HELP Goose lovers

[gigglssmls]

His bill has a flap of skin that is attached underneath. It looks from a distance like his mouth is always open. The farmer we got him from told my husband he has had it his whole life. Looks a bit odd but harmless.

Well I couldn't get her to take a break so I pet her and talked to her than picked her up (which is difficult for me due to my disease).... she is a HEAVY one. Anyhow, I sat her down outside.... she gave me no problems at all. She was very sweet. She and Romeo (Gander) talked and talked while they walked to the pond my husband and son built for them and she took a nice long bath.... ate a few bites of grass (NOT ENOUGH) and waddled back to her eggs and worked on her nest about 20 min, rearranged her eggs, pulled a bit more down and then cozied down on them again.

I did see that she had eaten some from her dish but I will keep an eye on her weight and eating habits.

My husband and I are planning to candle on Sunday. I will let you all know the outcome since I am a newbie to the gaggler lol. Anyhow, new question : After I candle should I remove eggs that are not fertile or showing signs or should I wait another week or so to candle again before removing any? OR do I leave the infertile eggs there so she doesn't get upset?

Once again, you all have been so very helpful I can not begin to thank you all enough for you patience, assistance, and support. I am sincere in my gratitude. God Bless!

Michelle

 

[Marty1876]

I always give eggs until day 10 to toss, but I do toss. (mine are in incubators though) If my eggs were under geese, I'd be sure they were sweet about you being there, or they weren't able to corner you while you are candling the eggs. Just saying, I got nailed doing that as a kid.

 

[gigglssmls]

Thank you... and I WILL be careful to not let her corner me. So far she has been sweet in letting me touch her and her eggs. I hadn't noticed until this afternoon that one of her eggs had been broken. She was sitting next to her nest. I talked to her as she made almost a singing sad sound. She watched me just inches from my hand as I cleaned up the broken egg and mess and then I moved her eggs back and put her nest how she usually has it and stepped back. She looked at me stood up and took a step over to her eggs and sat on them.

It made me sad for her.... I do not know what they know and what they do not. She did not eat it at least. So down to 9 eggs.

10 days sounds fair to me... I do not want to be hasty with a critters life. Thanks you!

 

[psue]

Just my experience ... but my Roman goose removed eggs that had failed, while keeping some for an outter ring to help maintain temp of the remaining eggs.

However We have decided to not allow any more of our geese to set as the gander became Overly protective and aggressive. He would not allow the flock or us close to the babies even as they got older and the goose was trying to intergrate them into the flock.

Not all ganders are the same. This was our experience and does not mean yours will do the same.

Best of luck!

 

[flockman]

I hope you luck with hatching!

 

[pete55]

Hi there. Just to say best of luck with your eggs. My advice would be to candle the eggs at 14 days and remove any infertiles. Also if this clutch doesnt work out there's plenty of time for another clutch in the normal breeding season.

Good luck

Pete

 

[gigglssmls]

Spent the last week in the cardiac unit in the hospital due to my disease and when I got home today I went out to check all the birds (LOVE my husband and son for feeding them and watering them etc.) however, my goose who started sitting on 10 eggs November 13th only has THREE eggs left. Two broke before I went to hospital but the other five broke while I was gone. She is just TOO heavy maybe? She is a good sitter but she is a BIG goose. We force her to take breaks and go eat and bath and while she is out bathing I close the coop and have since been lifting her eggs and putting straw padding down in middle of her nest and then putting eggs back how she had them. But it never fails she pushes the straw out of the center and has the eggs on wood but surrounded by a beautiful straw and down nest. So when she rolls them and sits them they are on HARD wood and are breaking. I do not have an incubator yet so I am becoming frustrated. ANY advice? My pros or semi pros....... anyone with more experience than me.... which is MOST of you lol. I really would like to have her hatch at LEAST two..... I am becoming sad. She is not eating them as when I find them they are full og the yolk etc. What to do what to do.......

Thanks,
Michelle

 

[Iain Utah]

Very sorry to hear about your health episode. I'm not sure how to save the remaining eggs if kept with your goose. Perhaps you can see if someone on forum lives near you that can lend you an incubator?

 

[CelticOaksFarm]

If you can have your husband build a low sided box for the corner she is nesting in, place foam in the bottom, add in a deep pile of pine shavings then her straw for her to nest build with. This will give bottom padding and help the eggs. Nothing fancy, just some 2x4 or fence boards will do, all you need is something to keep it all together in one spot.

Hope you are feeling better today and can enjoy the birds.

 

[Ms Ellen]

Wow, on reading this thread I was encouraged that I am not the only crazy one out there! My son had a severe TBI (at 15) almost 5 years ago and that year I decided to get my chickens to have something happy to keep my mind busy. They have been a joy to us but lots of people do not understand why I would take on this additional work when I have so much else going on. Now my son will finally be going home from the nursing home ( he is not better, just aging out of the children's home) in March and I have ordered two goslings to arrive in April. I can't wait and it is such a joy to have this to think about when other things are not going so well. Sort of a celebration of life. When I can bring my son home I put his wheelchair in front of the chickens so he can watch them do the silly things they do. Now I see that there is someone else who thinks like I do! I do hope you get at least two goslings to hatch! Good luck! I am always winding up with one chick when I hatch. Then they are lonely.