Broody geese but no gander

[TX Duck Mom]

I have 2 geese but no gander. They have both gone broody in their 2nd year—it’s been about 3 weeks now. Due to eggs being sterile, I gathered all, but they’re sitting the empty nests anyway. I make them leave at least once a day but they’re back from the pond usually within half an hour. What should I expect? Will they give up after a normal incubation span? Should I give them some fake eggs, or will that give them hope? They are my guard geese for my ducks, so I’d like to get them back out and about.

 

[Jenbirdee]

I have 2 geese but no gander. They have both gone broody in their 2nd year—it’s been about 3 weeks now. Due to eggs being sterile, I gathered all, but they’re sitting the empty nests anyway. I make them leave at least once a day but they’re back from the pond usually within half an hour. What should I expect? Will they give up after a normal incubation span? Should I give them some fake eggs, or will that give them hope? They are my guard geese for my ducks, so I’d like to get them back out and about.

Can you disassemble the nest so they will start laying somewhere else?

 

[Goosebaby]

I have 2 geese but no gander. They have both gone broody in their 2nd year—it’s been about 3 weeks now. Due to eggs being sterile, I gathered all, but they’re sitting the empty nests anyway. I make them leave at least once a day but they’re back from the pond usually within half an hour. What should I expect? Will they give up after a normal incubation span? Should I give them some fake eggs, or will that give them hope? They are my guard geese for my ducks, so I’d like to get them back out and about.

You can try taking apart the nest but they might rebuild it. You may have to repeatedly do that until it finally works.

Also your geese are great at being extra lookouts for danger and their size deters most hawks, but other than that your geese aren’t capable of guarding anything, let alone themselves. If you don’t have any other form of predator deterrents, “like dogs and a fence,” your geese are just an extra attraction for the local wildlife or stray dogs.