GOOSE BREEDING THREAD - for breeding, incubating, hatching and rearing.

[flockman]

Depends where you live. It could be very soon. Mine start in March.

I wonder when my girl is going to start laying ??? This is her first season, she won't even be a year old until May 5th. But she should be laying soon, shouldn't she? Do I need to give her a nest box or...???
Thanks

-kim-

 

[sferle]

I have 3 goose eggs , how long do I have before they are not viable, I am looking for a incubator now

 

[flockman]

I have 3 goose eggs , how long do I have before they are not viable, I am looking for a incubator now

2 weeks. Best before 2 weeks.

 

[mightymax]

Thanks guys for the egg laying info. Flockman...I live in California and right now the weather is beautiful so I'm hoping to get some eggs here pretty soon. I'll let you all know when I do.
Thanks again for your help.

-kim-

 

[sferle]

2 weeks. Best before 2 weeks.

Ok great , I ordered my incubator on the 14th should arrive on the 21st

 

[flockman]

Ok great , I ordered my incubator on the 14th should arrive on the 21st

Good luck!

 

[Hungarylife]

Hi everybody, I'm back again after the winter lay off.

Geraldine (goose) has started laying her eggs early this year, pretty much an egg on each alternate day. Last year she laid 23 eggs but for several reasons, mostly down to us not providing the right environment, none hatched. Several died half way through and some were not fertile at all. Our geese are free range along with all the chickens and although they were shut in the barn at night away from the chickens, during the day they all mix together and I think it all got a bit stressful.

Anyway, we have now given them their own area and house, which they have been in since last autumn. During the day they can free range and Geraldine started laying in the barn again this year.

I built a little nest in their house and moved the egg. Shut Gerald and Geraldine in their area and she has adopted the new nest, phew!

I am taking away an egg each time she lays at the moment, and leaving her with the latest 2. I am hoping to time it that I bring on 4 in the incubator at the same time as she sets. I think I will leave her about 6 to hatch herself.

The problem is, as she is early, the weather is still really unsettled and cold (-4) at night. Am I right to think that these first eggs probably won't be any good? We have been eating them as it is a shame to waste them.

I'll keep you posted on developments, and I love to read what's going on elsewhere, they are such funny birds with bags of personality. My partner hates the geese as Gerald always hisses at him. I don't have that problem, quite the reverse, Gerald tries to mount me at this time of the year!!

Good luck with your hatching everyone.

Any advice most welcome

 

[poult]

im glad you were able to successfully move her! I don't know if those eggs will die or live it never gets below 20 degrees Fahrenheit where I live so I have no clue.

 

[jessicaagross]

Hi everybody, I have a couple quick questions. A few weeks ago I was talked into taking a pair of geese.

I already had ordered goslings for later this year anyway and have been reading about geese, so of course my self control went out the window and told him to bring them on over. I have a female Pomeranian and a male Tufted Roman (pretty sure that's what breed they are) and their 2 buff duck friends that came with them. As far as I know this will be the Poms first year laying.

Question #1. The Pom has started laying 2ish weeks ago, but it's been freezing here, so I've been removing the eggs because they've been cracking open. I'm going to start leaving them out now, because warm enough that I don't think they'll crack open anymore. But she keeps laying in two different nests that they built. Should I pick up the eggs and put them in one nest? Or just let her lay in both until she sticks to one? One nest is kind of where they walk all the time, and not under any weather protection, so I can't imagine she'd actually brood there?

Question #2. She keeps fussing/nibbling with the ganders chest feathers? He looks like he is missing some down on his chest, not enough to see skin, but it's not as nicely covered and thinish in that spot. What is she doing? Is this a problem. She also will stick her head under his chin and hold it there, which is adorable and looks loving, but then she'll bite him on the chest. He doesn't seem to mind? Is this just normal goose relationship behavior? Or is he too love blind to see that he's in an abusive relationship?

Thanks for the help guys! Sorry if these are repeat questions.

 

[poult]

Answer to question #1:

I would pick the nest that's most suited for her & you move all the eggs there & then destroy the other nest so unless she really likes it will have to rebuild it.That way she will want to stick with her other nest.Give the nest you chose for her extra straw & bedding next to it as well so she may add to it.

Answer to question #2:

She is probably plucking him for down for the nest.Mothers often do this to themselves but maybe she wants his too. She will also pluck hers though.This way the nest will hold in heat & her bare stomach will allow her eggs to be warmest.Geese pairs do everything together I've even heard of mother geese dying & the father taking over the brood.So why not add his feathers in? That or she has a behavioral problem such as feather plucking in which case she will just eat his feathers.That usually happens when she is lacking protein.Watch her & see what she does with his feathers.The cuddling thing is normal my geese love to cuddle.