Is Egg Taking Too Long Being Laid?

[The Dim Side]

I posted something recently about this goose, but I have a new potential issue. My 5-month old goose started laying eggs a couple weeks ago, which was a definitely surprise to us. So far, her eggs have been looking healthy and hard and such, and sometimes it's been every other day, but once or twice it's been consecutive days. We started her on a mix of all flock and layer crumbles with oyster shell on the side. But we're currently just using duck feed pellets right now because of our other goose who has been sick and was being a little more picky, but she still has access to oyster shell.

Well, she spent some time in her nesting area and finally laid one later last night. But she's been back in today on and off (mostly on) since this morning. So it's been at least 7 hours on and off with nothing coming out. And since she's just hanging out in there, she isn't eating or drinking as much as usual.

We also have a fake egg still in there just for showing her where to go. So I'm not sure if she's in distress or if she thinks she's brooding or something. She gets panty every now and then, like she's getting hot and trying to lay though. But since she just laid one last night, I'm surprised if she has to lay one again so soon.

Is taking this long cause for concern? And is there something we should do about it? We have to go out of town early tomorrow morning (like 3 a.m.) until late Sunday night. So I'm just really worried about her. Thanks!

 

[Miss Lydia]

Do you have any calcium gluconate? or can you get some. If she was having trouble laying this is the best stuff to get an egg moving. Yes most of the time they do lay every other day. If you can get the CG give her 1 ml usually. if you can give her some tonight she should lay by next morning. Also a nice warm soak in a tub can help to. This CG can be given over a treat but she needs the 1ml
https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/calcium-gluconate-for-egg-bound-ducks-preliminary.959537/
https://www.backyardchickens.com/ar...dications-to-all-poultry-and-waterfowl.73335/
then again she may not be egg bound but giving her the Calcium gluconate will not hurt her.

 

[The Dim Side]

Do you have any calcium gluconate? or can you get some. If she was having trouble laying this is the best stuff to get an egg moving. Yes most of the time they do lay every other day. If you can get the CG give her 1 ml usually. if you can give her some tonight she should lay by next morning. Also a nice warm soak in a tub can help to. This CG can be given over a treat but she needs the 1ml
https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/calcium-gluconate-for-egg-bound-ducks-preliminary.959537/
https://www.backyardchickens.com/ar...dications-to-all-poultry-and-waterfowl.73335/
then again she may not be egg bound but giving her the Calcium gluconate will not hurt her.

I don't have any here, but do they sell it at Tractor Supply or anything? Edit: After checking Tractor Supply, all they had was Durvet Calcium Gluconate 23% solution, Dura-Ster TS Terminally Sterilized). It looks like this one is only done through injection though. So do I need a different one that can be given orally?

 

[The Dim Side]

Do you have any calcium gluconate? or can you get some. If she was having trouble laying this is the best stuff to get an egg moving. Yes most of the time they do lay every other day. If you can get the CG give her 1 ml usually. if you can give her some tonight she should lay by next morning. Also a nice warm soak in a tub can help to. This CG can be given over a treat but she needs the 1ml
https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/calcium-gluconate-for-egg-bound-ducks-preliminary.959537/
https://www.backyardchickens.com/ar...dications-to-all-poultry-and-waterfowl.73335/
then again she may not be egg bound but giving her the Calcium gluconate will not hurt her.

Also, she definitely hasn't been consistent in laying eggs. It's been every other day or sometimes consecutive. But I just hadn't seen her try sitting in there for so long in a day, and she's panted when she's tried laying. So that's why I was worried. Is it sometimes normal for them to think they might need to lay an egg but not actually have one ready?

I should also add that after this initial post, she eventually got out and soon had a really large, wet poop. Very green and watery, maybe like 4 or 5 times as much. But it was hard to tell because it was so watery, it just looked like a lot. I've read that that could be a sign of being egg bound, too. I didn't know if it could be normal that she was just not pooping while sitting in the nest to not get it dirty though. Can they control it?

I also forgot to add that we did give her a warm bath! But it didn't last an hour (as I had read somewhere online), she was getting too worked up after a while, lol. So I brought her back outside. She hasn't gone back to the nest since then (like an hour ago maybe); both geese are just hanging out on the porch now. So I'm hoping that's a good sign!

 

[Miss Lydia]

I don't have any here, but do they sell it at Tractor Supply or anything? Edit: After checking Tractor Supply, all they had was Durvet Calcium Gluconate 23% solution, Dura-Ster TS Terminally Sterilized). It looks like this one is only done through injection though. So do I need a different one that can be given orally?

we give it orally

 

[Miss Lydia]

How is your goose this morning?

 

[The Dim Side]

How is your goose this morning?

I didn't see the notification of your post last night! So I was too nervous to give her something I wasn't familiar with orally in case it was the wrong thing, lol. But she spent pretty much the rest of the evening outside with the other goose and didn't seem to have any issues or panting. At night a little before bed, she was briefly in the nesting area, but it didn't last long. Still no egg though.

And she seemed okay when we left super early this morning. But my dad is currently watching the house while we're away, and I can't say for sure how she is, so I'm worried from afar. I won't be able to give her the medicine till I get back late Sunday night, but I'm hoping she'll pop out an egg today though!

If she is having trouble, there isn't really anywhere I could take her till Monday morning either. So do you think she can survive that long with an egg, or would it be something I should try and help guide out?

 

[Miss Lydia]

I don't think she'd be back acting normal if it's an egg stuck. I had a Muscovy with a stuck egg and she laid around not moving much at all. They usually show signs of lethargy. And they pass away pretty fast if they can't get it passed. Hopefully, your girl will be fine. I do rec anyone who has egg layers to have the CG though it can be a life saver.

 

[The Dim Side]

I don't think she'd be back acting normal if it's an egg stuck. I had a Muscovy with a stuck egg and she laid around not moving much at all. They usually show signs of lethargy. And they pass away pretty fast if they can't get it passed. Hopefully, your girl will be fine. I do rec anyone who has egg layers to have the CG though it can be a life saver.

This is some comforting news! (Minus the quick death part if it's a stuck egg.) But according to my dad (who doesn't pay as close of attention), he thinks she's been okay today. But still no egg. So that's two days without anything, if there's nothing tomorrow, I'll be concerned. Is there a normal reason she might stop laying, or is it solely from being egg bound?

 

[Miss Lydia]

That's good news. Maybe just a few days break from laying. When you get home I'd go ahead and give her some CG it won't hurt her. If you don't
feel comfortable doing it orally if there is something they love like watermelon etc you can give it that way too. My gander gets a baby aspirin daily for arthritis and he gets it in a piece of bread I wrap the pill in and smooch it around it he has no idea. It will take 2 of you to give a goose something orally and get it in the right place. So far have only had to do my ducks and chickens.
do they get layer or oyster shell. mine all get layer and still eat alot of oyster shell.