Non-mated goose laying eggs

[carmentk]

My goose - who has no mate - has been laying eggs for a couple weeks now. We discovered she had laid 5 so I put her up with the eggs to see if she would go broody. She didn't and didn't like being confined. So we let her loose again and are taking up the eggs every day as we find them. Is it harmful to her health to keep taking up the eggs? Will she eventually stop laying? Or do we need to let her go broody on the unfertilized eggs? Thanks.

 

[Goosebaby]

She’ll stole laying wether she goes broody or not. My Delphi never really went broody last year and stoped laying around early/mid summer.

 

[carmentk]

Thanks. I'm just worried that she'll get run down from producing the eggs. Should I give her extra feed? I have a line on someone near me who will have goslings in a couple of weeks. I should be able to get her some friends - and a mate - then.

 

[jtn42248]

Geese will, during their "breeding season" lay an egg every other day. The eggs will not be fertile if there is no Gander to mate with. Taking up the eggs is O.K. and it is pretty unlikely she will go broody since she is just following what her body does by nature. Going broody and having no hatch would, I think, be very frustrating for her.

 

[carmentk]

That's what I'm wondering. Is it better for her to think her eggs have been stolen and finally quit laying or let her go through the whole hormonal cycle with no babies at the end? Had a dog that went through a false pregnancy once and it was stressful.

 

[Miss Lydia]

If you are wanting to get some goslings be sure to introduce them to her slowly and safely. She may not take to them right off and you don't want them hurt. When my goose lost her only gosling to make it almost to hatch. Died in the shell. We brought home 2 two day old goslings for her, she wasn't interested for about a week so I brooded them inside and took them out multiple times during the day and would sit and watch, Missy became more interested by the day. I did wait till they were 3 weeks old before they spent their first night with her and my gander mainly because my gander is so spastic I was afraid he'd accidentally step on one, by 3 weeks they were big enough to take it. That was the most precious site to watch Missy lay down in her coop and see those 2 little ones cuddle up next to her. My story is a little different but the end should be the same. Geese love babies and have such strong parental instincts it's a blessing to watch, As for eggs boy they make awesome omelets. I don't think I'd let her sit on unfertilized eggs but if your sure you can get goslings then you may be able to switch out eggs for babies with out any problems. Please let us know what you decide .
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[Miss Lydia]

That's what I'm wondering. Is it better for her to think her eggs have been stolen and finally quit laying or let her go through the whole hormonal cycle with no babies at the end? Had a dog that went through a false pregnancy once and it was stressful.

She won't quit laying just because her eggs aren't there. She will quit laying because she has gone broody.

 

[carmentk]

If you are wanting to get some goslings be sure to introduce them to her slowly and safely. She may not take to them right off and you don't want them hurt. When my goose lost her only gosling to make it almost to hatch. Died in the shell. We brought home 2 two day old goslings for her, she wasn't interested for about a week so I brooded them inside and took them out multiple times during the day and would sit and watch, Missy became more interested by the day. I did wait till they were 3 weeks old before they spent their first night with her and my gander mainly because my gander is so spastic I was afraid he'd accidentally step on one, by 3 weeks they were big enough to take it. That was the most precious site to watch Missy lay down in her coop and see those 2 little ones cuddle up next to her. My story is a little different but the end should be the same. Geese love babies and have such strong parental instincts it's a blessing to watch, As for eggs boy they make awesome omelets. I don't think I'd let her sit on unfertilized eggs but if your sure you can get goslings then you may be able to switch out eggs for babies with out any problems. Please let us know what you decide .
.

Thanks - everyone - for all the good advice. Yes, my husband is very pleased to have goose and duck eggs for egg salad. I've got a line on some Pilgrim goslings but will have to wait until our kitchen remodeling project is finished since I will be crazed for 10 days. >:O

 

[carmentk]

She won't quit laying just because her eggs aren't there. She will quit laying because she has gone broody.

Thanks.

 

[Ms Ellen]

My geese are specifically for laying. Just like chickens. Except geese will lay only during their breeding season (usually sometimes an odd fall egg) which is around the end of January to June or so.