Premature dead gosling?

[Clodhoppers]

Hi there,

Yesterday around 3pm I noticed more acitivity around one goose's nest. Ganders were standing close and something definitely got their interest. Went to check it out. Broody goose was standing over her nest and incessantly shaking what looked like a premature gosling. Could also see a broken maybe half shell at the edge of the nest, looked bloody inside. Well, of course ganders would not let me get any closer. Goose tucked in the gosling and settled back on her nest and I planned to retrieve the dead gosling from her nest today.

Goose is definitely getting off her nest more often than twice a day last couple of days. Should be between 3 to 4 weeks now.

This morning I quickly went to check since the goose was off her nest already again. Waited close by until everybody settled and goose came back to nest. Sure enough she shook a dead gosling again. I was able to retrieve the gosling this time. This little thing was still pliable.

Could a dead gosling stay pliable (as if it just died) with no off odor for about 18 hours under a sitting goose?

 

[livininbrazil]

Hi there,

Yesterday around 3pm I noticed more acitivity around one goose's nest. Ganders were standing close and something definitely got their interest. Went to check it out. Broody goose was standing over her nest and incessantly shaking what looked like a premature gosling. Could also see a broken maybe half shell at the edge of the nest, looked bloody inside. Well, of course ganders would not let me get any closer. Goose tucked in the gosling and settled back on her nest and I planned to retrieve the dead gosling from her nest today.

Goose is definitely getting off her nest more often than twice a day last couple of days. Should be between 3 to 4 weeks now.

This morning I quickly went to check since the goose was off her nest already again. Waited close by until everybody settled and goose came back to nest. Sure enough she shook a dead gosling again. I was able to retrieve the gosling this time. This little thing was still pliable.

Could a dead gosling stay pliable (as if it just died) with no off odor for about 18 hours under a sitting goose?

Is this her first time hatching eggs? I´ve had them crush eggs and thereby kill the goslings unintentionally. What I did with one of mine that squashed her first one, was take the others out as they pipped, and then I gave them back to her once they were on her feet and they all did ok. I´m hoping she´ll do better this year. Keep an eye on them, it could be that they´re starting to hatch, and you don´t want her to crush them.

 

[Clodhoppers]

Thanks Livinginbrazil, yes it their first nesting season. Don't think taking the eggs away from her is a good option here. Surely would cause one heck of a stampede and fight! Got two nests under the blue sky.... I know.....and have been sleeping very lightly and been up to investigate several commotions. At least one goose decided to go broody on an inside egg.

Don't think any more goslings hatched in the meantime. Should be very close though. She seems more alert on her nest. Not sure if geese make those 'motherly' sounds like chickens do during hatching.

Prior to next breeding season, I'll build several stout A-frame type of shelters big enough for just one giant nest.

I also had a chicken hen persist in raising a brood outside the chicken coop and away from the other chickens. She managed to hatch two chicks under a bush even though we had a lot of rain and at times heavy rains for this time of year.

I'll definitely keep a close eye on them. Hope she'll be able to at least get a couple of goslings after all her effort. I'm sure lots of people passing by are eagerly waiting to see goslings as well.

 

[livininbrazil]

Thanks Livinginbrazil, yes it their first nesting season. Don't think taking the eggs away from her is a good option here. Surely would cause one heck of a stampede and fight! Got two nests under the blue sky.... I know.....and have been sleeping very lightly and been up to investigate several commotions. At least one goose decided to go broody on an inside egg.

Don't think any more goslings hatched in the meantime. Should be very close though. She seems more alert on her nest. Not sure if geese make those 'motherly' sounds like chickens do during hatching.

Prior to next breeding season, I'll build several stout A-frame type of shelters big enough for just one giant nest.

I also had a chicken hen persist in raising a brood outside the chicken coop and away from the other chickens. She managed to hatch two chicks under a bush even though we had a lot of rain and at times heavy rains for this time of year.

I'll definitely keep a close eye on them. Hope she'll be able to at least get a couple of goslings after all her effort. I'm sure lots of people passing by are eagerly waiting to see goslings as well.

Fair enough. Well, maybe she´ll be better with the next ones, then. If she´s sitting a little lighter, then that´d be promising. Keep an eye for her poking about underneath her, that´s a sign that either she has a good gosling, or she´s nibbling one that may need rescuing.

 

[Miss Lydia]

Fair enough. Well, maybe she´ll be better with the next ones, then. If she´s sitting a little lighter, then that´d be promising. Keep an eye for her poking about underneath her, that´s a sign that either she has a good gosling, or she´s nibbling one that may need rescuing.

I would really watch closely, I haven't had a goose do this and hopefully won't but I had a Muscovy Duck sit and brood [she could have gotten an award for best broody], ducklings started to hatch and she attacked them like they were aliens. Only 1 lived and he was wounded, We brought him inside and he made it. She was a first time broody, second year she was awesome both as broody and mama. So watch her close don't let her kill anymore.

 

[Clodhoppers]

Well, the goose left the nest for good. I was able to collect all eggs and the second dead gosling. This one likely was not premature. Also found a broken stinky egg low in the nest.

The goose inside the hutch is still sitting, she started 5 to 7 days later. Hopefully she'll have a successful hatch.

Good to know Miss Lydia that yours did fine the second year around. I'll make several changes for next season. Possibly the ganders will mellow out a bit as well.

 

[livininbrazil]

Well, the goose left the nest for good. I was able to collect all eggs and the second dead gosling. This one likely was not premature. Also found a broken stinky egg low in the nest.

The goose inside the hutch is still sitting, she started 5 to 7 days later. Hopefully she'll have a successful hatch.

Good to know Miss Lydia that yours did fine the second year around. I'll make several changes for next season. Possibly the ganders will mellow out a bit as well.

That´s disappointing, then. sometimes some geese sit too tight and crush the eggs, and sometimes the geese can get too enthusiastic the first time with helping the babies out of the shell (geese nibble at the shell once it´s pipped), thereby killing the little one. Sad.
Ganders not likely to mellow, though. I hope the goose in the hutch is successful.

 

[Clodhoppers]

Well, the goose left the nest for good. I was able to collect all eggs and the second dead gosling. This one likely was not premature. Also found a broken stinky egg low in the nest.

The goose inside the hutch is still sitting, she started 5 to 7 days later. Hopefully she'll have a successful hatch.

Good to know Miss Lydia that yours did fine the second year around. I'll make several changes for next season. Possibly the ganders will mellow out a bit as well.

Good news, this morning we got a gosling from the goose inside the hutch! All the ganders are on papa watch and Heehaw is pacing around the hutch announcing to all with her unusual "donkey honk" whenever the gosling makes the slightest sound, it's comical...

 

[Starfire669]

Good news, this morning we got a gosling from the goose inside the hutch!  All the ganders are on papa watch and Heehaw is pacing around the hutch announcing to all with her unusual "donkey honk" whenever the gosling makes the slightest sound, it's comical...

Congrats to you and to momma. Hope she gets a few more to hatch so the baby will have siblings.