite reports of raccoon dogs, the coop's defenses were not strengthened and the nighttime predator risk was underestimated.

ImprovementPut evening lock-up on the daily checklist and assign a family member. Bury the coop mesh at least 30 cm underground and fit the door with a padlock. Decide that a bitten bird sees the vet the same day even for small wounds, and keep a towel and box ready for warmth.

In March's breeding season, after two males fought fiercely, the losing 3-year-old male has a chipped, bleeding upper bill tip and is shaking his head with his bill open. At the feed area he cannot tear grass, and when he tries to drink the water spills from his bill. The winning male is still trying to chase him.

Which is the most appropriate first action?

1. File the chipped part of the bill to reshape it
2. Scold and punish the winner and keep the two housed together
3. The bill grows back on its own, so leave it and keep feeding the usual food
4. Separate the two, press gauze on the bleeding, place soft food and water nearby and see the vet the same day

AnswerD. Separate the two, press gauze on the bleeding, place soft food and water nearby and see the vet the same day

ExplanationThe bill contains blood vessels and nerves; a chip causes bleeding and severe pain and prevents eating and drinking. First separate the two to stop the fighting, press clean gauze on the bleeding, place soft food such as soaked feed or chopped grass and water nearby, and see the vet the same day. Filing worsens bleeding and pain and causes infection. Scolding does not stop birds fighting, and keeping them together means he is attacked again. The bill tip does grow, but depending on the depth of the chip deformity may remain, and a prolonged inability to eat leads to weakness. Males become aggressive in breeding season, so separation is needed.

IssuesKnowing that males become aggressive in breeding season, the owner still kept the two in the same enclosure. The decision to separate them when fighting began was delayed, leading to the bill injury.

ImprovementIn breeding season (spring), move males to separate enclosures or balance the number of females. Keep a spare enclosure ready for immediate separation on the day fighting is seen. In case of bill injury, keep feed for soaking, a shallow dish and gauze on hand.

During the August molt, a 2-year-old male bumped into the fence, snapping a growing feather shaft on his right wing, and red blood is dripping from the base. Blood sprays each time he shakes the wing, and he is excited and trying to get to the water. The bones look fine, and the wing folds normally.

Which is the most appropriate first action?

1. Pull the broken shaft out from the root, press with gauze for 5 minutes and keep him out of the water until the bleeding stops
2. Soak the bleeding wing in water to cool it and wash the blood away
3. The shaft will fall out on its own, so let him roam the yard until the bleeding stops
4. Cut the broken shaft partway and wrap the cut end with tape

AnswerA. Pull the broken shaft out from the root, press with gauze for 5 minutes and keep him out of the water until the bleeding stops

ExplanationA growing feather shaft (blood feather) carries a blood vessel, and bleeding continues when it breaks. The basic treatment is to pull the broken shaft firmly out from the root so the follicle closes, press with gauze for 5 minutes, and keep him out of the water until the bleeding stops. Soaking in water prevents clotting, prolongs bleeding and risks infection. Left free, he bleeds with every flap, and even a large bird can lose a lot of blood. Cutting the shaft partway leaves the vessel in place and does not stop the bleeding. If bleeding continues more than 10 minutes after pulling, or several shafts are broken, see the vet the same day.

IssuesThe owner did not know that growing feather shafts are easily damaged during the molt and did nothing to prevent collisions with the fence. The treatment for a bleeding shaft and the rule of keeping the bird out of water were unknown, and nothing was ready to restrain an excited bird.

ImprovementDuring the molt (summer), avoid catching and moving birds and cover fence corners and protrusions. Keep gauze and styptic in the first-aid kit and go over as a family the steps of pulling a bleeding shaft from the root and applying pressure. After bleeding, confirm it has stopped before returning the bird to the water.

One winter afternoon, because the frozen soil run was not wearing the nails down and they had grown long, you trimmed a 4-year-old female's nails at home. You cut one too deep; blood oozed out and left spots on the floor. She is in pain, pulling the foot back and trying to head for the water. The bleeding is light but continues for several minutes even under pressure.

Which is the most appropriate first action?

1. Let her wash the foot in the water to rinse the blood and return her to the flock
2. It is only a little, so ignore it and keep trimming the other nails
3. Press with a clean cloth, apply styptic powder or cornstarch, and keep her out of the water until it stops
4. Tie a thread tightly around the base of the nail to stop the blood

AnswerC. Press with a clean cloth, apply styptic powder or cornstarch, and keep her out of the water until it stops

ExplanationBleeding from a cut nail vessel usually stops if you press with a clean cloth and hold styptic powder or cornstarch on the cut for a few minutes. Keep her out of the water until it stops, and wipe the blood on the floor once dry. Washing in water prevents clotting and muddy water causes infection. Continuing to trim while she bleeds excites her, increases bleeding and makes further mistakes likely. A thread cuts off circulation and the toe tip dies. If bleeding does not stop within 15 minutes or keeps recurring, see the vet the same day. The rule for trimming is to cut only the tip, avoiding the vessel.

IssuesThe nail was cut deep without checking where the vessel was. Trimming was started without styptic ready and without knowing what to do if bleeding occurred. The frozen winter ground that stops nails wearing down had not been anticipated.

ImprovementTrim only the tip a little at a time, with styptic and a cloth at hand before starting. Have one person restrain the bird with the wings pinned to the body while another trims. In winter, build a gravel or stone path in front of the coop so nails wear down naturally.

One May morning, as a 1-year-old female comes out of the coop, her right wing hangs slightly lower than the left, and the two sit at different heights when folded. She walks normally and eats well, but when she tries to spread her wings the right stops partway, and she gives a small cry when it is lifted. There was a noise in the coop last night, so she may have been startled into the wall.

Which is the best assessment of this situation?

1. She is eating, so there is no problem. Keep her with the flock as is
2. Uneven wings are a sign of fracture or dislocation. Secure the wing, put her in a box and see the vet the same day
3. Move the wing up and down repeatedly to loosen the joint and put it back in place
4. Shut her in the coop until the wing heals, and see the vet if it has not improved in a week

AnswerB. Uneven wings are a sign of fracture or dislocation. Secure the wing, put her in a box and see the vet the same day

ExplanationAsymmetric wings, a wing that stops partway when spread, and pain on touch are signs of fracture, dislocation or bruising; drooping or asymmetric wings are a same-day vet criterion. A fracture can be hidden even in a bird that eats, so hold the wing against the body, secure it lightly with a towel, rest her in a dark box and see the vet the same day. Working the joint to loosen it worsens a fracture or dislocation and damages vessels and nerves. Left a week, the bone sets displaced and wing function never returns. The cause of the noise in the coop (a predator or intruder) also needs checking.

IssuesThe nighttime noise was noticed but the coop was not inspected. The subtle wing asymmetry was treated as minor, judging only by walking and appetite. First-aid supplies such as a towel and box were inadequate.

ImprovementAdd checking for left-right differences in how wings fold to the morning round. After a nighttime noise, inspect the coop the next morning for damage or signs of intrusion. Cover protrusions on coop walls and remove dark, narrow hiding spots. Keep a towel and a dark box on hand.

One September evening, you chased a 3-year-old male who would not return to the coop, finally grabbed the tip of his wing and pulled him in; he flapped violently and there was a crack from the base of the wing. Since then the wing hangs slightly lower and he shows pain when it is lifted. He is excited and panting with his mouth open.

Which is the most appropriate first action?

1. Spread the wing right away to find the cause of the sound and put the joint back
2. It will heal once he calms down, so let go and chase him into the coop again
3. Hold the wing against the body, wrap him in a towel, calm him in a dark box and see the vet the same day
4. The pain is temporary, so move the wing repeatedly to loosen it

AnswerC. Hold the wing against the body, wrap him in a towel, calm him in a dark box and see the vet the same day

ExplanationGrabbing and pulling a wingtip concentrates the force of flapping on the joint and bones at the wing base, causing dislocation or fracture. If the wing hangs and hurts after a cracking sound, suspect injury: hold the wing against the body, wrap him in a towel, calm him in a dark box and see the vet the same day. The open-mouth breathing of an excited bird also reflects overheating and stress from being chased, so keep him quiet in a cool place. Spreading the wing to check or moving the joint spreads the damage. Chasing him again injures the wing further and risks heatstroke in warm weather. The rule for catching is to hold the body with the wings pinned.

