Let's have a gosling hatchalong!

[kuntrygirl]

Too funny! I love that. You got me on that.


They are outside Miss Lydia. But knowing me like you do, there is always a chance I may have them set up inside my house in the living room in front of the TV.

Well it might help the time go by faster for them, you know keep their lil minds off the task at hand. when is hatch day for the group?

Hatch day will a few days from yesterday.

Hatch day for the others outside are too many dates to type. That would be about 8 different dates. Too many different types of birds setting on too many eggs.

 

[paul tennant]

Hi:

New to this, Embden eggs at day 28 (in UK) going to increase Humidity this evening. from 38 to 75% with final weigh and candle check. Have started to hear cheeping from some of the eggs, should I bring my plans forward and raise the humidity now or stick to original plan. I do not have a separate incubator. Any advice appreciated.

 

[Iain Utah]

Hi:

New to this, Embden eggs at day 28 (in UK) going to increase Humidity this evening. from 38 to 75% with final weigh and candle check. Have started to hear cheeping from some of the eggs, should I bring my plans forward and raise the humidity now or stick to original plan. I do not have a separate incubator. Any advice appreciated.

Congrats and welcome to the thread!

If you hear cheeping, they have internally pipped and you should increase humidity now. Best of luck on a great hatch!

 

[Iain Utah]

I have noticed that my geese that are setting always use sticks and twigs to make their nests. Does anyone have any geese that do the same thing? I have had to remove some of the sticks and twigs because they were TOO BIG! I was afraid that they would crack the eggs. Why do they do this?

I always place lots of hay near their nests so they can use the hay but they prefer sticks and twigs.

All of my girls wants to use natural materials from their environment over hay, straw, and shavings. Some use sticks and twigs, if that is what is nearby. I like to pull out clumps of long blade dead grass and rake areas to pull up soft bedding type material of grass, leaves and feathers. Then I put a pile next to their nest. They will work tirelessly to incorporate the pile into their nest and a few have built up rather impressive nests.

They also turn their noses at dog igloos for boxes, preferring thrown together boxes from scraps of wood, again looking more natural environment. They especially hate anything with a floor, since they like to paddle their feet into the earth to make a hole for their eggs and then roll the eggs in the dirt to camouflage them.

 

[kuntrygirl]

I have noticed that my geese that are setting always use sticks and twigs to make their nests. Does anyone have any geese that do the same thing? I have had to remove some of the sticks and twigs because they were TOO BIG! I was afraid that they would crack the eggs. Why do they do this? I always place lots of hay near their nests so they can use the hay but they prefer sticks and twigs.

All of my girls wants to use natural materials from their environment over hay, straw, and shavings.  Some use sticks and twigs, if that is what is nearby.  I like to pull out clumps of long blade dead grass and rake areas to pull up soft bedding type material of grass, leaves and feathers.  Then I put a pile next to their nest.  They will work tirelessly to incorporate the pile into their nest and a few have built up rather impressive nests.

They also turn their noses at dog igloos for boxes, preferring thrown together boxes from scraps of wood, again looking more natural environment.  They especially hate anything with a floor, since they like to paddle their feet into the earth to make a hole for their eggs and then roll  the eggs in the dirt to camouflage them.

WOW!! That is great to know. I always thought that was odd of them to use all of the crap in there but they know what they want. I wish that I could say that my geese nests were impressive. It may be impressive to them but if it works for them, then I will have to deal with it. Every year, I try to fix up a nice area for them but like yours, they turn their noses up at EVERYTHING. Only 1 took to the nesting pad/nesting house that I put together for them. It's not pretty but it's functional.

Your explanation of this makes it clear to me now.

They also turn their noses at dog igloos for boxes, preferring thrown together boxes from scraps of wood, again looking more natural environment. They especially hate anything with a floor, since they like to paddle their feet into the earth to make a hole for their eggs and then roll the eggs in the dirt to camouflage them.

I did organize an area in the corner of the chicken house and one of the girls dug a hole and started laying eggs in there and she is not setting on about 7 eggs (I think). I had put a large pet carrier in front of it to camouflage the area to where it looks like it is "hidden". She found this hide out and is enjoying being out of the way with the pet carrier hiding her from anyone and anything that walks into the chicken house. When I go in there, I pretend that I don't see her. I don't even make eye contact with her. I try to peek at her from the corner of my eye and I can see that she is watching me and tucking her head down. I think she thinks that I can't see her.

The only thing is what other eggs are under her. I have a funny feeling that she may be setting on chicken and duck eggs under here. I think a few chickens and ducks joined her and layed some eggs in her nest. Oh well. Time will tell.

 

[pips&peeps]

Those look almost identical to the new boxes I have this year. I have them up off the ground just like yours. I need to get an overlap to prevent rain from coming in or cut the opening at more of an angle.

 

[Miss Lydia]

WOW!! That is great to know. I always thought that was odd of them to use all of the crap in there but they know what they want. I wish that I could say that my geese nests were impressive. It may be impressive to them but if it works for them, then I will have to deal with it. Every year, I try to fix up a nice area for them but like yours, they turn their noses up at EVERYTHING. Only 1 took to the nesting pad/nesting house that I put together for them. It's not pretty but it's functional.









Your explanation of this makes it clear to me now.
I did organize an area in the corner of the chicken house and one of the girls dug a hole and started laying eggs in there and she is not setting on about 7 eggs (I think). I had put a large pet carrier in front of it to camouflage the area to where it looks like it is "hidden". She found this hide out and is enjoying being out of the way with the pet carrier hiding her from anyone and anything that walks into the chicken house. When I go in there, I pretend that I don't see her. I don't even make eye contact with her. I try to peek at her from the corner of my eye and I can see that she is watching me and tucking her head down. I think she thinks that I can't see her.

The only thing is what other eggs are under her. I have a funny feeling that she may be setting on chicken and duck eggs under here. I think a few chickens and ducks joined her and layed some eggs in her nest.

Oh well. Time will tell.

She'll have some very interesting looking babies. nice nest boxes too. My Missy doesn't have a nest even though she has eggs in her stall, but when she is outside she will gather sticks up around her feet. it's so cute.

 

[kuntrygirl]

Those look almost identical to the new boxes I have this year.  I have them up off the ground just like yours.  I need to get an overlap to prevent rain from coming in or cut the opening at more of an angle.

Yes, I learned the hard way last year when I didn't put an overlap. A lot of eggs got wet one day. I made sure they wouldn't get wet this year. It seems to be working well with the way I have it set up . We had several days of rain and none of the eggs got wet.

 

[paul tennant]

Congrats and welcome to the thread!

If you hear cheeping, they have internally pipped and you should increase humidity now. Best of luck on a great hatch!


Thanks for the advice. Paul T

 

[kuntrygirl]

She'll have some very interesting looking babies.  nice nest boxes too. My Missy doesn't have a nest even though she has eggs in her stall, but when she is outside she will gather sticks up around her feet. it's so cute.

Thanks but my nesting boxes look raggedy. LOL