Hello:)
I have 2 mama Pilgrim geese and 1 papa. They are all a year old. One of the mama's started laying eggs... everywhere! Under the car, in the garage, on our steps... I found 8. Anyway I got super excited and ran out to buy an incubator. I figured she would just be like our chickens and wouldnt REALLY want to sit on the eggs. So I popped them as I found them in the incubator with a number and date on them.
I was wrong:/ She chose to make a nest in an old dog crate and laid 6 more. Ok. Well I cant give her the eggs back NOW cuz Iv been incubating them so they are farther along then the others, right??
Well next mama number 2 climbed in next to her and made her own nest, shes got 12 eggs! They were laid about 10 days after mama #1 starting sitting in her nest.
Oh yes its fun feeding those 2 in the morning, those 2 honking in my face and papa biting my but:/
So, I need help and here are my questions.
Incubator babies - will they be ok? I only have 1 incubator so I cant really change the temp or humidity as the eggs age, like your supposed to. Should I go get another one? Or will the babies be ok with the current setting? 102 degrees and they get dipped in water once a day and taken out of the incubator for 15 minutes.
Mamas eggs - When the first babies start to hatch will they both leave? Should I watch for that? Or will mama # 2 keep sitting on her eggs?
The biggest question - will the geese be able to protect the babies from the chickens?
We had a broody hen hatch 7 chicks and 3 ducklings and the rest of the flock nearly killed them! Funny thing, our rooster Leroy tried to protect them. <3 Hes the man:) The mama tried to protect them too but couldnt be everywhere at once. Poor sweetheart. We ended up having to separate them until they were about 3 months old:/
This was a long post sorry. Any info you could give would be great!! Thanks!!!!
Heather
Well, pilgrimbabies, I can't answer most of your questions but I can give you my opinion on your last question of whether the geese will be able to protect the babies fm the chickens. In my experience, yes they will BUT it is ALWAYS better to give the momma & babies (along w/gander if hes' willing) a place separate fm the rest of the flock for a week or so anyway. Separate pen, housing or crate or some such for a few days to a week will allow mom and goslings to bond & the goslings to gain some strength before dealing w/the rest of the flock. Then supervise for the first few times when the mom & goslings are reintroduced into the flock to be sure the geese can handle "being parents". I haven't had a chance to have a broody goose w/goslings yet but I've dealt with broody hens, broody Muscovy and broody Call ducks. My Pilgrim gander wanted to eat my baby calls when they first came out.... 
.... and the Call duck parents were no match for my gander..... but my farm dogs were. 
Love those farm dogs!!!! 