IssuesThe wrong catching method, grabbing the wingtip, was used. Chasing caused excitement and overheating, and the owner did not know how to lure a bird back to the coop (with food and flockmates' calls). Restraint had not been practiced.

ImprovementPractice as a family approaching quietly from the side, holding the body with both wings pinned and supporting the feet. Lure birds back to the coop by showing food, never by chasing. Make a habit of giving the evening feed inside the coop so they return naturally.

One April morning, you reached in to count the eggs under a 4-year-old female brooding in the straw nest; she bit hard, gripping the back of your hand with her serrated bill and shaking her head. The skin is scraped and bleeding, and the male is running at you with his wings spread. The pain makes you want to shake her off.

Which is the most appropriate first action?

1. Shake your hand hard and hit the bird to make her let go
2. Stop moving, protect your neck with your arm, break eye contact and back slowly away from the nest
3. Shout loudly and kick the female out of the nest
4. Pick her up while still bitten and carry her out of the coop

AnswerB. Stop moving, protect your neck with your arm, break eye contact and back slowly away from the nest

ExplanationA brooding female attacks fiercely to defend the nest, but calms down as soon as the person leaves the nest or goslings. The correct action is to stop moving, put an arm or object in front of your body to protect your neck and face, break eye contact and back slowly away to gain distance. Shaking her off or hitting her not only injures her bill or neck but excites her further so she comes to strike with her wings. Shouting or kicking breaks the eggs, injures the bird and intensifies the attack. Carrying her while bitten risks her struggling, being dropped and breaking a wing or leg. Afterward, wash the wound under running water, disinfect if the skin is broken, and see a doctor if there is swelling or fever.

IssuesThe aggressiveness of a brooding female in breeding season was underestimated and a hand was put into the nest without protective gear. With the male nearby, no escape route or defensive board had been prepared.

ImprovementIn breeding season, wear long sleeves and gloves near the nest and hold a board or bucket in front of your body. Check eggs when the female has left the nest to graze. Keep children away from nests in breeding season. Share the family rules for washing, disinfecting and when to see a doctor after a bite.

On a spring holiday, a visiting 5-year-old entered the run and tried to pick up a gosling; a parent goose stretched its neck and threatened the child, who fell on their bottom while running away. The male has his neck stretched at the child's face level with wings spread, about to strike. The child is crying and cannot move, only about 1 m from the parent bird.

Which is the most appropriate first action?

1. An adult runs and charges the male, kicking him away
2. Shout at the child to get up and run away by themselves
3. An adult puts a board or bucket between the child and the male to shield the neck, then carries the child away from the goslings
4. The parent will calm down if the child gets a gosling, so hand a gosling to the child

AnswerC. An adult puts a board or bucket between the child and the male to shield the neck, then carries the child away from the goslings

ExplanationGeese defending goslings or a nest aim their bill and wings at the face and eyes of a child, which are at a low height. The correct action is for an adult to put a board, bucket or similar between the child and the bird to protect the neck and face, then carry the child away from the goslings; the attack stops quickly once they are away. Charging or kicking injures the bird, heightens its excitement and gets the adult struck by the wings too. Making the child run leads to repeated falls and wing strikes from behind. Handing over a gosling keeps the child a target of the parent. Afterward, check the child's face and eyes for injury, wash and disinfect broken skin, and see a doctor if there is swelling or fever.

IssuesA child was let into the run alone during breeding season with goslings present. The owner did not know that geese target a child's face and eyes, and no adult accompanied the child. No board or bucket was placed nearby for defense.

ImprovementKeep children out of the run while goslings or brooding birds are present; viewing is from outside the fence. Post a 'No entry during breeding season' sign at the entrance and explain to visitors. Keep a board or bucket at the run entrance, and always have children wash their hands after contact.

At evening feeding time, walking with a bucket, you stepped on the foot of a 2-year-old female who had come up to your feet, with your rubber boot. She honked loudly and jumped away, and since then she stands on one leg without putting the right foot down. One toe is pointing in an unnatural direction, and there is a little blood on the web.

Which is the most appropriate first action?

1. Pull the bent toe straight and let her walk to see how she does
2. Keep her off her feet in a box, press the bleeding with a clean cloth and see the vet the same day
3. She will walk once the pain fades, so put her in the water to cool the foot
4. Tie the wings and feet together with string so she cannot use the foot

AnswerB. Keep her off her feet in a box, press the bleeding with a clean cloth and see the vet the same day

ExplanationA person stepping on a foot causes toe fractures and lacerations. A toe pointing in an unnatural direction is a sign of fracture or dislocation: keep her off her feet in a box, press the bleeding with a clean cloth and see the vet the same day. Pulling the toe straight displaces bone fragments and damages vessels and tendons. In water the bleeding will not stop and the wound is contaminated. Tying feet and wings with string cuts off circulation, and she will struggle and injure herself further. Properly set by the vet, walking recovers; left alone, it sets deformed and can later cause bumblefoot.

IssuesKnowing geese come up to people's feet, the owner was not watching their footing while walking. The danger of a bucket blocking the view during feeding was not anticipated.

ImprovementAlways watch your feet when walking; feed from outside the fence into a feeder, or gather the birds at the feed area before moving. Use a container smaller than a bucket to keep a clear view. Share the family rule for a stepped-on bird: no walking, no pulling; keep a box and gauze on hand.

One winter morning, a 3-year-old male's neck is trapped between the coop's sliding door, which slammed shut in the wind, and the post, and he cannot pull free. He is struggling and flapping, breathing with his bill open in distress, and every time he pulls back the door digs in further. A few feathers have come out and fallen, but there is no visible bleeding.

Which is the most appropriate first action?

1. Pull the bird's body from behind to free the neck
2. Quietly open the door to free the neck, rest him in a dark box, watch his breathing and neck movement, and see the vet immediately if anything is wrong
3. He will seem fine once free, so put him straight in the water to calm him
4. Leave him until he stops struggling, then open the door once he is quiet

AnswerB. Quietly open the door to free the neck, rest him in a dark box, watch his breathing and neck movement, and see the vet immediately if anything is wrong

ExplanationPulling the body of a bird whose neck is trapped damages the trachea and cervical spine, so first quietly open the door itself to free the neck. Afterward, hold the wings against the body, wrap him in a towel, rest him in a dark box and watch for labored breathing, head tilt and how he swallows. Continued open-mouth breathing, a drooping neck or a changed voice suggest tracheal injury or internal bleeding, requiring an immediate vet visit. Waiting until he stops struggling leaves the trachea compressed and can lead to suffocation or a broken neck. Putting him in water right after release drains body heat from a bird in shock and excitement and makes injuries harder to spot.

IssuesA sliding door that closes on its own in the wind was in use, and the gap between door and post was wide enough for a neck. The basics of avoiding self-closing doors and keeping gaps under 5 cm were unknown, and nothing was done about strong winter winds.

ImprovementFit the door with a catch or stopper so the wind cannot close it, and secure it when open. Fill the gap between door and post with rubber or padding to under 5 cm. After a neck or wing is trapped, watch breathing and neck movement for 24 hours and see the vet immediately if anything is wrong.

One summer evening, a flightless Embden male (9 kg) that had climbed onto a 1.5 m-high shed in the yard slipped and fell to the ground. Since the fall he will not put his left leg down and is balancing with his wings spread. The area near the top of the leg is swollen and hot, and he falls over when he tries to stand.

Which is the most appropriate first action?

1. Extend the leg to check the shape of the bone and splint it firmly if bent
2. Put him in a large box lined with straw so he cannot move, wrap the wings in a towel and see the vet the same day
3. He is heavy and heals slowly, but 2–3 days of rest will have him walking
4. Mix a human painkiller into his feed for the pain and see the vet tomorrow

AnswerB. Put him in a large box lined with straw so he cannot move, wrap the wings in a towel and see the vet the same day

ExplanationHeavy flightless breeds easily break legs or wings in a fall from a height. Not bearing weight on a leg that is swollen and hot is a sign of fracture or dislocation: put him in a large straw-lined box to limit movement, wrap the wings in a towel and see the vet the same day. Extending the leg to check or splinting it firmly yourself can displace bone fragments and cut off circulation. A fracture does not heal with 2–3 days of rest, and his heavy weight worsens the injury. Human painkillers can contain ingredients toxic to birds and must never be given. In summer transport, guard against both overheating in the box and overcooling.

