geese sharing nests and ganders

[Goosygoosygander]

I think we need some members who have many geese to answer these questions. @Iain Utah @servpolice I just have 1 mated pair no way I can help.

I had only wanted 1 pair but kept being told I bought a pair only to find 6 months later they were 2 boys who I didn't have the heart to split up. So I went searching for girls. The first 2 years the goslings hatched but disappeared within 2 weeks ? python ? then 1 hatch out of 3 survived last year ( 1 boy 5 girls ) and now it's gone to the other extreme. I wanted the boys to freshen the gene pool up anyway. If it was up to me I'd keep them all but my hubby is horrified at the thought of another 40 geese mating next year ha! ha!

 

[Goosygoosygander]

Sounds like you need to break up the nests and toss the eggs. Don't let them set if you don't want more geese.

I didn't expect so many eggs as previously the girls laid 6 to 8 eggs x 3 hatches and for 2 years no live goslings after 2 weeks ? python ? last year 3 hatches of 8 resulted in 5 goslings so I was so surprised about the number of eggs in the nests. Nobodies hatched any more yet and it's 4 weeks now so we may not see anymore gossies. I was going to sell any extra goslings.

 

[Goosygoosygander]

Geese older than 2 usually have their favourite female aka their wife. They younger geese usually don't properly pair up until they're a bit older. Young geese tend to mate with who ever appeals to them but not a proper wife or husband (yet).

I agree by grabbing the eggs and not allowing them to sit because trust me if one goose makes a good hatch she can have many goslings.

The younger geese you can pick a random male with a random female.

The older geese hang around with their spouses so it's easy to tell which are pairs.

Goodluck!

Thanks for that. I'm not sure how you stop them sitting I would feel bad destroying their nests, all that work. and if you take the eggs away they just keep laying. These 1st year girls mated in July/August and sat before they have turned 12 months in October !!! they seem quite determined to breed.

 

[Miss Lydia]

Goose eggs are tasty too make awesome omelets so let them keep laying.