Do Geese have a breeding season????

[Plain_View_Farm]

I tried this post in the "Other Poultry section" but I received no replies.
I'm hoping there are other Goose breeders in here that can answer my question.

We have (what we believe to be) 2 female White Chinese and 2 male White Chinese geese. We are getting on average 5 eggs/week which is why we believe 2 female. We started incubating the eggs when we were seeing geese mate. We have 5 healthy goslings from 2 incubations at the moment. But, we've have had 2 incubation periods now where we had no goose eggs hatch.
Does anyone know if they only breed at a certain time of the year? We don't' want to waste anymore eggs if there is not a chance they will be fertile and productive.

Thanks,
David

 

[SundownWaterfowl]

Geese breed during the spring to early summer.

 

[Plain_View_Farm]

Thanks Sundown, thats what I would have thought. As these eggs were laid the beginning of April they should have been fertile.

Do you know of any reason they would have stopped breeding?
We did move them around that time away from the bedroom. (they honk and screech all night when it is full moon out) But, they went into an area twice what they had. They were breeding in a kiddie wading pool we had setup for them which moved with them.
Perhaps the move had something to do with it.

David

 

[SundownWaterfowl]

Quote:
Possibly the move could have affected them a little. Make sure they have plenty of fresh water. My geese like to make in the pond, or next to a bucket of water.

What are you feeding them?

 

[Plain_View_Farm]

Oh they have fresh water. I put an automatic waterer which is in a 3 gallon bucket connected to a 55 gal barrel collecting water from the Turkey house.
We feed Purina Layena and a good quality scratch grain for treat. That is what they have been on since they got off starter feed. They also get as much grass as I can get for them by moving there fence enclosure around. They can clean it off pretty quick though.

David

 

[SundownWaterfowl]

You should give them some oyster shells, or calicum chips. Grass is also a big thing, they need the grass to lay eggs.

 

[Plain_View_Farm]

Oh we get eggs....
As I mentioned 5 a week which from what I've researched on White Chinese is a good to high lay rate for 2 females. (I may be misinformed though)
The Layena has a good calcium ratio in it which is why we feed that. Their shells as well as the duck, turkey and chickens are quite hard.