IssuesA shed low enough for a flightless breed to climb faced onto the run. The risk of fractures when a large breed falls from a height was not recognized, and the climbable footing was left in place.

ImprovementRemove anything over 50 cm high from the run or make it unclimbable, and keep steps and ramps gentle. Fence around the shed so they cannot approach. Keep a box large enough for a big bird, straw and towels on hand, and find a hospital that treats birds.

One November evening, three Chinese geese of a breed that can fly got out into the neighbor's field through a gap in the fence, which a typhoon had tilted. One is walking on toward the shoulder of the prefectural road, where cars pass now and then. The other two are grazing in the field. The family is panicking and about to run after them.

Which is the most appropriate first action?

1. The whole family runs to surround them and catches them one by one by the wings
2. Do not chase; rattle the feed container and slowly lure them toward the calls of the flockmates still in the coop
3. Cars will avoid the one on the road, so leave it and catch the two in the field first
4. Call their names loudly, close in from behind and drive them to the far side of the road

AnswerB. Do not chase; rattle the feed container and slowly lure them toward the calls of the flockmates still in the coop

ExplanationChasing escaped geese excites them into running, and flying breeds take off toward the road or far away. The correct action uses their flock instinct and response to food: rattle the feed container and slowly lure them toward the calls of the flockmates still in the coop. Running to surround them and grabbing wings causes wing fractures or dislocations from flapping, and excitement sends them onto the road. Leaving the one by the road risks it being hit and causing a driver's accident. Closing in loudly from behind startles them toward the road. One person stands quietly on the road side between cars and the bird while the rest of the family lures with food. After recovery, check legs and wings for injury and see the vet the same day if anything is wrong.

IssuesThe fence tilted by the typhoon was not inspected or repaired, leaving a gap. Although the breed can fly, flight feathers were not managed and no roof was installed, and the family had no shared procedure for escapes.

ImprovementAlways inspect the fence and coop after strong winds or earthquakes and repair gaps the same day. For flying breeds, clip the flight feathers or roof or net the run. Agree as a family on the escape procedure of luring with food and flockmates' calls rather than chasing, and assign someone to stand on the road side.

One January morning, the garden pond has a thin layer of ice; a 2-year-old female walked onto it, it broke, and her body went under the ice. Only her neck is out through the crack and she is flapping, but her wings are caught on the edge of the ice and she cannot get onto the bank. The water is near 0°C, and she is 2 m from the bank. There is a long board and a clothesline nearby.

Which is the most appropriate first action?

1. Get into the pond yourself, lift her out and put her, still wet, in front of the house heater
2. Geese tolerate cold, so wait for her to climb out on her own and then return her to the coop
3. Lay the board from the bank onto the ice, crawl out on your belly, pull her in, wrap her in a towel and dry her in a room-temperature room
4. Loop the rope around her neck, pull her to the bank and put her straight into hot water to warm up

AnswerC. Lay the board from the bank onto the ice, crawl out on your belly, pull her in, wrap her in a towel and dry her in a room-temperature room

ExplanationGeese tolerate cold, but under ice the body chills, wings caught in the ice break with flapping, and she tires and drowns. A person entering an icy pond risks hypothermia and drowning too, so lay the board from the bank onto the ice to spread your weight, crawl out on your belly and pull her in. After rescue, lower her head slightly to drain water from the airway, towel off the water and dry her in a room at about room temperature. Hot water or sitting right by a heater causes a sudden temperature swing that disrupts circulation and causes shock. A rope around the neck damages the trachea and cervical spine. Just waiting means broken wings and a body temperature that keeps dropping. If she shows open-mouth breathing or a drooping neck after rescue, see the vet immediately.

IssuesKnowing the pond freezes in winter, no steps were taken to break the ice or keep birds off it. No rescue equipment or procedure was planned for a bird falling through ice, and how to rewarm a rescued bird was unknown.

ImprovementIn winter, break the pond ice every morning or, on freezing nights, fence off the pond and switch to a tub for water. Keep a long board and rope beside the pond and go over the belly-crawl rescue as a family. Keep dry towels and a warming box near the coop.

One August midday, the power cord of an electric fence put up against wild boar crosses the run; a 4-year-old male collapsed right after chewing it and lies motionless with his wings spread. The area around his bill is blackened and burned, and his legs are twitching. The cord is still connected to the power, and other birds are approaching.

Which is the most appropriate first action?

1. Immediately pick up the bird, pull him away from the cord and pour water on him to cool him
2. Cut the power first, then touch the bird, check consciousness and breathing by calling him and watching the chest, and see the vet immediately
3. He is not moving, so judge him dead, put the other birds in the coop and clear up
4. Put ointment on the burned mouth, lay him in a cool place and watch until morning

AnswerB. Cut the power first, then touch the bird, check consciousness and breathing by calling him and watching the chest, and see the vet immediately

ExplanationTouching a bird that is in contact with a live cord with bare hands electrocutes you too. First cut the power or pull the plug; if that is impossible, move the cord off the bird with a dry wooden stick. Then check whether he lifts his head to your voice and whether the chest rises and falls; if not breathing, check the mouth, extend the neck, gently press the keel 1–2 times per second and go to the vet immediately while transporting. Electric shock damages the heart, organs and airway beyond the visible burns and the bird can crash hours later, so see the vet the same day even if he moves. Pouring water increases the risk of electrocution. Assuming death just because he is motionless loses a bird that could be saved. Ointment and waiting leaves him unable to eat with mouth burns and misses internal damage.

IssuesThe electric fence's power cord was run exposed through the run, ignoring a bird's habit of exploring everything with its bill. The steps for cutting power in an electric shock and how to check breathing and heartbeat were unknown and not shared with the family.

ImprovementRun power cords through conduit or underground, never exposed inside the run. Make sure the whole family knows where the power for the electric fence and appliances is, and post the rule that in an electric shock the power is cut first. Practice checking breathing and heartbeat, and find a hospital that treats birds.

One September morning, reversing a light truck in front of the barn, you ran over the foot of a 6-year-old female who was in the shadow of the truck bed. She honked loudly and crawled away; the whole left foot is flattened and swollen and bleeding from the web. She will not put it down and balances with her wings, while the other birds gather around in a commotion.

Which is the most appropriate first action?

1. Gently pull the foot to check its shape and splint it firmly and tightly
2. Walking speeds healing, so let her spend time on the pasture with the flock
3. Press the bleeding with a clean cloth, put her in a large straw-lined box, keep it dark and see the vet immediately
4. Put her in the water to cool the swelling and return her to the coop once the bleeding stops

AnswerC. Press the bleeding with a clean cloth, put her in a large straw-lined box, keep it dark and see the vet immediately

ExplanationA foot run over by the weight of a vehicle suffers comminuted fractures, torn tendons and crushed skin all at once. Press the bleeding with a clean cloth to stop it, keep her off her feet in a large straw-lined box, keep it dark to reduce excitement and see the vet immediately. Pulling the foot to check or splinting it tightly lets bone fragments damage vessels and nerves and cuts off circulation. Walking displaces fragments and puts weight on the injury. Water prevents clotting and contaminates the wound, so it is strictly off limits before the bleeding stops. The vet will examine the bone and decide on fixation or surgery. During transport, wrap the wings in a towel and watch for overheating in the box in summer.

IssuesThe birds' positions were not checked before moving the vehicle. Knowing they gather at people's feet and in the shadow of vehicles, there was no habit of putting them in the coop during work. No first-aid box or cloth was kept near the barn.

ImprovementBefore moving a vehicle, always put the birds in the coop or a separate enclosure and walk around the vehicle before setting off. Fence off the work area in front of the barn from the run. Keep clean cloths, straw and a large cardboard box in the barn too, and share the procedure for stopping bleeding and transporting in a box.

