Newbie questions....sorry

[The Sheriff]

I bought a breeding pair of mini Oregon Geese from Holderreads at the end of January.

I have not observed any mating but the two are inseparable. They have a little pond to swim in. I understand they can mate in water. Is this correct?

In April Bonnie laid her first egg and over the course of the week squirreled away a clutch of 4 eggs. She has been sitting on them since sometime around April 19th.

Is it likely that these eggs are even fertile? Would she have abandoned them if they were clear? Do first year breeding pairs produce fertile eggs? Are Bonnie and I both in for a big disappointment? I have not removed the eggs from her to candle them as I am old and need both of my arms.

Any advice appreciated.

 

[Kim65]

ROTFL your "offenders" look pretty darn happy and cute, and so does their prison

If he's successfully nailed her the eggs should be fertile. My yearling gander has been slow on the uptake, he's just NOW mating her (instead of trying to mate my boots).

Will she know if her eggs are fertile and alive? I've seen chickens kick out dead eggs from their clutch. I've never heard of a goose or a chicken sit on a bunch of rotten eggs until one exploded on them, but maybe someone has a story. They seem to know.

My guess is she would know toward the end of the "time" if the eggs are alive, and if she abandons her nest, there's your answer. How long has she been sitting?

 

[The Sheriff]

We were out of town when she started sitting but my daughter remembers it was almost from the day we left, April 19th.

 

[Puddle Foot Farm]

I feel that poultry tend to "know" these things, as Kim said. But, I feel that this is only if they go bad.. I have a feeling I've heard of several people's geese/ducks sitting on unfertilized eggs for weeks. You still have 4-6 days until they're due to hatch though, so there's nothing really to do but wait. Maybe you're in for a sweet surprise.

 

[The Sheriff]

Let's hope! Actually I counted days and this could be day 29! Dave Holderread's Book of Geese says that incubation is 29 to 31 days.

 

[jojo@rolling acres farm]

What a pretty pair they are! I hope they have success with their eggs. Keep us posted can't wait to hear if the eggs hatch.
Sending good luck your way.

Joni

 

[Puddle Foot Farm]

Quote:
Haha.. I am NOT a math major.. If you were trying to get me to count rocks or chemicals in a substance, I could probably do it.. Simple days? Why should I be able to count those?