Goose nesting in undesirable spot...

[sannabelle]

Hi all! This is my first time with geese and I’ve been snooping around for answers to my questions but am a little lost on a few still.

One of my female Embdens started a nest today and laid her first egg! Yay!! Except she did it right under a lean-to that is high traffic for goats, dogs, chickens, people.....not good.

How can I convince her (ha!) to make her nest somewhere else? I’ve put three big goose-type nesting boxes/dog houses in the coop where they sleep, but she still chose the lean-to.

Thanks so much

 

[sannabelle]

@Pyxis
@Miss Lydia @Fields Mountain Farm

 

[sannabelle]

I have an empty pen I could move her into...but it’s only 10x10 and doesn’t have pool/pond access and I wouldn’t want her to be lonely without her other goose and gander friends.

 

[Pyxis]

Have you made the nest boxes look really appealing with lots of hay for nest building? You might try moving her egg to one of the desired nesting areas and hopefully she will get the idea.

 

[sannabelle]

I will try that!!! I have chips in them instead of hay/straw. That could be my problem!

Thank you

 

[SunshineMary]

I’ve put three big goose-type nesting boxes/dog houses in the coop where they sleep, but she still chose the lean-to.

Just to clarify: are the dog houses/nest boxes INSIDE the coop? If so, she may prefer to have the dog houses/nest boxes outside in the run, if you have one.

Our duck/goose house is built about 18 inches off the ground, and our goose Abigail prefers to lay UNDER the house rather than IN it. I think geese feel more comfortable outside.

Here she is sitting on a clutch of eggs last summer:

Looks cramped to me, but she preferred being outside that much!

 

[Miss Lydia]

As long as her safety isn't a problem. They do like their privacy, that is strange she would choose a high traffic area.

You'll probably have to destroy where she is nesting now and put something up to block her from going back to it. Put her egg where you want her to lay and nest and keep her inside every other day till she has laid her egg there at least 1X hopefully she'll like that spot and keep it up.

 

[sannabelle]

Just to clarify: are the dog houses/nest boxes INSIDE the coop? If so, she may prefer to have the dog houses/nest boxes outside in the run, if you have one.

Our duck/goose house is built about 18 inches off the ground, and our goose Abigail prefers to lay UNDER the house rather than IN it. I think geese feel more comfortable outside.

Here she is sitting on a clutch of eggs last summer:

View attachment 1281887

Looks cramped to me, but she preferred being outside that much!

Awwwe she is so cute!!

Yes, they are inside the coop- is like a small garage. We don’t have a run so they free range around all day

 

[sannabelle]

As long as her safety isn't a problem. They do like their privacy, that is strange she would choose a high traffic area.

You'll probably have to destroy where she is nesting now and put something up to block her from going back to it. Put her egg where you want her to lay and nest and keep her inside every other day till she has laid her egg there at least 1X hopefully she'll like that spot and keep it up.

Her safety doesn’t worry me because the dogs will look out for her- just the safety of the eggs! Haha. I will try moving her egg and keeping her in the coop every other day should I put any of her goose friends in there with her?

Thank you!!

 

[Miss Lydia]

I'd put her mate with her, she may not like being separated from him. will they be able to see the rest? that may help too. Just keep her in till she lays. Not the whole day like once she lays open the door and let her come out when she is ready.