Deserted eggs,. Why?

[bernie131]

My goose family has been producing 3-4 goslings each year for 4yrs now. Last year she left an egg in the nest and this year she left 4 in the nest and only 1 live birth. After almost 2 days of them being left behind, I tried to hatch them and all of them except one was full grown but without an absorbed yolks sac in varying degrees. Can someone explain why this might have happened,?

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

A female will generally leave the nest about 2 days after the first baby hatched. Any left behind will die without that extra warmth.

I believe @Texas Kiki May be able to help, or help direct you in the right way.

 

[bernie131]

View attachment 1803029 So these yolk sacs were almost absorbed, why would she take just the one and leave 4 eggs, She had 4 eggs last year and raised 3 goslings and left one egg and it was full grown also, what could be the problem?

 

[Miss Lydia]

Maybe something scared her off the nest? can't see the pic is say error.

 

[Gray Farms]

I agree with @oldhenlikesdogs. If nothing else hatches after a couple days after the first gosling hatches females do typically leave the nest with the gosling/goslings. I would say "know way to confirm" they assume no others are going to hatch.

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

View attachment 1803029 So these yolk sacs were almost absorbed, why would she take just the one and leave 4 eggs, She had 4 eggs last year and raised 3 goslings and left one egg and it was full grown also, what could be the problem?

After 2 days the first to hatch needs to eat, so they leave to tend to what's hatched and alive. It may help to remove the eggs and store them until your goose starts to set, than give them back so they are all incubated at the same rate and time. I would assume because the goose is setting on the nest to lay more eggs some development is occurring that is setting some eggs behind others.

It also could be your hen is just eager to leave the nest. You could try confining her to the nest for a few days with food and water near. She may or may not continue to set on the eggs.