Goslings of 2014 Hatch-a-long

[DaisyMeadow]

ChickDancer can you help me with that? I have two eggs with detached/loose air cells and I posted here. I've always laid down to incubate but I have read you can't with rolling air cells. Please help!

Ditto. I usually lay down to incubate as I have low-end styrofoam incubator.

 

[8GeeseALaying]

I didnt get to candle tonight, Maggie never came off the nest.
I did discover that Mildred had taken on a helper with brooding. I did NOT like that at all. So i evicted Rain from that position, she had taken 5 of mildreds eggs and her nest forcing Mildred to make a new nest with 3 of her eggs. Mildred being docile i was able to move her around like a suitcase lol and place her and her eggs back on her rightful nest.

 

[Starfire669]

I didnt get to candle tonight, Maggie never came off the nest.
I did discover that Mildred had taken on a helper with brooding. I did NOT like that at all. So i evicted Rain from that position, she had taken 5 of mildreds eggs and her nest forcing Mildred to make a new nest with 3 of her eggs. Mildred being docile i was able to move her around like a suitcase lol and place her and her eggs back on her rightful nest.

I'm surprised Mildred let another female near her nest, much less steal some eggs. Having never had geese but chickens, I have seen hens really throw down defending their nests. I have seen a few close sister hens share a nest, but never seen 1 steal eggs without the broody going crazy.

 

[8GeeseALaying]

Some geese are protective and others do not care. Maggie stole eggs last year and ended up with 15, all of which she covered well and hatched 10, but the geese she stole from didnt put up a fight she was mean about it. Mildred and Rain(pied) are harem buddies they both belong to Bills(brown chinese) group of brown & pied chinese so it wasnt any conflict between them since they were sharing that nest while laying. Both are also docile while broody. Maggie and Ethel on the other hand are a different temperment when broody, and wouldnt tolerate shared nest. if i tried to move them i would lose my nose or a finger. Any other time they are sweet hearts

 

[Starfire669]

Some geese are protective and others do not care. Maggie stole eggs last year and ended up with 15, all of which she covered well and hatched 10, but the geese she stole from didnt put up a fight she was mean about it. Mildred and Rain(pied) are harem buddies they both belong to Bills(brown chinese) group of brown & pied chinese so it wasnt any conflict between them since they were sharing that nest while laying. Both are also docile while broody. Maggie and Ethel on the other hand are a different temperment when broody, and wouldnt tolerate shared nest. if i tried to move them i would lose my nose or a finger. Any other time they are sweet hearts

Sounds like you got your hands full.

 

[psue]

. And your geese hear and obey? Lol

I honestly have more trouble with the ducks... their wing will get clipped if they start flying in the yard. so far they are keeping it in the 6ft pen.

I came home to a HUGE surprise today!! Beignet (my awesome broody Toulouse) hatched a buff female.

Hubby says there is at least one more gosling more recently hatched underneath her, but they are well hidden by momma and I have no idea what they look like yet.

OH YAY!!!!

I didnt get to candle tonight, Maggie never came off the nest.
I did discover that Mildred had taken on a helper with brooding. I did NOT like that at all. So i evicted Rain from that position, she had taken 5 of mildreds eggs and her nest forcing Mildred to make a new nest with 3 of her eggs. Mildred being docile i was able to move her around like a suitcase lol and place her and her eggs back on her rightful nest.

One of my scovies is the way, I can moved her and her whole nest and she settles right back in. Matter of fact I plan to move her tomorrow to the brooder pen so I can leave her and the babies there until they are to big to fit through the 2x4 wire.

I gave the 7 oldest goslings to the Embdens today. The girls aren't paying much attention yet and Squishy is busy with 7 of them

 

[8GeeseALaying]

I bet squishy is in love with them!

 

[bibkel]

So the duckling that was internally pipped took two more days to externally pip, and I am concerned it is not moving along by itself.
So I checked today, and there was a shell just sitting there....I have another baby chick!

I am considered helping the duckling....tonight will tell.

So I check on Bonnie, sitting on 10 goose eggs. I checked 4 of them and three are INTERNALLY PIPPED!!!!!! I am so ExciTEd!


Now I have to look every day until I can take some pics....

 

[Dawnrenae]

Lost my female gosling today.
Heart broken. She some how got out of the brooder and got trapped between it and the wall. I found her when I got home from work.

Brother goose is very sad. And still 20 days before hatch of the next eggs.

Any thoughts on how to help keep him happy?

My first goose, I raised alone for two years. She was easy. She started out alone. Now brother feels lost without sister.

 

[8GeeseALaying]

Lost my female gosling today.
Heart broken. She some how got out of the brooder and got trapped between it and the wall. I found her when I got home from work.

Brother goose is very sad. And still 20 days before hatch of the next eggs.

Any thoughts on how to help keep him happy?

My first goose, I raised alone for two years. She was easy. She started out alone. Now brother feels lost without sister.

Sorry for your loss. Try a mirror for him or a stuffed animal, that has no buttons or eyes that he could choke on or loose strings or tags that he could get caught on.