I think Gertrude, my Embden goose, is preparing to go broody
She's made herself a nest in the middle of the yard and every other day she lays a new egg. While she's laying her new egg, Elmer, the Embden gander, stands nearby & keeps watch over her. After she lays Gertrude carefully covers her eggs with straw.
Today at sunset I went out to close the chicken pens and saw Gertie setting in her nest spot with Elmer standing by. Just as I was whispering to DS9 "Shhh, look! I think Gertie is going to start brooding tonight!" my other DS7 kicks a beach ball across the yard which lands right next to Elmer! Of course he yells "WAAAAaaaaagh!!!" and they both go flapping & running across the yard. And I made DS7 go flapping & running to the time-out chair inside.
About a half hour later I saw Gertrude back on the nest, with Elmer standing guard. "Hooray!" I think, "DS7 didn't spoil their plans!" But another half hour later we got a rare heavy rainshower (rare in winter here) and afterwards I saw Gertie off the nest again.
Right before bedtime I went out to shoo the ducks into their house for the night. Elmer & Gertrude usually get put in their pen at the same time, and they did walk there along with the ducks. But after they walked into the goose pen, I had to go in there with them, to pick up Aflac, the blind duck who had walked in there by mistake.
While in the goose pen reaching for the duck, I was surprised -- and pained!-- by Elmer who was biting me! Youch! He has never done that before! He was even hissing at me!
So my questions are: Does this sound like typical broody goose behavior? Do you think Gertie will set on the nest again? Should I pen them up at night or leave them loose in the yard, in case she wants to begin setting again? Should I try to move the nest & eggs into their pen? Should I place something over the nest to keep off the weather? (I was thinking of using a plastic patio table) Will Elmer continue to act so aggressive while she's brooding? How can I discourage him from biting family while still being a strong protector of his mate? Will only the goose incubate the eggs, or will she take turns with the gander?
All right, that's all the questions I can think of for now. I appreciate any input, the geese are new & have never laid or brooded before. I'd like to do all I can to accomodate them if they really can hatch this clutch.
She's made herself a nest in the middle of the yard and every other day she lays a new egg. While she's laying her new egg, Elmer, the Embden gander, stands nearby & keeps watch over her. After she lays Gertrude carefully covers her eggs with straw.
Today at sunset I went out to close the chicken pens and saw Gertie setting in her nest spot with Elmer standing by. Just as I was whispering to DS9 "Shhh, look! I think Gertie is going to start brooding tonight!" my other DS7 kicks a beach ball across the yard which lands right next to Elmer! Of course he yells "WAAAAaaaaagh!!!" and they both go flapping & running across the yard. And I made DS7 go flapping & running to the time-out chair inside.
About a half hour later I saw Gertrude back on the nest, with Elmer standing guard. "Hooray!" I think, "DS7 didn't spoil their plans!" But another half hour later we got a rare heavy rainshower (rare in winter here) and afterwards I saw Gertie off the nest again.
Right before bedtime I went out to shoo the ducks into their house for the night. Elmer & Gertrude usually get put in their pen at the same time, and they did walk there along with the ducks. But after they walked into the goose pen, I had to go in there with them, to pick up Aflac, the blind duck who had walked in there by mistake.
While in the goose pen reaching for the duck, I was surprised -- and pained!-- by Elmer who was biting me! Youch! He has never done that before! He was even hissing at me!
So my questions are: Does this sound like typical broody goose behavior? Do you think Gertie will set on the nest again? Should I pen them up at night or leave them loose in the yard, in case she wants to begin setting again? Should I try to move the nest & eggs into their pen? Should I place something over the nest to keep off the weather? (I was thinking of using a plastic patio table) Will Elmer continue to act so aggressive while she's brooding? How can I discourage him from biting family while still being a strong protector of his mate? Will only the goose incubate the eggs, or will she take turns with the gander?
All right, that's all the questions I can think of for now. I appreciate any input, the geese are new & have never laid or brooded before. I'd like to do all I can to accomodate them if they really can hatch this clutch.
