I have acquired a mated pair, the female is standard toulouse and the gander is dewlap, need to move

Since acquiring them a month ago I have been working every day thats above freezing to create them a new private enclosure as they are in the chicken coop and being rude to everyone else. We found that she had laid an egg yesterday but had not really made a good nest and it was just laying in the middle of the coop. I brought it in the house so it wont freeze, does this mean she wont sit, If I finish the pen this weekend should I go ahead and move them and create a nest to put the egg in? I also havnt seen any mating behavior but I dont watch them all the time. And just to throw a wrench in the process, the goose had her foot bitten off by a snapping turtle and just has a stub....Im a long time chicken lady but new to geese any advice would be helpful. thnks.

chickenlady35 said:

Since acquiring them a month ago I have been working every day thats above freezing to create them a new private enclosure as they are in the chicken coop and being rude to everyone else. We found that she had laid an egg yesterday but had not really made a good nest and it was just laying in the middle of the coop. I brought it in the house so it wont freeze, does this mean she wont sit, If I finish the pen this weekend should I go ahead and move them and create a nest to put the egg in? I also havnt seen any mating behavior but I dont watch them all the time. And just to throw a wrench in the process, the goose had her foot bitten off by a snapping turtle and just has a stub....Im a long time chicken lady but new to geese any advice would be helpful. thnks.

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Has her stub healed okay? always keep her on soft ground or she'll get sores and you don't want to have to deal with staff. as for egg laying well breeding season hasn't quite started for most of us it's usually anywhere from Jan to Feb before it starts depending on where you are in the world, so more than likely that's why you haven't heard any mating yes heard the gander makes a distinct call when mating has happened and if your around the place when it happens you'll know it. Geese just like ducks and chickens begin to lay they will build a clutch before they begin to get broody and you never know how many they will lay before it hits them to sit, So get them settled in their new place[house] with lots of bedding and put the egg in there to encourage her to lay there, most likely it will be up into March April may before she gets serious and egg are fertile. Geese lay every other day and are wonderful brooders and mothers and
fathers. And mark each egg she lays that way when she does begin to sit or they start piling up you can take out the oldest and let her sit the newest.

Welcome to BYC

ok thanks so much. Ill move them as soon as I can. Yes the stump has healed im not sure how long ago the injury happened. I got her from an older gentleman who had passed away and his kids didnt know much about them. She gets a running start out toward the pool for her baths but she falls alot. Thus the need to be enclosed for her protection. They are so cool and I really hope they have babies this spring.

chickenlady35 said:

ok thanks so much. Ill move them as soon as I can. Yes the stump has healed im not sure how long ago the injury happened. I got her from an older gentleman who had passed away and his kids didnt know much about them. She gets a running start out toward the pool for her baths but she falls alot. Thus the need to be enclosed for her protection. They are so cool and I really hope they have babies this spring.

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Wouldn't put it passed them I really don't think i have heard of a goose breed that given the space bedding good food and lots of love didn't want to sit on her eggs and hatch goslings. And my goodness are they devoted parents, your going to love this, except you'll need to watch your gander he'll become very protective and may try and bite you, Don't let him get away with this. And both are fiercely protective of their babies. His behavior is very normal but they can get pretty aggressive so if you have other animals, kids or your self of hubs need to keep a close eye on him. I usually carry a bucket or long pole and keep it between my gander and myself once mating season begins and even though it's getting closer by day mine is already being Mr grumpy pants. Even a broom will work to keep him at a distance. None to hit them just body armor lol

You might as well crack the egg open and see if it's fertile.

Percheron chick said:

You might as well crack the egg open and see if it's fertile.

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Really? Will it have a blood spot like a chicken egg?

Miss Lydia said:

Wouldn't put it passed them I really don't think i have heard of a goose breed that given the space bedding good food and lots of love didn't want to sit on her eggs and hatch goslings. And my goodness are they devoted parents, your going to love this, except you'll need to watch your gander he'll become very protective and may try and bite you, Don't let him get away with this. And both are fiercely protective of their babies. His behavior is very normal but they can get pretty aggressive so if you have other animals, kids or your self of hubs need to keep a close eye on him. I usually carry a bucket or long pole and keep it between my gander and myself once mating season begins and even though it's getting closer by day mine is already being Mr grumpy pants. Even a broom will work to keep him at a distance. None to hit them just body armor lol

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yes yesterday he was especially hissy. He has never tried to bite he just puts on a big show. Just cause, their names and George and Mille. Cant wait to watch and see, Pray for a warm day soon! Its 19 here today, cant drive a nail in that kind of weather!

chickenlady35 said:

yes yesterday he was especially hissy. He has never tried to bite he just puts on a big show. Just cause, their names and George and Mille. Cant wait to watch and see, Pray for a warm day soon! Its 19 here today, cant drive a nail in that kind of weather!

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youve been very helpful, thanks again.

Percheron chick makes a good point one way of finding out if egg is fertile and if that cold they are going to freeze anyway. I say your temps are going to have to moderate before you see a broody just like here. My goose started laying last year end of Feb and didn't go broody till May.



https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/16008/how-to-tell-a-fertile-vs-infertile-egg-pictures/50 the bulls eye is what you look for.

chickenlady35 said:

Really? Will it have a blood spot like a chicken egg?

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Nope, not a blood spot (which is NOT indicative of fertility in any egg) but the bulls eye appearance indicating a couple of cellular changes in fertile eggs - go to the link provided by Miss Lydia.