Hello from a Noob, and a question or three

[Fishwife]

Hi guys, have been browsing threads since I bought an incubator, and gotten much great advice. I'm happy to be here.

What animal is strong enough to carry off EIGHT geese eggs overnight, without so much as a broken shell in the nest? Whatever it was it, it left two.

We live on ten acres, and I kept hearing that raccoons will savage nests, but since the goose made a nest near the chicken coop, we have had no more egg breakage or anything.

She's been setting for about 2 or 3 weeks, and we are completely bummed. I took the remaining two and put them in the incubator, as two other goslings hatched out with no problems.

Now I'm second guessing myself and thinking to put them back in the nest and let nature take whatever course she wishes, and buy goslings.

This mother by proxy stuff is giving me migraines..! lol.

Thanks so much..

 

[jenlynn4]

sorry to hear about your eggs! I hope you figure it out.

 

[Fishwife]

Thanks, Jen. I walked about half an acre and no egg shells at all, so I'm stumped. That said, our neighbor stopped by and said, probably a snake. To which I replied.. 8 goose eggs in one night? His turn to be stumped.

And of course I had dreams of boa constrictors last night, so I'm wondering if the "huge" snake my son saw a month or so ago could possibly be..... no way.. I just cannot accept the fact there might be a python wandering around here.

We live in central to east Texas, west of Houston, and the winter was very mild here.. and we have a quarter acre pond.. and now I'm freaking myself out!! lol

 

[Fishwife]

Update:

My husband asked me to put one of the eggs back in her nest, as she seemed so lost. She and the gander just hung about.. So I did, and when he went outside last evening to turn the bug zapper off, found a snake eating that egg.. it only had about half of it in its mouth, snake was dispatched.. northern water snake as far as I could tell, but no way it ate 8 evening before.

Egg is back in incubator, and unless roving gangs of northern water snakes are savaging nests.. the mystery remains..


Found out that pythons can indeed live in the Texas Hill Country, and some scientists are predicting they will continue to thrive in Florida and slither their way across the south.

Some couple found a ten foot python in their chicken coop, about 30 miles northeast of San Antonio..

Questions to anyone:

Possible to introduce the two goslings I have hatched to momma and poppa goose, or will they kill them, the goslings having bonded with me.. ?

I had visions of lovely geese, doing their geese thang, and this is turning into a sad experience for me, and I don't think a great one for the geese..

Thanks!

 

[Fishwife]

Another update:

Well, the eggs are in the incubator. I decided to try to introduce the goslings to their mamma and poppa today, as it was only yesterday she lost them, and two rescued.

I took them, in a box, near the nesting area, and they began to peep. Mamma and poppa came over..The gander was "in my face" in a heartbeat, and the goose had her wings spread out for the first time ever.. The gander looked into the box, and very gently nuzzled one of the peeps.. It became evident they weren't going to let me near the box again..

I picked up a snow shovel, put it between me and the geese, and then put the gosling's box on its side, so they could come out.

No dice.. they tried to hide in the bedding, and one was completely covered with pine shavings.. so I bok boked.. which is the sound I've been using when I take them out for walks.. and it worked.. out they dashed, to me..

I kept the show shovel between me and the goslings, and they were huddled up against it, while mom and dad looked anxiously on. I heard Sergio Leone's spaghetti western music playing somewhere.. we were all frozen, waiting for someone to draw..

And then.. the oldest by one day gosling, turned and tentatively approached the goose. The sibling did as well.. I backed away, slowly. The gander was so tender with them both.. the goose a little jumpy.. they kept wanting to be under her, and she was unsure about the whole thing.

Then the goose and gander walked very slowly toward the pond, and all four went into the water.. Those little guys were swimming their hearts out, keeping up with the gander and doing it all so naturally.. It's a big pond, and I was afraid they'd poop out.. but they were little troopers..

The gander is the one they follow, and he is the one showing them the ropes.. he is one proud daddy, and so protective.

I felt tears well up in my eyes and such joy. This evening, they were all grazing near the chicken coop before settling in for a nap. Please wish these little ones fair fortune with me. They were my first goslings and first to make the leap from a box to the world in which they belong..I am so at peace..!!

Thanks for listening..