Goose nest outside-dangerous at night-help!

[Suzie]

I have 12 geese and one female has decided to sit on her eggs in an outside nest, this is far too dangerous here as there are so many predators around at night. I have "made" her a nest inside the stables and put her on there with 8 eggs yesterday. She sat on them for a while but she is clearly missing the company of the other geese, she can see and hear them at night when they all come in but she won't stay on the nest - today she is outside again as she managed to escape with the others and she has gone back to sitting on her original nest.
She is definately broody and I am at a loss as to what to do for her as I cannot leave her outside overnight - is it worth persevering in keeping her indoors or should I just keep taking the eggs away? It is so sad to see her wasting her efforts outside as she has to come indoors at night.
Any suggestions to help her please?

Suzie

 

[goosedragon]

Quote:
It is hard to out Stubborn a broody goose! Do you know her mate or maybe some female friends That you could confine in the stall with her? I expect that she might go broody inside in a hurry if she was happy there. This is one reason I like to get protected nests established as early as possible. I will often confine geese that are laying where I don't want them to until they establish a nest in the protected area, destroy the unwanted nest and let them back with the flock again. It does NOT always work!

 

[nissa_loves_cats]

I used to have Pilgrim geese and whenever I moved a nest they lost interest in brooding. I think putting her mate in with her might be a good idea.

Perhaps you could build an impromptu pen around her original nest?

 

[Suzie]

Thank you both for the suggestions - strangely enough one of the male geese would not settle tonight - I think he must be her mate, once I got her off her outdoor nest and inside the stable block he started eating, I will try to get him to stay in with her tomorrow if I can recognise him again... 6 of them are grey Toulouse and look very alike and she is one of the six - when I ousted her from her outside nest she was happily eating and bathing tonight inside.
It would be impossible to protect her outside overnight, we have wild boar and foxes in abundance here and I won't risk her life for the sake of a potential few goslings as much as I would like her to have some offspring.
I had not thought of the idea of destroying her nest outside, I will do this tomorrow whether she goes outside or not.
Thanks again
Suzie

 

[feathersandfluff]

Suzie, you have to practice tough love and if she will not accept her new nest (which they usually won't) take the eggs from her and if you have a incubator, finish the eggs out in the incubator. Otherwise I gurantee something will get to her and kill both her and her eggs. A broody goose will defend her eggs to her death. She will not try to excape but will stay and try to defend her eggs and end up a meal for a preditor. I raise many geese and would love to let them sit on their eggs but from past experience I know it is not a good idea. Dorothy Asebastopolsselect.com

 

[D'Angelo N Va.]

if she insists on making her own nest and sitting where she wants, which they usually do. have you thought of taking wire and temporarily fencing the area where she is??? and maybe set up some pie plates tied to string on some stakes around it to scare anything off if they hit it and hears lots of noise.

 

[Suzie]

Hi Feathersandfluff -

She is indoors with her mate now - I put all the Toulouse inside and let her in with them - it became apparent very quickly who the male was - their actions were like a mirror image, I have put her mate in with her tonight and will observe them in the morning - she only has 3 eggs now as I have a broody chicken who is sitting on the others - the chicken WILL be surprised if she manages to hatch any!

I still can't bring myself to leave her outside at night even with the suggestions as to putting up wire and plates to ward off predators - thank you for your input, I did try to think of some device to deter predators but I cannot risk her life outside - we live in a very remote area and aside from wild boar and foxes, we have eagles, buzzards and some magpies who will raid a nest if it is not constantly attended.

Thank you all again for your suggestions and input - my geese have been with me for almost a year now and I am learning so much at this time of year - the females appear to be more aggressive than the males at the moment, at the turn of the year the only dominant one was "Boss" who is a year older than the rest.

 

[Suzie]

Hi Everyone who has made suggestions...... my Goose is now sat on a nest inside, she is with her partner and they seem fine. I didn't have to destroy her nest as a predator came overnight, wrecked the nest and took 4 eggs I had left there..... thank you so much, it is good to know you are there to help - hopefully she will be a Mum within the next month!
Suzie