Broody Goose off Nest at 4 Weeks

[acceabex]

I do have an update, one of the eggs did break the day she was off the nest. That is probably the peeping I heard in the morning. However it was too early (less than 30 days or so, if I'm mathing right this morning). The gosling, whole mostly formed, never tried to peep through and didn't make it.

Sad news with a bright spot, the other 4 she's sitting on are developing. I thought something was off in the nest that morning and even tried to poke around. Wish I would've poked more diligently, but truthfully, I wouldn't have been able to save it...

 

[Miss Lydia]

I am sorry about the lil gosling, but when we let mama goose do it her way and even if we incubate we're bound to have losses.

Hopefully the rest will soon be hatching and the enjoyment will begin.

 

[acceabex]

Suddenly we're down to only 3 (from a clutch of 7 and 4 yesterday)... I guess another broke today, but I think it should have been viable (tomorrow is 35 days). I'm a bit confused and unsure of what is actually happening.

I've considered that maybe the nest doesn't have enough material (so I've added more hay just in case she'd like some more) and another goose may be breaking the eggs. I'll watch everyone tomorrow in case her mate or her friend are pulling any silliness...

Any ideas about why eggs would be breaking in this last week so close to hatch?

 

[acceabex]

The wait is killing me -- today was 35 days according to the calendar... And at least some of these eggs had a gosling developing. So cough them up already!

I need to get with the goslings and show them the calendar. I'm getting so antsy I'm shopping Metzer... Because who doesn't need a few more geese and ducks...

 

[acceabex]

I went and candled them this morning -- I saw no movement inside the egg nor heard anything with tapping. Though the egg is full, and while it's possible I have the date wrong, I did count multiple times from the day she seemed stuck to the nest.

I'm about ready to decide that something has gone wrong with this clutch. I'll give her until the weekend to sit -- how long do you give a goose after day 35? I am sure this has been answered, but a search only turned up chickens.

 

[Miss Lydia]

Go to end of the weekend then candle again before deciding . 35 days is long if your sure on when she started.

 

[acceabex]

I was going to post on the other thread... Should've simply kept it as one

I went to candle last night, but couldn't. I decided I'll leave it, she's a goose, she knows best. This morning, she's off the nest completely. This would be 36 days.

I found this resource, it's probably been posted before, http://anrcatalog.ucanr.edu/pdf/8127.pdf

Describes reasons why hatching may fail. Two of the remaining eggs were Sebastopol, so that's probably reason number one.

Melancholy morning, but I'll sigh, dust myself off.... And call metzer when they open, lol.

 

[Miss Lydia]

I am sorry but at least there is Metzers. What breed are you looking at? and one nice thing is she'll most likely adopt these goslings. Mine did she pined for her lost gosling for about a week after it died but she finally got real interested in the 2 days olds I brought home and at 3 weeks I gave them to her for good. Her and the gander were so happy to have babies.

 

[acceabex]

I have sebastopols and buff geese. I was thinking a boy and girl sebastopol and a girl buff... Decisions decisions!

 

[Miss Lydia]

Both are gorgeous I haven't ever had Sebbies but I did have a Buff female from a 1 day old gosling she was precious. Sounds like a great plan to me.