Goose Nest Flooded - what now?

[Allears]

My Embden girl has been nesting for about two weeks nest and I have been removing the eggs. Over the past week or so we have had a LOT of rain and between yesterday and now it has POURED!! Gooses nest is under water and its going to take time for the water to subside, especially since it is still raining

I've been out digging trenches to try and get some of the water away from the house. The water level is two bricks high and I even had to rescue one of the tortoises who was submerged. (When its cold like this they don't move easily and even their brain function slows down, poor babies.)

How do geese respond under these circumstances, the nest being destroyed that is and no dry land in sight?

 

[nchls school]

Wow! And I'm complaining about heat and humidity! From experience, if the nest stays flooded for very long your goose will drop an egg or so and start over somewhere else. If you can raise the nest above water level she might stay with the nest. Have you been replacing the eggs with dummy eggs so she will go broody or are you just wanting the eggs?

 

[Allears]

Thanks for the feedback. She doesn't have a mate, so I have been making omelettes I will see if I can raise the nest by packing small branches under it. On go go the wellies again

 

[jtn42248]

My concern right now would be does the goose have any place to get into dry space. A barn or shed of some sort? Even if it is flooded she would be able to get above the water line on something and dry out. The nest can probably be disrupted so that she may abandon it if it is already under water.

 

[Allears]

Goose doesn't have a dry place to sleep, the only shelter she has is under the trees, but the ground under the trees is also soggy and waterlogged. The rain has subsided, but everything is drenched. . She's usually on her nest by this time of evening, so I guess she has realised that the nest is no longer safe for her. I can herd her into the "garage tomorrow if it is still raining, but she won't like it. She's made no move to try and find cover. Right now she is sitting in her pond

 

[jtn42248]

From what you described I am guessing that "sitting in her pond" is pretty much the entire yard. As you are in the extreme Southern Hemisphere and probably in the dead of winter right now I am pretty much at a loss as to what to recommend. I will try to contact someone that used to live in SA and they may be posting here soon as well. But, the best thing to do is to at least provide a dry spot for the goose. She may do fine in the wet and cold but if her down gets soaked and she can not dry out she can get quiet ill, especially if temperatures drop significantly. Keep checking back to this forum now and then and see what others have to say.

 

[Allears]

Thank you very much, I will stay tuned

 

[jtn42248]

Thank you very much, I will stay tuned

I'm sorry but my friend that used to live in SA is in the processing of moving right now and can not reply. However she did indicate that they is not much you can do. Your goose will most likely abandon the nest so don't even try to save it. That and to do what ever you can to provide dry space for her. Good luck.

 

[Allears]

Thank you for the follow up. I raised her nest and I see she is sitting this morning. A lot of the water has subsided but the grass is mush underfoot.

 

[jtn42248]

Thank you for the follow up. I raised her nest and I see she is sitting this morning. A lot of the water has subsided but the grass is mush underfoot.

Geese...go figure. If she seems to be happy and has some shelter somewhere that she can get in/under if she chooses, then everything will probably be o.k. Good to hear your going to have a chance to dry out a bit before the next storm. You might just try to make sure she has everything she will need during the lull.