Goose nesting spots, Goose brooding eggs, separate?

[denasfarm]

I am new to geese. The 3 ("Pilgrims" I think) I have were a Birthday gift for my daughter a year ago this coming April.
I witnessed two of them mating in the pool a week or so ago, so how long until They need a nest and lay eggs?

When will they start laying now that they are mating?
Is a Large doghouse a good nest box? Put hay in it?? If not what/Where shall I use?
Do I need to Separate the threesome while brooding? (One gander and two Goosen)
Once hatched will they fight over the goslings like chicken hens?
Is it best to remove and raise the goslings myself? Id rather the geese do it.

The Geese currently live in my chainlink fenced back yard but have supervised access to 3.5 acres and a creek. I wasnt going to let them out with goslings alone.

 

[noahsgeese]

Quote:
Hope this will help!

Noah

 

[goosedragon]

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Usually mating comes first (If working just from instinct and not by watching others it takes a few attempts to get things right lol) then laying, sometimes they don't know enough to build a nest and she will just drop them where ever. Then nesting and when she has a few in the nest she will go broody. In my climate it would be about another month before I would be looking for a nest. The goose selects where her nest will be, some really like doghouses for nests, mine always wanted to be outside under a bush. put the hay in a central location where it will stay dry, that way you can watch the goose carry it to where she is building . Yes they will fight over goslings sometimes usually it is mama & papa against the odd goose. Often when the first goose is broody the gander will court the odd goose. In my opinion no human can do a better job of raising a gosling than the mother and father will! Keep an eye out for the goslings they can usually go through clainfence for the first week or so before they get too big. Ask away.

 

[swheat]

My geese have been laying for about 12 days now. I have 5 separate pens and I placed 55 gallon drums laid on their side for nest. Most are using them but I still have couple just laying on the ground anywhere. The sebastopols in pen #5 haven't touched the drum, they had a secret nest under some brush near the trunk of a large oak tree. I move the barrel today close to the tree and a little more private, so I am hoping they will use it. The eggs laid in the barrels are much cleaner than the one just laid on the ground or in a pile of leaves. I placed pine straw and pine shaving in the barrels. Good luck with yours.