One May midday, the neighbor's dog got into the yard and chased the flock. You drove the dog off, but a 1-year-old male crashed chest-first into the wire fence while fleeing and is now sitting under it, panting fast with his mouth open and his wings half spread. No wounds are visible, but his neck is stretched low and he is not moving.

Which is the most appropriate first action?

1. No wounds, so relax, return him to the flock right away and let him graze
2. Put him in the water and cool his body with cold water to calm him
3. Pick him up and spread his wings repeatedly to check for fractures yourself
4. Rest him in a dark, quiet box for 30 minutes and see the vet the same day if his breathing has not settled

AnswerD. Rest him in a dark, quiet box for 30 minutes and see the vet the same day if his breathing has not settled

ExplanationOpen-mouth breathing after being chased can be temporary, from overheating and stress, or can come from chest bruising, internal bleeding or air sac damage. First put him in a dark, quiet box to shut out stimulation, rest him about 30 minutes and watch his breathing. If he settles, lifts his head and acts normally, observation is fine; if fast breathing continues, the neck droops or a wing stays down, internal injury is possible and he should see the vet the same day. Returning him to the flock right away keeps him excited and worsens hidden injuries. Water drains body heat from a bird in shock and disturbs breathing. Spreading the wings repeatedly worsens any fracture or dislocation. Part the feathers to check for dog bites, and if there is any wound, however small, see the vet the same day.

IssuesThe fence was built so the neighbor's dog could get in. The owner did not know what to watch for in breathing and posture after a collision and risked assuming no wounds meant no problem. There was no escape route to the coop as a refuge.

ImprovementMake the fence high enough and buried so dogs cannot get under, and ask the neighbor to control their dog. Provide a coop or roofed refuge in the run that birds can flee into. Share as a family the rule of resting in a dark box after an accident and checking breathing and posture after 30 minutes.

One October afternoon, a 3-year-old male who was let out on the grass along the river behind the house passed bright green watery droppings after returning to the coop; he staggers when he walks and his wings droop slightly. The riverbank is popular with anglers, and the other day you saw fishing sinkers scattered on the bank. The other two birds are still walking normally. Feed has been given as usual.

Which is the most appropriate first action?

1. The staggering is tiredness, so rest him in the coop until tomorrow and watch for changes
2. The droppings are green from eating too much grass, so keep letting him out with the flock
3. To flush out the lead, feed him large amounts so he passes droppings
4. Isolate him, stop grazing along the river, photograph the droppings and sinkers and see the vet the same day

AnswerD. Isolate him, stop grazing along the river, photograph the droppings and sinkers and see the vet the same day

ExplanationGreen watery droppings, staggering and drooping wings are classic lead poisoning; he most likely swallowed a fishing sinker from the riverbank, mistaking it for grit. Lead keeps dissolving in the body and attacks the nerves, leading to a drooping neck, weakness and death. The correct action is to isolate him, stop grazing along the river, photograph the droppings and any sinkers found and see the vet the same day; the vet will confirm by X-ray and give chelation therapy or remove it. Blaming grass and letting him out means swallowing more lead. Force-feeding large amounts risks aspiration in a weakened bird, and lead is not passed with feed. Waiting until tomorrow lets the neurological signs advance until treatment comes too late. The other birds grazed in the same place, so watch their droppings and gait for several days.

IssuesGrazing along the river continued despite knowing sinkers were scattered there by anglers. Knowledge was lacking that geese swallow pebbles and metal fragments for digestion and that green droppings are an early sign of lead poisoning.

ImprovementKeep birds away from water and riverbanks near fishing spots and graze only in fenced pasture. Pick up metal fragments, shot and old paint chips from the yard and pasture monthly. Provide a clean gravel bathing area to supply grit. Decide that green droppings and staggering mean a same-day vet visit.

One July morning by the pond, about 20 cm of clear fishing line is hanging from a 2-year-old female's bill, and she keeps shaking her head and trying to swallow. The end of the line is not visible and seems to continue into the back of her mouth. She opens and closes her bill trying to drink, and now and then stretches her neck and retches. She still seems to have an appetite.

Which is the most appropriate first action?

1. Pull the line out as far as it will come and cut off the rest
2. Cut the line short at the mouth, let her swallow it and wait for it to pass in the droppings
3. Do not pull; tape the line lightly to the outside of the bill, withhold food, put her in a box and see the vet immediately
4. Make her drink lots of water to wash the line into the stomach and watch tomorrow

AnswerC. Do not pull; tape the line lightly to the outside of the bill, withhold food, put her in a box and see the vet immediately

ExplanationFishing line hanging from the mouth most likely has a hook on the end lodged in the esophagus or stomach. Pulling drives the hook into tissue and tears the esophagus or stomach. Cutting it and letting her swallow lets the line tangle in the intestines, causing obstruction and necrosis. The correct action is not to pull, to tape the line lightly to the outside of the bill to stop swallowing, withhold food, put her in a box and see the vet immediately. The vet confirms the hook's position by X-ray and removes it by endoscope or surgery. Large amounts of water will not move the line and make things worse if there is a hook. Even with an appetite, leaving it is dangerous; a lodged hook causes infection or perforation within days. Fishing line is thin and easy to miss, so check every bird's mouth whenever you see signs of fishing around the pond.

IssuesThe possibility of fishing line and hooks around the pond was not considered and no rounds were made. The owner did not know never to pull or cut fishing line, and nothing was done about the bird's habit of probing everything with its bill.

ImprovementWalk around the pond and waterside weekly to pick up fishing line, hooks and screws, and keep birds away from water near fishing spots. Share the family rule for suspected ingestion: do not pull, do not cut, do not feed. Find a hospital that can respond at night and on holidays.

One August midday, a guest at a barbecue tossed leftover salad avocado and onion slices into the run, and the 5-year-old male and female competed to eat them. An hour later the male is sitting with his mouth open, breathing fast, and the female is limp with her neck stretched out. Nobody remembers exactly what or how much they ate.

Which is the most appropriate first action?

1. Clear away the remaining food, note what was eaten and when, and take both birds to the vet right now
2. Put a finger down the throat to make them vomit, give water and watch until morning
3. Give milk to dilute the poison and rest them in a cool coop
4. The livelier one is fine, so take only the sicker male to the vet tomorrow

AnswerA. Clear away the remaining food, note what was eaten and when, and take both birds to the vet right now

ExplanationAvocado is highly toxic to birds, damaging the heart and respiratory system and causing death within hours to a day. Onions and other alliums destroy red blood cells and cause anemia. When open-mouth breathing and collapse appear soon after eating, clear away the remaining food, note the type, amount and time eaten, and take both birds to the vet right now. Inducing vomiting via the throat carries a high risk of aspiration and choking in birds and is not done at home. Milk is not an antidote, and birds cannot digest lactose, so it worsens diarrhea. Poisoning can show up late in a bird that looks mildly affected, so both go together. Bringing the leftover food to the vet speeds diagnosis.

IssuesGuests were not told in advance not to feed the birds, and the knowledge that avocado and alliums are toxic to birds was not shared with them. The layout also allowed human leftovers to be thrown into the run.

ImprovementPost a 'Please do not feed the birds human food' sign on the fence and tell every guest in person. During barbecues and meals, put the birds in the coop or hold the event away from the run. Post a list of toxic foods where family and guests can see it, and find an emergency hospital in advance.

One June morning, right after hearing that the neighboring farmer had sprayed herbicide on the roadside bank, you found your flock grazing on that bank. One 4-year-old female is drooling, repeatedly rubbing her bill on the ground and shaking her head. The other four are still tearing grass normally. About 2 hours have passed since spraying.

Which is the most appropriate first action?

