Help I am a newbie with Geese and I have 15 eggs my goose has been sitting on for about 26 days.....

[gigglssmls]

What are MY responsibilities now? What should I expect? Should I add clean straw under her eggs While she is away bathing? Do I need to provide anything except some water and maybe some starter feed for the chicks near the nest? I Recently bought day old chicks (chickens) from Cackle Hatchery and they are in the brooder now. Do geese need a brooder if their mother naturally hatches them? I am so confused. I am getting different answers on every site. I was under the impression that Geese will handle the hatching and raising pretty much on their own. HELP!!!!!!!!!! TEACH ME from your experience. My geese are due VERY VERY SOON.

Mother is full blood Embden (beautiful white and large Father is Moderate sizexd Toulouse.

 

[gigglssmls]

AND by the way I have checked eggs daily, candled, and took her off nest twice a day to bathe and eat. AND I provided food and water near her (although she wouldn't touch it.) I would keep her out of coop and off nest for about 15 minutes so she would eat, drink, exercise, and bathe. I also turned eggs at least once a day until I saw that SHE was turning them.

 

[Miss Lydia]

AND by the way I have checked eggs daily, candled, and took her off nest twice a day to bathe and eat. AND I provided food and water near her (although she wouldn't touch it.) I would keep her out of coop and off nest for about 15 minutes so she would eat, drink, exercise, and bathe. I also turned eggs at least once a day until I saw that SHE was turning them.

I haven't had the privilege of having my geese hatch goslings yet, but I know with my Muscovy I just leave it up to mama, they have been hatching alot longer than us and most just have a natural instinct to know what to do. From watching my Embden gander with ducklings Your gander will be a wonderful papa goose and will help mama care and protect them. If it looks like the straw under her is really soiled then put some straw down she'll incorporate it into the nest like she wants. Be sure to post back when hatching begins and hope you have a great one,.

 

[gigglssmls]

Thank you VERY much! My Embden is a great sitter but I AM watching her becasue she for some odd reason decided to lay a clutch at the END OF FALL and into winter.... then deserted the nest about 21 days after she started sitting. Watching to make she she does not desert this nest. She started out this clutch with 17 eggs....LARGE clutch but two got broken early on so I check them daily. Still have 15 and today makes 28 days so I will be watching closely. I am excited. So they do not need a brooder? She will take care of everything? Do I need heat lamp? Or will she keep them warm?


Thank you once again for your input. Anyone else have any input? I am taking it all in gladly.

 

[Miss Lydia]

Thank you VERY much! My Embden is a great sitter but I AM watching her becasue she for some odd reason decided to lay a clutch at the END OF FALL and into winter.... then deserted the nest about 21 days after she started sitting. Watching to make she she does not desert this nest. She started out this clutch with 17 eggs....LARGE clutch but two got broken early on so I check them daily. Still have 15 and today makes 28 days so I will be watching closely. I am excited. So they do not need a brooder? She will take care of everything? Do I need heat lamp? Or will she keep them warm?


Thank you once again for your input. Anyone else have any input? I am taking it all in gladly.

She will keep them warm you don't need a brooder unless you see she isn't taking care of them,[ I think she will though] I'd know where everything is just in case but let her and dad try first before stepping in. It's warm where you are ?