2 Geese on one nest

[ladybug4ut1]

I have a nest of geese eggs that not only one goose is on but two. does that mean they are both girls or does ganders sit on a nest. I have another gander so the eggs should be fertile but i am trying to sex the two on the nest. below are pics of them.

 

[goosedragon]

Quote:
My gander would often sit beside my goose while she was broody and would even sit on the nest while she went and ate, drink, and poop but he would always move when she came back and honked at him. She would usually stand there for a minunte or two while she moved the eggs around to her liking and then start seting again.
If you are trying to sex them approach the nest slowly and the one that jumps off the nest to attack you is the gander. the goose will usually set tight. Of course you could have two female geese trying to set the same nest and that can be a problem if they don't get along together,about the end of the third week they can develop a temper and start to fight over the nest and they can fight over the goslings that hatch. this is not good for the eggs or the goslings. If they both stick tight to the nest or argue over the nest when one returns from a potty break you could have two geese on the nest. and you might consider seperating them. Either way there is a risk attached, you know your geese better than anyone and will have to make that call for yourself, I would and did try to seperate mine by making two new nests and taking all the eggs from the old one. when I let them back in the barn there was a lot of fussing for about 15 minutes before they were content with their seperate nests.

 

[ladybug4ut1]

Ok well definately 2 goose no gander there....they both hiss bad and one bite me today when i put an egg back in the nest. Ok...any idea what do now. they pretty much freerange do not have a pen for them. Do i try to take one off or just leave them and see what happens. the one was setting first and now the other one joined her. What to do now

 

[goosedragon]

Quote:
Ok they are both broody on that nest. If you remove one she will probably get back to the nest before you do. Your choices are both risky. Either let them share the nest and hope for the best or make two NEW nests and split the eggs between them. Your risk here is that one or both of the geese will not accept the new nest and you will lose the eggs in the nest(s). Your geese ,your choice.

 

[Yummy mummy]

Realizing this is an old post, but very helpful for us newbies. A few weeks ago, I had a similar issue with ducks, I tried to move the nest, that didn’t work- in the end I incubated the eggs - I have doubled my flock -10 ducklings…. I was also worried they would fight. Today, I have mother and daughter geese each sitting on their own nest - only the sitting started 3-4 days appart- wish me luck - I am hopeful the gander will adopt the ducklings, the geese will be patient to lay both sets of eggs and raise the lot. Then figure out what to do with all extended family