1. Force the symptomatic female to drink large amounts of water to dilute and flush the chemical
2. The drooling is from the heat, so spray her with water to cool her and return her to the pasture
3. Herbicide only affects plants, so let them keep grazing on the bank
4. Move all the birds off the bank, let them rinse their bills in clean water, confirm the product name with the farmer and take the symptomatic bird to the vet right now

AnswerD. Move all the birds off the bank, let them rinse their bills in clean water, confirm the product name with the farmer and take the symptomatic bird to the vet right now

ExplanationDepending on the type, herbicides are toxic to birds too, and eating freshly sprayed grass irritates the mouth and digestive tract and causes neurological signs. First move all the birds off the bank and let them rinse the chemical from their bills in clean water to stop further intake. Confirm the product name with the person who sprayed, and take any bird with symptoms such as drooling or head shaking to the vet right now with a note of the product name or a photo of the container. Knowing the product makes the vet's response faster and more accurate. Blaming the heat and returning her means more intake. Herbicides do not act only on plants; some affect animals. Forcing large amounts of water risks aspiration and is dangerous for a weakened bird. Watch the droppings, appetite and gait of the symptom-free birds for several days too.

IssuesThe owner did not know spraying was planned on the adjacent bank and let the flock out there right after. There was no relationship with neighbors for sharing information about pesticide spraying, and knowledge that herbicides can affect birds was lacking.

ImprovementAsk neighboring farmers to give advance notice of spraying and keep birds off the area for a week afterward. Graze only inside your own enclosure, never on banks or roadsides outside the fence. Agree as a family on a list of toxic substances and the procedure for confirming product names, and keep clean water for rinsing bills.

One March morning. Last night you gave the flock a bucket of kitchen scraps including peelings from sprouted potatoes and raw soybeans. This morning, two 2-year-old females are sitting hunched with their necks drawn in, passing greenish diarrhea, and one is breathing shallowly with her mouth open. The other three, perhaps because they ate less, look normal.

Which is the most appropriate first action?

1. Stop feeding scraps, clear away the rest, isolate the two sick birds and see the vet right now with photos of the droppings and what was fed
2. Fast the whole flock for 2 days to rest the stomach and watch with water only
3. Dissolve a human digestive aid in water and give it as an anti-diarrheal
4. Sprouted potatoes are fine once cooked, so boil the rest and feed it again

AnswerA. Stop feeding scraps, clear away the rest, isolate the two sick birds and see the vet right now with photos of the droppings and what was fed

ExplanationPotato sprouts and green skin contain the toxin solanine, and raw beans contain compounds that interfere with digestion. Both are foods geese must never be given, and hunching, diarrhea and shallow breathing are signs of poisoning. Stop feeding scraps, clear away the rest, isolate the two sick birds and see the vet right now with photos of the droppings and what was fed. A 2-day fast drains the strength of weakened birds and does nothing to detoxify. Human digestive aids have unknown safety for birds and mask the progress of poisoning. Boiling does not remove enough of the toxin from sprouted potatoes, so never feed them again. The three that look normal may also have eaten a little, so watch their droppings and appetite closely that day.

IssuesKitchen scraps were fed without checking the contents, and the owner did not know that potato sprouts, raw beans and salty leftovers are forbidden foods. Family members other than the person in charge of feeding put things in the bucket, so the contents were not controlled.

ImprovementStop feeding scraps and limit the staple diet to grass and waterfowl formulated feed. If giving vegetable trimmings, post a list of allowed items in the kitchen, excluding potatoes, beans, alliums, avocado and salty foods. Assign one person to feeding and record what is given.

At 2 p.m. in August, on a scorching 35°C day, a 7-year-old female is in a small patch of shade in the run with her bill open, wings held away from her body, breathing fast. The water in the tub, filled that morning, has warmed and dropped so low the bottom shows, and the other birds are jostling for shade. The female tries to stand but sits back down and makes no sound.

Which is the most appropriate first action?

1. Open-mouth breathing is normal in summer, so watch until evening
2. Plunge her whole body into a bucket of ice water to cool her fast
3. Move her to a well-ventilated shaded spot, pour lukewarm water on her feet and under her wings to cool her, and see the vet the same day if she does not improve
4. Put her in the coop, close the door to block the sun and rest her until morning

AnswerC. Move her to a well-ventilated shaded spot, pour lukewarm water on her feet and under her wings to cool her, and see the vet the same day if she does not improve

ExplanationGeese tolerate heat poorly and the risk of heatstroke rises above 30°C. Open-mouth breathing with wings held out, inability to stand and silence are signs of severe heatstroke, and she can die within hours if left. Move her to well-ventilated shade, pour water close to ambient temperature on her feet and under her wings, and let her drink cool water. If she does not improve, see the vet the same day. Plunging into ice water constricts the vessels suddenly so body heat cannot escape, causing shock. Waiting until evening is too late. A closed coop traps heat and, without ventilation, gets even hotter. The other birds are in the same conditions, so fill the water and add shade.

IssuesOn a scorching day, water volume and temperature were not checked at midday, and the shade was not big enough for the whole flock. Knowing geese are heat-sensitive, measures for above 30°C were not carried out.

ImprovementIn summer, fill the water morning and evening and replace it with cool water at midday too. Create shade with shade cloth or a roof that fits the whole flock at once, and spray them with water above 30°C. Consider a fan or misting. Decide that open-mouth breathing with wings held out means immediate cooling.

One September night, the river is rising as a typhoon approaches and an evacuation order has been issued. The coop holds six 2-week-old goslings and two parent birds, and the straw on the floor is getting wet from rain. The family plans to drive to relatives on high ground, leaving in 30 minutes. The goslings are tiny, and you worry the parents will thrash and may not be manageable in the car.

Which is the most appropriate first action?

1. Geese can swim, so leave the coop open for them to save themselves and evacuate the people only
2. Take only the parents in the car, move the goslings to a high shelf in the coop and leave them until you return
3. Put the goslings in a towel-lined box, wrap the parents' wings in towels, put them in cardboard boxes and evacuate together
4. Cancel the evacuation, watch the water level in front of the coop all night and act once it floods

AnswerC. Put the goslings in a towel-lined box, wrap the parents' wings in towels, put them in cardboard boxes and evacuate together

ExplanationGeese can swim, but in flowing floodwater they drown inside the coop, and goslings cannot hold their body temperature and die within hours. Once an evacuation order is issued, the correct action is to put the goslings in a towel-lined box to keep warm, hold the parents' wings against their bodies and wrap them in towels, put them in straw-lined cardboard boxes or dog carriers and evacuate together. In the dark even large birds settle and can be carried. Leaving the coop open abandons them to the current, and if they escape they are attacked by predators. Goslings left alone die of hypothermia. Staying to watch endangers human lives, and once flooded the birds cannot be carried either. At the evacuation site, do not leave the birds in the car for long; ensure ventilation and water.

IssuesDespite the coop being near the river, there was no flood evacuation plan and no transport boxes. Carrying goslings and parents separately had not been thought through, and the relatives had not been asked about taking the birds.

ImprovementKeep a large cardboard box or dog carrier for transport, a box for goslings and towels beside the coop. Confirm in advance whether the birds can go to the evacuation site, and if not, arrange somewhere to board them. Set a rule to move the birds to a coop on high ground or into the car as soon as a typhoon or heavy-rain warning is issued.

One January morning, 30 cm of snow fell overnight; the water in the tub is frozen solid so the birds cannot drink, and snow has blown in through a gap in the windward wall of the coop, wetting the straw. The four geese are huddled at the back of the coop, but one keeps lifting its feet alternately. Temperatures are forecast to stay below freezing all day.

Which is the most appropriate first action?

1. Eating snow provides enough water, so leave the water as it is and watch
2. Put a heater in the coop, seal it and warm it to nearly 30°C
3. Break the ice and put in fresh water, replace the wet straw with dry straw and board up the windward gap
4. Bring the birds indoors to a heated room and keep them inside until spring

AnswerC. Break the ice and put in fresh water, replace the wet straw with dry straw and board up the windward gap

ExplanationGeese tolerate cold, but being unable to drink and a wet bed drain their strength. Break the ice and put in fresh water deep enough to rinse the bill and head. Replace the wet straw with a thick layer of dry straw and block the windward gap with a board or sheet to stop snow blowing in. Lifting the feet alternately is from cold feet on frozen ground and improves once they stand on thick dry straw. Snow alone does not provide enough water, and they cannot rinse feed from the bill. Sealing and overheating the coop raises humidity through condensation, breeds mold, and the temperature gap with outside makes them ill. Kept in a heated room until spring, they cannot bathe or preen, lose waterproofing and cannot adapt when returned outside. Break the ice several times a day.

