Clutch size?

[kesrchicky16]

I'm sure this has been asked and answered many times but I can't find my answer.

I have Toulouse females 18 months old. Last year they did beautifully with sitting and raising the eggs I left them. I let the first broody one have her clutch of 10. She hatched 9. I kept kicking the other off the nest but she helped mother the babies very well.

How many eggs should I let them keep in their clutches? I now have accommodations for many more Goslings then I did last year so ultimate quantity isn't a problem. I just don't want to leave so many that it compromises the hatch. I do have an incubator if the second one actually abandons her nest that she is filling now.

10? 15? As many as she lays before sitting?

 

[Isaac 0]

The average size ranges from 5 to 15 eggs, but depends on the breed, I would base her clutch size by however many eggs she can keep sufficiently under her without any trouble. Somewhere between 6-12 eggs is common.

 

[kesrchicky16]

The average size ranges from 5 to 15 eggs, but depends on the breed, I would base her clutch size by however many eggs she can keep sufficiently under her without any trouble. Somewhere between 6-12 eggs is common.

My 2 problems are she is one that buries up her sides with bedding and feathers so I can see if eggs are poking out. Also her gander will barely let anything near the coop when she is on there. So her hiding in the front corner makes even seeing her head impossible once she starts setting. He's not mean out in the yard but he is monstrously protective in the coop now that they have nests.

 

[Isaac 0]

My 2 problems are she is one that buries up her sides with bedding and feathers so I can see if eggs are poking out. Also her gander will barely let anything near the coop when she is on there. So her hiding in the front corner makes even seeing her head impossible once she starts setting. He's not mean out in the yard but he is monstrously protective in the coop now that they have nests.

Yes, Ganders in springtime are definitely a force to be reckoned with, Not many options since you are weary going in with the gander their. Could you take the eggs away when they go out for a break? I would think six/seven eggs or so would be fine for her, Too many eggs can have the opposite effect and can actually make their hatch rate lower. When she gets off you can feel for any eggs that are cold to the touch, obviously meaning she has too many.

 

[DiYMama540]

Great advice by @MasterOfClucker !!

 

[kesrchicky16]

She isn't broody yet. I just remember her from last year. She has laid 10 so far and that was what I let her set last year her only lost last spring was 1 shrinkwraped baby.

I just realized that I miss spoke she is 2 years old.

Maybe I'll take a few for baking.

 

[Isaac 0]

She isn't broody yet. I just remember her from last year. She has laid 10 so far and that was what I let her set last year her only lost last spring was 1 shrinkwraped baby.

I just realized that I miss spoke she is 2 years old.

Maybe I'll take a few for baking.

Sorry, figured she was currently broody, Shrinkwrapped is caused by lack of moisture in the egg, I would definitely give her less than ten eggs for sure. Keep us updated!

 

[Miss Lydia]

My Toulouse stopped laying at 8 eggs and began brooding she isn’t a large goose so 8 was a perfect number for her.