can I tell if my goose egg is fertile by cracking it open?

[Faith Hope]

Okay. Here is the question: Can I tell if a goose egg is fertile the same way I tell chickens and turkeys?

Here is my story: I have had a pair of white Chinese swan geese since last spring. They were about a week old when we got them. As they developed, one seemed obviously female and one male based on behavior, and as they continued to develop, the "gander" developed a bigger, brighter knob and continued to act protective and dominant. My girls even showed both geese in 4H last summer. The"gander" did very well; in fact, the judge said if he had been a bit older, he would have one the whole show because he was such a good example of a MALE Chinese swan goose.

The female developed a pouch and has been laying off and on since last fall. Last fall, I checked a few eggs, they looked infertile to me (based on my experience with chicken eggs). This spring I have cracked a few, and I definitely saw the bull's eye. So I thought we were set to let them hatch out babies. They have a nest of about 10 eggs right now.

HOWEVER, yesterday I went out, and the "male" was on the nest, and when I looked close, there was an egg that was wet and had obviously just come out of "him",

Not a gander -- but now I am completely confused, since I thought my eggs were fertile -- help!

Now, there is a pond across the street, and we see wild geese all the time. Is it possible they could fertiilze them?

We are so disappointed because we thought we had a pair.

 

[SHemphill]

.

 

[Miss Lydia]

Okay. Here is the question: Can I tell if a goose egg is fertile the same way I tell chickens and turkeys?

Here is my story: I have had a pair of white Chinese swan geese since last spring. They were about a week old when we got them. As they developed, one seemed obviously female and one male based on behavior, and as they continued to develop, the "gander" developed a bigger, brighter knob and continued to act protective and dominant. My girls even showed both geese in 4H last summer. The"gander" did very well; in fact, the judge said if he had been a bit older, he would have one the whole show because he was such a good example of a MALE Chinese swan goose.

The female developed a pouch and has been laying off and on since last fall. Last fall, I checked a few eggs, they looked infertile to me (based on my experience with chicken eggs). This spring I have cracked a few, and I definitely saw the bull's eye. So I thought we were set to let them hatch out babies. They have a nest of about 10 eggs right now.

HOWEVER, yesterday I went out, and the "male" was on the nest, and when I looked close, there was an egg that was wet and had obviously just come out of "him",

Not a gander -- but now I am completely confused, since I thought my eggs were fertile -- help!

Now, there is a pond across the street, and we see wild geese all the time. Is it possible they could fertiilze them?

We are so disappointed because we thought we had a pair.

Shouldn't be too hard to find a gander for your girls. or a gosling and let the girls raise him up. What do you mean by could the wild geese across the street fertilize them? Do your geese live at the pond?

 

[Faith Hope]

My geese do not live on a pond. They swim in a small swimming pool -- really funny!

My neighbors across the street have a pond that usually has a few wild geese on it. Last year we saw baby geese out there. I have never caught my geese across the street, but I have wondered about where they were a time or to and then saw them coming from over that direction.

My former "gander" is now sitting on her eggs happily. I hope they are actually fertile.