IssuesDespite the snow forecast, nothing was done to stop the water freezing or to repair the coop gaps. The basic rule of watching for frozen water in winter was not followed, and there was not enough spare dry straw.

ImprovementIn winter, move the water to a sunny spot or use an insulated container and break the ice morning and evening. Hang a windbreak sheet on the windward side of the coop, lay thick straw and replace wet parts daily. Store plenty of dry straw indoors and inspect the day before whenever snow is forecast.

Late one April night, a strong earthquake (intensity 5) caused a blackout, and the heat lamp warming eight 5-day-old goslings went out. The room is 12°C, and the goslings are huddled in a corner of the box, cheeping shrilly. There is no word on when power will return. The house has a camping gas stove, hot-water bottles, disposable hand warmers and blankets. Aftershocks continue and things are falling off shelves.

Which is the most appropriate first action?

1. Goslings keep themselves warm by huddling, so do nothing and let them rest until morning
2. Boil water, wrap a hot-water bottle in a towel, place it in half of the box and cover the box with a blanket so the goslings can choose their temperature
3. Press disposable hand warmers directly against the goslings and seal the box to keep the heat in
4. Keep the camping gas stove burning beside the box to warm it

AnswerB. Boil water, wrap a hot-water bottle in a towel, place it in half of the box and cover the box with a blanket so the goslings can choose their temperature

ExplanationFive-day-old goslings cannot hold their own body temperature and become hypothermic within hours at 12°C. Huddling and cheeping shrilly is a complaint of cold. Wrap a hot-water bottle in a towel, place it in half of the box and cover the box with a blanket to hold the heat, leaving space for the goslings to move away if too warm. Replace the bottle when it cools. Doing nothing until morning means the weakest goslings die. Hand warmers pressed directly cause low-temperature burns, and sealing the box causes oxygen shortage and overheating. A gas stove flame can be knocked over by aftershocks and start a fire, and carbon monoxide builds up. When the cheeping quiets and the goslings spread out to rest, the temperature is right. If the blackout continues into the morning, consider a friend's house with power or a generator.

IssuesNo backup heat source for goslings had been decided in case of a blackout; everything relied on the heat lamp. Emergency warming supplies and a procedure for cold spring nights had not been prepared.

ImprovementWhile raising goslings, keep hot-water bottles, blankets, towels and a thermos beside the box and go over the blackout procedure as a family. Consider a small heater that runs on a power bank, or a generator. Learn to judge the right temperature from the goslings' cheeping and how they cluster.

In June's rainy season, 10 days of rain have turned the soil run into a swamp, and the coop entrance is slippery with mud. The six geese's feet are caked in mud, and the straw in the coop is damp and smells bad. Two birds are dragging their feet slightly, and their soles look red and waterlogged. The forecast says the rain will continue another week.

Which is the most appropriate first action?

1. It will dry once the rain stops, so carry on as is and watch
2. Remove all the damp straw from the coop and lay thick dry straw, put gravel or boards at the entrance and in front of the coop to dry the feet, and watch the birds with red soles
3. Shut the whole flock in the coop to avoid the mud and keep them inside until the rain stops
4. Soak the soles in antiseptic, dry them and return the birds to the muddy run

AnswerB. Remove all the damp straw from the coop and lay thick dry straw, put gravel or boards at the entrance and in front of the coop to dry the feet, and watch the birds with red soles

ExplanationDamp and mud soften the soles, and bacteria entering is the gateway to bumblefoot. Damp straw also breeds mold and causes aspergillosis. First remove all the damp straw from the coop and lay thick dry straw, and put gravel or boards at the entrance and in front of the coop to create a place where feet can dry. Watch the red, waterlogged soles daily, since progression to swelling or scabs means a same-day vet visit. Infection advances while you wait for the rain to stop. Shutting them in the coop traps droppings and damp, wets the straw further, and prevents bathing so waterproofing is lost. Soaking in antiseptic is pointless if they go back to the mud, and strong antiseptic damages the skin. Digging a drainage ditch to carry water out of the run also helps.

IssuesThe soil run drained poorly and the layout that turns it into a swamp in long rains had not been improved. The basic rule of replacing damp bedding daily was not kept, and the weekly sole check was skipped because of the rain.

ImprovementDig a drainage ditch in the run and lay gravel around the water area and at the coop entrance. Stock extra dry straw in rainy periods and replace wet parts daily. Provide a roofed dry resting area, and check the soles at least weekly, especially in the rainy season.

One December morning, two geese are dead in front of the coop. They were fine the day before, but on closer inspection one of the remaining three has a tilted head, swollen eyes and green droppings. Last week you saw several migratory ducks lying dead in the rice paddy near the run. The family, including children, goes in and out of the coop every day.

Which is the most appropriate first action?

1. Bury the bodies in the yard, give the remaining birds antibiotics and watch
2. Do not touch the bodies with bare hands, isolate the remaining birds, stop the family going in and out, and contact the Livestock Hygiene Service Center
3. Drive the dead birds to the vet and let the others out as usual
4. Move only the sick bird to a separate coop and keep the other two together as a flock

AnswerB. Do not touch the bodies with bare hands, isolate the remaining birds, stop the family going in and out, and contact the Livestock Hygiene Service Center

ExplanationSeveral birds that were healthy the day before dying suddenly, with dead wild birds nearby, is the classic situation in which to suspect avian influenza. The head tilt, swollen eyes and green droppings also fit. Under the Act on Domestic Animal Infectious Diseases Control, unusual deaths of geese must be reported to the Livestock Hygiene Service Center: do not touch the bodies with bare hands, isolate the remaining birds, stop the family and children going in and out, and make the call. Burying the bodies prevents testing and spreads the disease to the surroundings. Antibiotics given on your own do nothing against a virus. Driving them risks spreading the virus to other farms or the hospital. Separating only the sick bird is pointless since the others are very likely already infected. Do chores in dedicated clothing and footwear, and be thorough with hand washing and disinfection.

IssuesDead wild birds were seen nearby, but no steps were taken to block contact with wild birds. The run had no netting or roof, so wild bird droppings could get in. Knowledge of the legal duty to report unusual deaths was also lacking.

ImprovementNet or roof the run and feeding area to keep wild birds and their droppings out. In the migratory season, use dedicated clothing and footwear for chores and wash hands and disinfect footwear before and after. Post the Livestock Hygiene Service Center's contact details in the coop, and agree as a family that two or more sudden deaths or neurological signs mean an immediate report.

Over the May holidays, a relative's 4-year-old held and played with the goslings every day for 3 days, bringing them up to their mouth and nuzzling them. Two days after going home, word came that the child has a 38°C fever and watery diarrhea. The goslings are all well, the water in the run was only changed twice a week, and the child ate snacks without washing their hands.

What is the most appropriate thing to tell the relatives in this situation?

1. The goslings are healthy so the birds are unrelated; treat it as a cold and watch
2. Tell them you will cull all the goslings to identify the cause
3. Give the child an over-the-counter anti-diarrheal; stopping contact with the goslings will cure it
4. Advise them to see a pediatrician and mention the contact with geese; at home, change the water daily and enforce hand washing after contact

AnswerD. Advise them to see a pediatrician and mention the contact with geese; at home, change the water daily and enforce hand washing after contact

ExplanationGeese shed Salmonella and Campylobacter in their droppings, and even healthy birds carry them. Eating without washing hands or bringing birds to the mouth infects people, especially children, causing fever and diarrhea. Have the child see a pediatrician and mention the contact with geese; knowing the exposure lets the doctor choose the right tests and treatment. Healthy birds do not rule it out, and treating it as a cold lets the child become dehydrated. Over-the-counter anti-diarrheals keep the bacteria in the body and must not be recommended. Culling the goslings is unnecessary; improving hygiene is the real fix. On the owner's side, change the water daily, wash hands with soap after chores and contact, and never bring birds near a child's face.

