Need some advice please

[dandmpoultry]

I just bought a breeding pair of Toulouse geese and they lady that sold them to me gave me 34 eggs that the goose had laid and a box full of straw from her nest. The straw smells quite unique. Anyway the geese are not used to my farm and I'm wondering if there is any trick to getting the goose to want to sit on her eggs? I put them in my fence with the chickens for now to let them get used to the place and all the other birds. (I have lots of poultry) So if I just make a nest using the straw and eggs will she know it is hers and set? I have an incubator but would much rather the goose do it. Anybody that knows what I should do let me know.

 

[postalpoultry]

well goodness this is a problem! you see if she had already been setting on them you may have lost them already, depends how far along they are. first thing I would do is candle the eggs so you know what needs to be done next!
IF no sign of embryo, you can TRY making her a nest (small enclosure around it will encourage her to take nest back)
IF signs of embryo you better get them in incubator quick!
In my opinion 34 is way to many for her to be setting anyway so you might try both

 

[dmack]

Agree with postal

 

[dandmpoultry]

well goodness this is a problem! you see if she had already been setting on them you may have lost them already, depends how far along they are. first thing I would do is candle the eggs so you know what needs to be done next!
IF no sign of embryo, you can TRY making her a nest (small enclosure around it will encourage her to take nest back)
IF signs of embryo you better get them in incubator quick!
In my opinion 34 is way to many for her to be setting anyway so you might try both

 

Thank you postal. I'll candle them and see. The lady I bought them from said the goose had not started setting yet. I'm hoping she will and they're fertile. Thanks again for the advice I'll do that. Also, what is the best way to wash the eggs, some of them are quite filthy.

 

[pete55]

I think keep your eggs as a separate matter and let the pair settle into their new home first. The move may well disrupt or end laying so there wont be any chance of the goose being broody. if she does start laying again then leave the eggs and she may well go broody on those.

As for the eggs well I'd candle for fertility though times getting on and put any fertile in your incubator. The problem you have is old eggs and some perhaps over 6-8 weeks!!! No good to incubate and definitely not to eat!!! The dirty eggs will probably be the oldest and personally I'd throw them away. If you really want to try and incubate then choose the cleanest and those with the smallest aircell which should mean they are relatively fresh.

 

[dandmpoultry]

I think keep your eggs as a separate matter and let the pair settle into their new home first.  The move may well disrupt or end laying so there wont be any chance of the goose being broody.  if she does start laying again then leave the eggs and she may well go broody on those.

As for the eggs well I'd candle for fertility though times getting on and put any fertile in your incubator.  The problem you have is old eggs and some perhaps over 6-8 weeks!!!  No good to incubate and definitely not to eat!!!  The dirty eggs will probably be the oldest and personally I'd throw them away.  If you really want to try and incubate then choose the cleanest and those with the smallest aircell which should mean they are relatively fresh.

Thank you Pete! I'll take your advice and do just that. I would like to hatch any that are fertile so i'll candle and do that. I've got 8 eggs in the incubator now from another guy. I just hatched 2 the other day from that same guy. I'm really interested in raising geese but have heard it can be tricky to incubate them. this is day 2 on the ones i have in the incubator now. Hopefully all will go well with them. Thanks again for all the advice, i'll candle those eggs and act accordingly.

 

[pete55]

Hi

Well best of luck with your eggs and the Incubation Guide should help you.

Often the key to success is correct weight loss and stable conditions.

Pete

 

[dandmpoultry]

Hi

Well best of luck with your eggs and the Incubation Guide should help you.

Often the key to success is correct weight loss and stable conditions.

Pete

Thanks again Pete. The incubation guide looks very helpful. I'm sure I'll be looking back on it often.

I candled the eggs and none of them had big air cells. I'm wondering if the lady that sold them had more geese and these eggs don't all belong to my goose.. I don't know though. None of them have any sign of an embryo in them and I cracked one open and it looked as fresh as my chicken eggs we eat. I'm going to try incubating them all even though they looked dirty. I only paid $30 for the pair of geese and the eggs so I don't have that much to lose. Thanks for all your info though.

If I can get my internet to work fast enough I'll put up a picture of the largest air cell and get your opinion on how fresh it might be.

 

[pete55]

No problem and at least you got a pair of Toulouse for your money too

Does sound like the female's laid a lot of eggs so plenty feed and graze is needed to rebuild her reserves before the moult.

 

[dandmpoultry]

Right. I've got them on good grass now. Will they eat my normal chicken layer feed? So far they haven't been interested in any feed I've offered them.