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What Just Happened?

post #1 of 8
Thread Starter 

I have a pen with three breeding pairs of geese, several ducks and a guard llama.

 

This year, with two broody geese, I decided to allow the geese to sit on some eggs and hope for some goslings.  Two of the geese were quick to take up residence in the dog house/brooder hut and stole eggs from each other as time permitted.

 

Today, both geese were out of the nest and there was NOTHING.  No eggs, straw, anything.  I chalked it up to maybe the eggs weren't good.  Then, I found both geese back in the house tonight as if sitting on eggs.

 

We've had a sudden cold snap which included snow that caused the ducks to stop laying.  We're supposed to have a warm-up.  Sid the llama is extremely protective of the flock, so much so that I've only lost birds (knock wood) to really nasty cold and a clumsy llama foot.  I doubt seriously anything would've gotten the eggs without my geese knowing about it.

 

So, what happened?  Did they eat the eggs?  Something else?  I'm just puzzled, not upset.  caf.gif

www.howlingdead.com www.lachlei.com www.shadowhelm.net
Facebook: www.facebook.com/skywarrior  Twitter: MH_Bonham Blog: EatingWildMontana.blogspot.com
Maggie Bonham, Check Out My Latest Articles On Chickens and Other Pets.  The more I learn about chickens, the more I'm thankful dinosaurs aren't around.
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www.howlingdead.com www.lachlei.com www.shadowhelm.net
Facebook: www.facebook.com/skywarrior  Twitter: MH_Bonham Blog: EatingWildMontana.blogspot.com
Maggie Bonham, Check Out My Latest Articles On Chickens and Other Pets.  The more I learn about chickens, the more I'm thankful dinosaurs aren't around.
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post #2 of 8

Could rats have gotten the eggs?  

Colleen
EE, Australorp, Silkies, Showgirls, Bantam Cochin, WCB Polish, D'Anver, Mille Fleur and Porcelain D'Uccles, Bantam Salmon Faverolles, some interesting mixes, Nigerian Dwarf Goats, Persians and Maine Coon Cat, Ducks, and Sebastopol Geese.

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Colleen
EE, Australorp, Silkies, Showgirls, Bantam Cochin, WCB Polish, D'Anver, Mille Fleur and Porcelain D'Uccles, Bantam Salmon Faverolles, some interesting mixes, Nigerian Dwarf Goats, Persians and Maine Coon Cat, Ducks, and Sebastopol Geese.

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post #3 of 8
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by Enchanted Sunrise Farms View Post

Could rats have gotten the eggs?  

 

 

I thought of that, but idunno.gif I would think it unlikely with two geese sitting on them in the same house.  The weather has been weird enough that I'm not finding duck eggs, even after looking several times during the day.  My chickens are still laying okay, but my older girls in one small pen have stopped (normally afternoon layers) and even the Barnevelders in a separate pen have taken a couple days off.  They're in the barn.  The main group of chickens are having no problems laying.

www.howlingdead.com www.lachlei.com www.shadowhelm.net
Facebook: www.facebook.com/skywarrior  Twitter: MH_Bonham Blog: EatingWildMontana.blogspot.com
Maggie Bonham, Check Out My Latest Articles On Chickens and Other Pets.  The more I learn about chickens, the more I'm thankful dinosaurs aren't around.
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www.howlingdead.com www.lachlei.com www.shadowhelm.net
Facebook: www.facebook.com/skywarrior  Twitter: MH_Bonham Blog: EatingWildMontana.blogspot.com
Maggie Bonham, Check Out My Latest Articles On Chickens and Other Pets.  The more I learn about chickens, the more I'm thankful dinosaurs aren't around.
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post #4 of 8
Thread Starter 

Now I know.

 

I have a raven coming in and snatching eggs.  Guess I've got to rethink the whole goose run.
 

www.howlingdead.com www.lachlei.com www.shadowhelm.net
Facebook: www.facebook.com/skywarrior  Twitter: MH_Bonham Blog: EatingWildMontana.blogspot.com
Maggie Bonham, Check Out My Latest Articles On Chickens and Other Pets.  The more I learn about chickens, the more I'm thankful dinosaurs aren't around.
Reply
www.howlingdead.com www.lachlei.com www.shadowhelm.net
Facebook: www.facebook.com/skywarrior  Twitter: MH_Bonham Blog: EatingWildMontana.blogspot.com
Maggie Bonham, Check Out My Latest Articles On Chickens and Other Pets.  The more I learn about chickens, the more I'm thankful dinosaurs aren't around.
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post #5 of 8

I once saw a magpie spearing a chicken egg on its lower bill and flying off with it. A goose egg would probably be too heavy for a magpie - but I didn't think of a raven. Thanks for the update!

0.1 White Danish Goose - hatched April 10th 2013

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0.1 White Danish Goose - hatched April 10th 2013

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post #6 of 8
We had a crow snatching duck eggs, he would call just before grabbing and running.

Hung aviary netting up, no more egg snatching.

Celtic Oaks Farm LLC NPIP
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Celtic Oaks Farm LLC NPIP
Send us an EMAIL Like Us on Facebook Visit us on the web CELTICOAKS.COM
2013 waiting list ==== Our Swaps ==== Our Breeds (photos)
We CAN ship to VA (permit pending) & HI (permit required for each box)
Shipping live birds Article
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post #7 of 8

A raven you say. Interesting, my first thought that with two geese sharing the same next or two nests very close together, they would keep trying to steal the others eggs and break them themselves. I've never had good experiences with 2 birds on one nest.

Coming soon to a store near you.

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Coming soon to a store near you.

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post #8 of 8

Glad you found out what it was.  So was he taking them when the geese got off the nest?

Colleen
EE, Australorp, Silkies, Showgirls, Bantam Cochin, WCB Polish, D'Anver, Mille Fleur and Porcelain D'Uccles, Bantam Salmon Faverolles, some interesting mixes, Nigerian Dwarf Goats, Persians and Maine Coon Cat, Ducks, and Sebastopol Geese.

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Colleen
EE, Australorp, Silkies, Showgirls, Bantam Cochin, WCB Polish, D'Anver, Mille Fleur and Porcelain D'Uccles, Bantam Salmon Faverolles, some interesting mixes, Nigerian Dwarf Goats, Persians and Maine Coon Cat, Ducks, and Sebastopol Geese.

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