IssuesThe child was allowed to nuzzle the goslings and eat without washing hands. Water was changed only twice a week, giving many chances to touch water contaminated with droppings. Knowledge of zoonoses was not shared with visitors.

ImprovementChange the water daily and clean up droppings daily. Before contact, tell visitors and children not to nuzzle or bring birds near the mouth and to wash hands with soap afterward, and set up a hand-washing station at the run exit. Do not let children 5 and under or the elderly hold goslings.

On a sunny March day, you swept out the dried droppings and old straw that had accumulated in the coop over winter, with no mask. Dust flew up and your eyes itched that day. A week later a dry cough and 38°C fever began and have continued, with no improvement from over-the-counter cold medicine. Your five geese show no obvious symptoms, and a family member who did the same work is coughing too.

Which is the most appropriate first action?

1. See a doctor and mention keeping birds and the coop cleaning; from now on wear a mask and wet the droppings before cleaning
2. The birds have no symptoms so it is unrelated; take more cold medicine and rest
3. Blame the birds, give them all away and stop keeping them
4. Dry the coop out even more thoroughly and sun the dried droppings before sweeping them out

AnswerA. See a doctor and mention keeping birds and the coop cleaning; from now on wear a mask and wet the droppings before cleaning

ExplanationInhaling dust from dried droppings and secretions can cause chlamydiosis (psittacosis), a pneumonia with persistent dry cough and fever. Birds can shed the bacteria without symptoms, so healthy birds do not rule it out. Given that a family member who did the same work is also coughing, see a doctor and explain that you keep birds and cleaned the coop. Knowing about the bird contact lets the doctor choose the right tests and antibiotics. More cold medicine does not cure pneumonia and lets it worsen. There is no need to give up the birds; better working methods prevent it. Drying and sunning raises even more dust and is dangerous. From now on, wear a mask when cleaning, wet dried droppings with water before sweeping, and wash hands and change clothes afterward.

IssuesDroppings and straw were left to accumulate all winter. The owner did not know that dust from dried droppings is a route for chlamydiosis and swept without a mask. The basic rule of cleaning droppings daily was not followed.

ImprovementClean droppings and wet bedding daily and never let them accumulate. Wear a mask and gloves when cleaning and wet dried droppings with a spray bottle or water before gathering them. Wash hands and change clothes afterward, and make it a habit that any family member who cares for the birds tells the doctor about them if they develop a cough or fever.

In October, you received two 4-month-old Embden geese from an acquaintance's farm. The acquaintance says they are disease-free, but the two are sitting quietly, tired from transport, and one has a slight nasal discharge and somewhat loose droppings. At home you have five birds that have been disease-free for 3 years, and the family wants to release the newcomers into the same run the day they arrive.

Which is the most appropriate first action?

1. The acquaintance has vouched for them, so join them to the flock right away to make friends
2. Separate only the one with the nasal discharge and put the healthy one in with the flock
3. Give the whole flock antibiotic-laced feed as a precaution and then join them
4. Isolate the two in a separate enclosure for 2–4 weeks, care for the existing flock first, and join them after confirming they are healthy

AnswerD. Isolate the two in a separate enclosure for 2–4 weeks, care for the existing flock first, and join them after confirming they are healthy

ExplanationNewly acquired birds often break with latent disease under the stress of transport, and nasal discharge or loose droppings can be early signs of infection. Even birds that look healthy can bring in bacteria or parasites, so isolate the two in a separate enclosure for 2–4 weeks and watch droppings, breathing and appetite. Care for the existing flock first and the new birds last, with separate tools and footwear. Have the bird with nasal discharge seen by the vet during isolation. Joining them on the acquaintance's word alone can spread disease through the whole flock. The two came from the same place and have been in contact, so separating only one is pointless. Antibiotics given on your own hinder diagnosis and create resistance and residue problems. If nothing is wrong during isolation, introduce them across the fence before joining.

IssuesThe owner did not know to set an isolation period when introducing new birds and was about to decide on the acquaintance's word. No isolation enclosure had been set up, and multi-bird hygiene procedures such as the order of care and separating tools had not been decided.

ImprovementBefore taking in new birds, prepare an isolation enclosure away from the existing flock and dedicated tools. Isolate for 2–4 weeks and have a vet health check and fecal exam after arrival. Care for the existing flock first, then the newcomers, disinfecting footwear and hands.

One April evening, an elderly female who had lost her waterproofing struggled in the deep part of the pond and was then floating on the surface with her neck hanging down. Pulled onto the bank, her feathers are soaked and her body cold, water runs from her bill, her breathing is weak and the chest barely moves. She does not lift her head when called. The water is cold, and she is 17 years old.

Which is the most appropriate first action?

1. Lower the head to drain the airway, check the mouth and extend the neck; if breathing has stopped, gently press the keel 1–2 times per second, wrap in a towel to keep warm and see the vet immediately
2. Dry her whole body at once with a hot hair dryer and see the vet after she warms up
3. She is old, so do not stress her; lay her on the straw in the coop and see how she is in the morning
4. Hold her upside down and shake hard to get the water out, then put her straight back in the water to swim

AnswerA. Lower the head to drain the airway, check the mouth and extend the neck; if breathing has stopped, gently press the keel 1–2 times per second, wrap in a towel to keep warm and see the vet immediately

ExplanationA nearly drowned bird has water in the airway and is chilled, with weak breathing. Lower the head slightly to drain the airway, clear water and grass from the mouth, extend the neck and check the chest for breathing. If not breathing, gently press the keel 1–2 times per second, close the bill and blow lightly into the nostrils. Even with no response after a few minutes, wrap her in a towel and transport in a dark, warm box, going to the vet immediately. Drying at once with hot air causes shock from the sudden temperature change and damages the skin. Left until morning, she dies of hypothermia and pneumonia. Shaking upside down injures the neck and organs, and back in the water she drowns again. The root problem is letting an elderly bird with lost waterproofing into deep water; after recovery, restrict her to shallow water.

IssuesAn elderly bird that had lost her waterproofing was allowed free access to a deep pond. Loss of waterproofing is a sign of illness, and the danger that she could no longer float was not recognized. The steps for clearing the airway and CPR after drowning were also unknown.

ImprovementRestrict birds that have lost waterproofing and elderly birds to a shallow tub and fence off deep ponds. A bird that does not preen sees the vet within a few days. Post the drowning procedure in the coop, lower the head to drain water, extend the neck, press the keel, keep warm, and practice it as a family.

One February morning, a 5-year-old male is lying on his side in a corner of the coop. He ate normally last night. When picked up his neck hangs limp and he does not respond to voices or sounds. With a hand on his chest you cannot feel it rise and fall, but his body is still warm. There is grass stuck in his bill. The family says he is already dead.

Which is the most appropriate first action?

1. Shake him hard to wake him while his body is still warm
2. Judge him dead, put him in a box and decide where to bury him
3. Splash cold water on his face to stimulate him and, if no response, watch until midday
4. Remove the grass from the mouth and extend the neck, gently press the keel 1–2 times per second, close the bill and blow into the nostrils for a few minutes, and transport immediately in a dark, warm box

AnswerD. Remove the grass from the mouth and extend the neck, gently press the keel 1–2 times per second, close the bill and blow into the nostrils for a few minutes, and transport immediately in a dark, warm box

ExplanationEven with no response and no detectable chest movement, a warm body means breathing may have stopped only moments ago. A goose's normal breathing is about 20 per minute and heart rate 100–200, checked with a hand on the chest. First clear grass and water from the mouth to open the airway and extend the neck. Gently press the keel with fingers 1–2 times per second, close the bill and blow lightly into the nostrils. Even with no response after a few minutes, put him in a dark, warm box and go to the vet immediately while transporting. Shaking hard injures the neck and organs. Declaring death while the body is still warm loses a bird that could be saved. Cold water advances hypothermia, and waiting until midday loses all chance of resuscitation. Possible causes include choking, poisoning and acute infection, so tell the vet how he was the night before.

IssuesThe family did not know how to check breathing and heartbeat or the CPR steps. The grass stuck in the bill suggests there was no water near the feed so the bird could not rinse its bill. No nighttime rounds were made.

