WOW that was very brave, although my gooses eggs are pretty tuff so hopefully if I ever had to do that I wouldn't break one inside. I would be so afraid of hurting her. Glad you were able to help her. Is she laying okay this year?
flockman, I am so sorry to hear you lost her, I know you all are saddend by it, and Boris I can not imagine what he is feeling now. looking at my gander and how attached he is to my goose. But I hope I can encourage you about your 2 goslings, last year my gander actually took over as papa goose...
If you feel it's time to let her go, it might be a good idea to let Boris see her afterward so he knows she is gone, it's going to be hard for him. [after you have put her down far from him. ] still holding out hope.
Could be the egg is moving and maybe pressing on a nerve, do you have any calcium? any KY jelly or vaseline, try lubing her up after she has soaked thats when she will be the most relaxed. is she drinking? if she will drink you can put the calcium in her water.
Don't give up on just one soak, Haunted had one of her geese go egg bound about a month or so ago, and I'm sure she had to soak her more than once, I'll see if I can find her thread. Also sitting on warm towels out of the dryer may help...
I haven't had the experience with my goose yet as far as hardly no shell or acting the way you have described, although I don't go into the house when she is laying so she maybe looking trance like. Like you said chickens can do this and I have seen it in some of mine,usually clears up on it's...