Goose egg questions

[2dancingrats]

One of my geese laid her first egg this weekend. We discovered in buried in the wood shavings they sleep on. We know it was less than 2 days ago because we fluff up the bedding every other day.
She wasn't sitting but they both became very agitated when they saw that we knew about the egg.
Is she likely to lay more? How many will she lay before she sits on them? Is she likely to sit on them?
Can someone let me know what to expect?
Thank you soooo much.

 

[protodon]

A lot of your questions depend on what kind of goose you have. If you have some kind of wild goose(canada) then they will only lay a few a year but replace what you take up to a certain point. Domestic geese will continue to lay throughout the spring. Some more than others.

 

[2dancingrats]

They are Toulouse geese. We didn't take the eggs.

 

[banter]

I don't own that breed, but most geese lay as many eggs that they can cover before they incubate them-usually 7-10. With many geese the first two are infertile.

 

[2dancingrats]

Thanks. So far, just one but she did start sitting on in the night before last. Probably isn't fertile, but at least she's getting practice.

 

[ohiofarmgirl]

something to think about...

i just had a similar questions about my older toulouse goose. one of my goose buddy's reminded me that is REALLY early for them to start setting - she may have gotten confused with the warm snap we all had. my buddy advised me to take up the eggs so she WOULDNT set until later into the spring. remember that setting a nest can be hard physically for your goose.. you want to give the eggs, and her, the best chance.

i'll let my goose start keeping her eggs early in march - that way the weather will be warmer for the little ones.. and she will be able to handle it better.

good luck!

 

[2dancingrats]

Thank you. I was so excited I didn't even think of that. Chickens tdon't get to keep eggs, so never thought about the setting. Hopefully she will continue to lay until then. But again, they are both pretty young.