ImprovementPost how to check breathing and heartbeat and the steps for clearing the airway and keel compressions in the coop and practice as a family. Always keep water deep enough to dunk the head next to the feed so they can rinse feed from the bill. Make a habit of checking every bird at evening lock-up, and find a hospital that treats birds at night.

At 1 a.m. in June, you rush to the coop at the sound of frantic honking; a weasel has fled, and bright blood is streaming from the base of a 3-year-old female's neck, staining her feathers red. She is standing but unsteady, and blood is spreading across the floor. The nearest emergency (after-hours) animal hospital is a 50-minute drive.

Which is the most appropriate first action?

1. Put her in the water to wash the blood off and take her to the hospital once she is clean
2. Pour plenty of antiseptic on the wound and wait in the coop until the bleeding stops
3. Tie a cord around her neck as a tourniquet and wait for morning office hours
4. Press hard on the wound with a clean towel and keep pressing, wrap the wings, put her in a dark box and head for the emergency hospital while maintaining pressure

AnswerD. Press hard on the wound with a clean towel and keep pressing, wrap the wings, put her in a dark box and head for the emergency hospital while maintaining pressure

ExplanationStreaming blood means a major vessel is damaged, and even a large goose can bleed to death within tens of minutes. Press hard and continuously on the wound with a clean towel or gauze, hold the wings against the body and wrap them, put her in a dark box and head for the emergency hospital while keeping pressure on. Lifting the cloth to check on the way dislodges the clot, so keep pressing. Even a 50-minute trip gives a far better chance of survival than waiting until morning. Antiseptic does not stop bleeding and damages tissue. A cord around the neck compresses the trachea and vessels and suffocates her, and waiting for morning means death from blood loss. In water the blood will not clot and the bleeding continues. Predator bites involve hidden deep wounds and infection, so treatment is needed even after the bleeding stops. Keep her warm during transport; if very unsteady, lay her on her side without lowering the head too much.

IssuesThe coop had gaps a weasel could get through and nighttime defenses were inadequate. The procedure of maintaining pressure while transporting in heavy bleeding, and the emergency hospital, had not been researched and shared with the family. No gauze or towels for stopping bleeding were kept near the coop.

ImprovementClose coop gaps with mesh of 3 cm or less, bury the mesh at least 30 cm underground and lock up. Keep clean towels, gauze and a cardboard box beside the coop and post the emergency hospital's contact details and directions. Practice as a family keeping pressure on while transporting a bleeding bird.

1 p.m. in August, 34°C. An 8 kg male with a fractured wing must be driven an hour and a half to the only hospital that treats birds. On hand are a large cardboard box, straw, towels, ice packs and a plastic storage bin. The bird is panting from the heat and, excited, is trying to flap his wings.

Which is the most appropriate first action?

1. Fill the storage bin with water, put him in and let him swim to keep cool on the way
2. Wrap the wings against the body with a towel, put him in the straw-lined, darkened cardboard box, run the car's air conditioning and place ice packs wrapped in towels outside the box
3. Let him sit freely on the back seat with the windows open for a breeze
4. Press ice packs directly to his belly, seal the box and carry him in the trunk

AnswerB. Wrap the wings against the body with a towel, put him in the straw-lined, darkened cardboard box, run the car's air conditioning and place ice packs wrapped in towels outside the box

ExplanationA fractured wing worsens with every flap, so wrap the wings against the body with a towel and put him in a straw-lined, darkened cardboard box to limit movement. Summer transport requires guarding against both overheating and overcooling: run the car's air conditioning without blowing cold air directly on the box, and place ice packs wrapped in towels outside or beside the box. Make air holes in the box. In a bin of water he cannot swim with a broken wing and drowns, and spilled water in the car is dangerous. Loose on the seat he flaps, worsening the fracture, and distracts the driver. Ice packs applied directly overcool him, and a sealed box in the trunk means death from heat and lack of oxygen. Before leaving, phone the hospital with your arrival time and the symptoms.

IssuesThe dangers of both overheating and overcooling during summer transport were not understood, and no transport box for a large bird was prepared. Despite living in an area where the bird hospital is far away, the transport procedure had not been planned in advance.

ImprovementKeep a transport kit ready: a cardboard box or dog carrier big enough for a large bird with straw and towels, with air holes already made. Set the summer procedure of air-conditioning the car and placing wrapped ice packs outside the box. Post the hospital's contact details and travel time and make it a habit to phone before leaving.

At 11 p.m. in November, on your round you find a 4-year-old female in a corner of the coop with her bill wide open, neck stretched upward, laboring with each breath. Her tail bobs with every breath and she responds only weakly when called. She was eating normally until evening. Your regular vet is closed, and the emergency (after-hours) animal hospital is an hour's drive away.

Which is the best assessment of this situation?

1. Record a video of the breathing, search the symptoms online and try home remedies
2. Nighttime travel stresses birds, so wait for your regular vet to open in the morning
3. Closing the coop and warming it will ease her, so put in a heater and watch until morning
4. Open-mouth breathing with the neck stretched is a see-the-vet-now criterion; put her in a dark, warm box, phone the emergency hospital and go immediately

AnswerD. Open-mouth breathing with the neck stretched is a see-the-vet-now criterion; put her in a dark, warm box, phone the emergency hospital and go immediately

ExplanationBreathing with the bill open, neck stretched and tail bobbing is a sign of respiratory distress from airway obstruction, serious respiratory disease or a heart problem, and means see the vet now. Birds hide breathing difficulty, so by the time it is visible they are already critical and can die within hours. Put her in a dark, warm box to reduce stimulation, phone the emergency hospital to describe the symptoms and go immediately. The delay in care is far more dangerous than the stress of travel. Closing and heating the coop worsens ventilation, and dust and ammonia make breathing even harder. Video helps at the visit, but searching online and trying home remedies only wastes time. During transport keep the box dark, avoid dust and smoke, and keep the car at a moderate temperature.

IssuesHow to contact the emergency hospital and the travel time had not been researched, and the family had no shared criteria for when to go at night. The list of symptoms that mean see the vet now was unknown.

ImprovementPost in the coop the see-the-vet-now criteria: open-mouth breathing with neck stretched, limp with drooping neck, predator wounds, tissue protruding from the vent. Look up the emergency hospital's phone number and directions, and keep a transport box and towel by the front door.

One Sunday morning, a 6-year-old female staggered and sat down in the run. Her neck droops slightly but she moves her head when called. Her droppings are greenish, and until yesterday she had been grazing where an old shed at the edge of the yard was demolished. You phoned the animal hospital's holiday service, and the vet asks you to describe her current condition in detail.

Which is the most appropriate first action?

1. Say you are leaving right away and will explain on arrival, and hang up
2. Give only your own guess that the staggering is probably stress
3. Feeling sorry for her, ask first how much treatment will cost
4. Report breed, age and weight, feed and water conditions, whether old paint chips were at the demolition site, her breathing and dropping color, and say you will bring video and a photo of the droppings

AnswerD. Report breed, age and weight, feed and water conditions, whether old paint chips were at the demolition site, her breathing and dropping color, and say you will bring video and a photo of the droppings

ExplanationWhat the vet wants over the phone is information to prepare before you arrive. Report breed, age and weight, feed and water conditions, whether there are metal fragments or old paint chips in the yard, her breathing and the color of her droppings, and say you will bring video of the symptoms and a photo of the droppings. The history of grazing at a demolition site plus green droppings is a key clue to lead poisoning from old paint chips; telling the vet lets them prepare X-rays and detoxification. Hanging up and just leaving delays the hospital's preparations. Giving only your guess leaves out important facts. Cost questions can wait; the bird's information comes first. After the call, put her in a dark box with the wings wrapped, do not force-feed and see the vet that day.

IssuesShe was allowed to graze where paint chips and metal fragments from demolition lay. Information to give the vet was not organized, and there was no record from which breed and weight could be given at once. There was no habit of photographing droppings or taking video.

ImprovementMake a card for each bird with breed, age, weight and medical history, and post in the coop the items to report by phone: feed, water, presence of metal fragments, breathing, droppings. Keep birds out of demolition or construction areas until all debris is picked up. Make a habit of taking video and dropping photos whenever something is wrong.