how often do geese lay??

[tubytuby]

I have two Chinese and three Africans that are 6 months old. I forced them into the barn at night when it got below freezing and all five laid their first eggs. Now they are all laying regularly. One of my Chinese is trying to hatch eggs now but it has to be too cold to hatch goslings this time of year so i'm stealing the eggs. I feel bad because she keeps trying to find the eggs she hid (they are great at hiding the eggs). I hope they will still be broody and laying in the spring.

 

[Miss Lydia]

I have two Chinese and three Africans that are 6 months old. I forced them into the barn at night when it got below freezing and all five laid their first eggs. Now they are all laying regularly. One of my Chinese is trying to hatch eggs now but it has to be too cold to hatch goslings this time of year so i'm stealing the eggs. I feel bad because she keeps trying to find the eggs she hid (they are great at hiding the eggs). I hope they will still be broody and laying in the spring.

They will and your doing the right thing for taking her eggs, it would be way to hard to keep goslings alive in winter weather.

Welcome to BYC!

 

[313759]

From all I have read first egg usually aren't fertile. also I don't think I'd want my goose to be trying to raise a brood in the winter months they would have a better chance of survival come spring.    Congrats on the eggs.

My first goose eggs was fertile... and how come my geese are laying right now? I mean we have had some unusually warm weather but I didn't expect a single egg till about February! I really want let her sit on the eggs but I don't want the death of goslings. What if I let her sit and take the goslings(and possibly the mother, depending) inside?

 

[313759]

I reckon it´s best to take them away as they´re not only most likely infertile, but also small.  And when the goose sits she loses weight, so she´d be better off keeping her weight on her for the cold months.
One of my geese was sat on her nest there shivering poor thing because of the cold weather back in August (winter) when we had some cold nights.  Just imagine where you are......so much colder.
AND If you take the eggs away, you´ll get some nice omelettes and she´ll get to sit on eggs when it´s a better time for her. You´ll enjoy the goslings much more too when the weather is better.  

What if you kept them in a heated shelter? Also another question, what would happen if I moved my goose nest? Would she just keep remaking the nest there or would she lay in the new nest?

 

[Miss Lydia]

My first goose eggs was fertile... and how come my geese are laying right now? I mean we have had some unusually warm weather but I didn't expect a single egg till about February! I really want let her sit on the eggs but I don't want the death of goslings. What if I let her sit and take the goslings(and possibly the mother, depending) inside?

What breed are your geese, some breeds like Chinese lay in fall and then again in late winter early spring others are seeing eggs right now too that aren't Chinese so not sure what the answer is, but my question is since we're getting ready to go into full blown winter are you willing to bring your mama goose[it would be a pity not to let her brood and hatch and raise her goslings] for most of the winter because until they feather in completely they won't be able to go outside unless it's sunny no wind and warm. Or you risk chilling and most likely death. I'd wait till spring if it was me.

 

[313759]

I have embdens

 

[Miss Lydia]

I have embdens

Seems this year members have had goslings late and geese breeding and laying, Mine have not been out of whack. Thankfully, I'd like for things to stay normal. My poor birds that aren't geese 2nd that statement.

I was just talking to a member who lives in Fla. and they found goslings at their feed store which is amazing for this time of year.

 

[313759]

Seems this year members have had goslings late and geese breeding and laying, Mine have not been out of whack. Thankfully, I'd like for things to stay normal. My poor birds that aren't geese 2nd that statement.

I was just talking to a member who lives in Fla. and they found goslings at their feed store which is amazing for this time of year.

Hmm. Well I'm collecting eggs right now, I get an egg every other day. I really want her to sit but I will have to put a heater of some sort in the coop. It hasn't been that cold here in NY lately though.

 

[KerAlexisFarms]

Thanks for all of the info presented in this thread! For the fifth and sixth day of Christmas, we got three of the CUTEST American Buff goslings roaming around our ridge-top farm here in Ohio...I was a bit worried about the time of year, but, it's been a very mild Winter [only one day of snow] with unseasonably warm weather and endless rain. The goslings are tucked warmly under their Mothers' wings in our three-sided barn. I have faith that Mother Nature and my beautiful trio of American Buff parents [1 male, 2 females] will prevail!

 

[Miss Lydia]

Thanks for all of the info presented in this thread! For the fifth and sixth day of Christmas, we got three of the CUTEST American Buff goslings roaming around our ridge-top farm here in Ohio...I was a bit worried about the time of year, but, it's been a very mild Winter [only one day of snow] with unseasonably warm weather and endless rain. The goslings are tucked warmly under their Mothers' wings in our three-sided barn. I have faith that Mother Nature and my beautiful trio of American Buff parents [1 male, 2 females] will prevail!

I sure hope so and Congrats, please post some pics of the happy family. Only problem I see and it can happen pretty quick is the goslings getting wet and chilling if mama and papa and auntie keep them out in the rain for long periods. Hopefully your keeping a close eye on this because if they chill you can lose them pretty quick.

Welcome to BYC @KerAlexisFarms