How long does is this hatching going to take??

[Gator113]

Hi....

My first goose (Toulouse) has been sitting on her 15 eggs for 36 days. Last night, on the 35 day, at 8:30 p.m., I discovered that one egg had hatched. What a cutie! I hope it's a male because I named it Spanky. ;>)

Anyway, I have been watching for most of today and the other 14 eggs have not yet started to open. How long does this normally take? I am like a father with his first newborn and this waiting is driving me crazy!

 

[nurse_turtle]

Give her at least another 5 days.

 

[Gator113]

Thank you very much. That is going to feel like a very loooonnnngggg time, for me. ;>)

 

[jenlynn4]

omg I wouldnt be able to stand it! I HATE waiting! Best of luck with you babies!

 

[CelticOaksFarm]

Uumm another 5 days would be 41 days and way over due for hatching. Toulouse normally hatch days 30-31. Are you sure with your time line? Can you get near the nest? If you can check for stinky eggs (these will need to be removed).

 

[Gator113]

I can't get to the nest without loosing an arm, eye and a couple of fingers. LOL She is very protective.

However, I can see the nest when she stands, so I know they haven't hatched.

I am certain of the dates. I kept a log and her nest is in a dog crate right outside my bedroom window.

My guess is that I should wait a week and then destroy the eggs....that would be such a shame. One goose already had 9 eggs stolen from her nest. I don't seem very lucky with this stuff. Oh well, I have another Toulouse on 9 eggs and an African Brown on 9 eggs. The Muscovy are starting to lay eggs, so there should be lots of little guys and gals running around here in a few more weeks. ;>)

 

[Gator113]

A coulpe more things... She is still turning her eggs a few times a day, even today. I can't see all of the eggs, but I don't think she has kicked any out of her nest.

 

[CelticOaksFarm]

Sounds like she still has hope, so should you. Don't risk an eye or arm, we have a girl here who likes to be nest nasty too. Good luck with the rest of the hatch.

 

[Rosebud 18]

My toulouse started setting on the 28th of march and she started hatching yesterday (25th) and I now have 11 babies. She came off her nest this afternoon and I threw the other 6 away. One baby was dead and the 6 eggs were rotten. 35 days seems like a long time. I read somewhere it takes from 28 to 30 days to hatch. I discovered my first baby by using my cane to lift her up enough to see under her. She made her nest in a large dog house that was under a wagon.

 

[Gator113]

Tomorrow it will have been 39 day of sit time. In the morning, I will figure out a way to get her to leave the nest and I will remove the eggs. It is quite disappointing to see 14 eggs go to waste. I figure that I will crack them open one at a time and if I discover life, I'll put the rest of them back and give them a few more days.

About 1 1/2 years ago I started with wanting 2 chickens. Now between chickens, ducks and geese, I have 60 birds and I LOVE the life part of this bird raising thing, but I hate the dying part. I know it's just part of the natural order of things, sometimes I can't control it all, but I always feel like I failed them.

Is it important for her not to see that it is me that is taking her eggs??

Oh well, at least we have Spanky to spoil.

Thanks to all of those that helped me think this through. I will no doubt need more guidance in the future. Someday I will have a couple hundred of these guys to keep me company.... that should be fun to manage. ;>)