I see a lot of talk about using a broody hen to hatch goose eggs. And I know that goose eggs are much larger, so you can only fit one or two under a broody hen. But what about the opposite? Or would a goose be too much for a chicken egg, and break them? I haven't even actually got the geese YET, but I am expecting some sebbie hatching eggs soon. Not my first time owning geese, but my first time hatching and raising them. And I didn't own chickens the last time I had geese either. But I do very big spring hatches with chicks right now. And I have two styrofoam incubators running in my room. I can only imagine how many chicken eggs would fit under a goose, and I would LOVE to use one of them to help me get extra chicks in the springtime. If I get enough female geese, maybe I could take eggs from one, and add it to the nests of the others, and then use that goose for chicken eggs. What are the downfalls of using geese to hatch chicken eggs?
I wonder if the goose would step on and crush the eggs. If she hatches them she may try to take them into water. Which would not be good.
That is an advantage I have, because there is no source of water here, aside from water buckets and bowls. Chicks wouldn't be able to jump up into the buckets though, and the bowls are all meant for baby chicks, although they are actually just no-tip stainless steel dog bowls, so that probably wouldn't be a problem here. Has anyone ever tried this? And did the goose kill any eggs or chicks by squishing it, or was she always aware of where they were?
I have a Muscovy duck that will hatch and raise anything you put in her nest, but I would be afraid the goose would crush the eggs unless is was a small breed goose like an Egyptian.
From the looks of it, I may have to become a pioneer and be the first to try it and see. I usually end up with a lot of eggs hitting the fridge anyway, and next year I'm expecting about four times as many laying hens (thank you McMurray for the pullets...). But I don't make very much money off of eggs that have been in the refrigerator (assuming anyone wants eggs for eating then, anyway), so I'd rather hatch them. Once the incubators and broody hens are full, I may try putting the extras under a goose, instead. I guess next year, keep your eyes out for a report and/or progress.
Talking to folks that have tried it with ducks I'd say trying a goose on hatching chicks probably wouldn't work, chickens eggs aren't as thick shelled as a ducks or gooses and most likely the goose would bust them all to pieces.
