Domestic Geese hatching - HELP

[hulaskirt87]

Hello all!
My family and I are pretty new to chickens and geese for that matter but we jumped right in. We have 12 chickens and a mated pair of large white emden domestic geese (I think) We were not planning on having any goslings or chicks and we were just using the eggs for consumption but the mama goose started getting very broody so we decided to let her try and hatch a couple. This was kind of on a whim. I have been researching a little and have gathered about 28 days is the norm before the babies start hatching.

The eggs were laid about 3 weeks ago and just a few days after she started sitting on them. However, she does not get off the nest at all that I can tell. The geese & chickens share a coop so she has built quite a large nest on the second level of the coop. Are there any tips that you all can give me on what I am doing right and what I am doing wrong here? I am not even certain that the eggs will hatch but they are dated so we will know when to give up on them. Also, what should we do when they do hatch? are the chickens a danger to them or can we leave them with mama goose?

Any advise would be great!!!

 

[hulaskirt87]

bump

 

[billw]

You might try the geese forum in order to get more advice.

My experience has been that geese are very good at hatching and raising goslings and require no assistance. I make sure there is some food near the nest. Otherwise, mama goose knows what to do. Geese are very protective. The chickens may regret it if they get too close to the goslings. Our ducks keep a wide berth after the geese run them down a couple of times.

 

[txcarl1258]

Don't worry she is fine. If you are worried about them being viable you can candle them, but I would wait to look until she gets off the nest. If not she will probably fight you while on the nest and may break some of the eggs.

 

[hulaskirt87]

Thanks guys! Still waiting! They should be hatching any day now!