Are your geese done laying for the year?

[sianara]

It turns out Beatrice was NOT broody a few days ago but I think she is now. Since yesterday she's been on the nest almost constantly. She comes off a few times and runs around on the grass honking and stretching her wings out with Freddie doing the same thing right behind her

When I sprayed down their pen this afternoon I was quick cuz I didn't want to disturb her but about 10 min after I was done she came out for a few minutes and then went back in.

If she is truly broody this time I'm wondering if any of the eggs are even viable still? The oldest one was laid 6-07. The last time I counted she had 9 in there but she could have laid a 10th since then. Guess I'll find out when goslings start hatching.

Keep your fingers crossed for her please :/

 

[Miss Lydia]

It turns out Beatrice was NOT broody a few days ago but I think she is now. Since yesterday she's been on the nest almost constantly. She comes off a few times and runs around on the grass honking and stretching her wings out with Freddie doing the same thing right behind her

When I sprayed down their pen this afternoon I was quick cuz I didn't want to disturb her but about 10 min after I was done she came out for a few minutes and then went back in.

If she is truly broody this time I'm wondering if any of the eggs are even viable still? The oldest one was laid 6-07. The last time I counted she had 9 in there but she could have laid a 10th since then. Guess I'll find out when goslings start hatching.

Keep your fingers crossed for her please

I do believe I'd candle in about 7-10 days though just to be sure you don't have any older ones getting nasty, 2 of Missy's were blk liquid inside and would probably have exploded soon so I got rid of them first. None of Missy's were fertile got rid of them all last Wed. she still hasn't gotten completely over it but is doing better.

 

[sianara]

Good suggestion - I will do that! That's all she'd need right? Have a few eggs explode underneath her and she'd NEVER go broody again!!!

 

[DamselflyGypsy]

Bought a pair of American Buff geese at the auction in April. Think they said they were 4 years old? She was a bit all over the yard when i brought them home so most of her eggs were broken or stolen by the dog. I managed to set her up in a breeding pen and she was a great broody mom. She only layed 5 eggs after i penned her, which only one hatched, one dud, and three were crushed right before hatching when the goats pushed the gate in. I wasn't trying to get my hopes up since it was my first time with geese and i'm still learning. They were the picture perfect of proud parents with their only wee baby though, but alas he drown in the pond just last night. Another learning experience for me on what needs to be changed in my yard but i'm still super heart broken as he was doing so well. Is it to late in the season for her to lay anymore if i were to lock her in her pen again or is the season done? They seem a bit down in the dumps at the moment. It's a quiet yard out there today but i'm sure they will heal and forget faster then i will. Just wanted to know if she will or even should be set up for a late round 2?

 

[Miss Lydia]

Bought a pair of American Buff geese at the auction in April. Think they said they were 4 years old? She was a bit all over the yard when i brought them home so most of her eggs were broken or stolen by the dog. I managed to set her up in a breeding pen and she was a great broody mom. She only layed 5 eggs after i penned her, which only one hatched, one dud, and three were crushed right before hatching when the goats pushed the gate in. I wasn't trying to get my hopes up since it was my first time with geese and i'm still learning. They were the picture perfect of proud parents with their only wee baby though, but alas he drown in the pond just last night. Another learning experience for me on what needs to be changed in my yard but i'm still super heart broken as he was doing so well. Is it to late in the season for her to lay anymore if i were to lock her in her pen again or is the season done? They seem a bit down in the dumps at the moment. It's a quiet yard out there today but i'm sure they will heal and forget faster then i will. Just wanted to know if she will or even should be set up for a late round 2?

She is most likely through for the year. So sorry about their gosling, sometimes it hurts real bad the lessons we learn. They will grieve too.

 

[Miss Lydia]

Well it's been almost 2 weeks since I took Missy's eggs away because they weren't fertile, but she is till acting a bit broody, still spending time inside her house. Is this normal for them to take this long to get over it? She seems fine eating and drinking and looks good.

 

[sianara]

I'm happy to say Beatrice's brooding experiment and excessive laying period is finally over! About 2 weeks ago I candled all her eggs and none had grown at all which I guess is common for yearlings. I had noticed she was off the nest longer and more often those last few days so I figured she was coming to the end. Both geese are back to their normal personalities this week also. When I lean down and talk to them they now respond again which is one thing I really enjoyed. For these last several months they wouldn't get as close to me and if I talked to them they'd just stare at me lol. So in spring 2014, Beatrice should be ready to have a successful hatch. Looking fw to it

 

[Miss Lydia]

I'm happy to say Beatrice's brooding experiment and excessive laying period is finally over! About 2 weeks ago I candled all her eggs and none had grown at all which I guess is common for yearlings. I had noticed she was off the nest longer and more often those last few days so I figured she was coming to the end. Both geese are back to their normal personalities this week also. When I lean down and talk to them they now respond again which is one thing I really enjoyed. For these last several months they wouldn't get as close to me and if I talked to them they'd just stare at me lol. So in spring 2014, Beatrice should be ready to have a successful hatch. Looking fw to it

Glad to hear all is back to normal, Missy finally is in molt Sam started about 2 weeks before her. but they seem to be doing much better to now that all the egg laying and brooding is behind them. Look forward to hearing about Beatrice next breeding season. Hoping for goslings!

 

[sianara]

Thanks Miss Lydia, me too

 

[hopemason28]

Hey Pete and anyone else out there who may have knowledge,
I have a bit of a situation here with my Chinese crested.... seems that I have stumbled across a nest that one of them has been sitting on. it has 5 eggs on it 4 look like they have been there for a while but one is bright white and looks like new. I haven't seen an egg in a long while from my mating pair but the one sitting is the one I didn't know if it was male or female. Does this happen sometimes??? We will candle them tonight and see what is going on inside if possible. Just wanted some insight from more seasoned Geese owners and hatchers. Thanks for any help or insight you may have.
Hope and Jeff