Questions about geese raising goslings

[nobueno]

Two of our pilgrim geese shared a nest and just hatched out at least 4 goslings so far. They started peeping Saturday night and I put some food and water in there for the geese and goslings separately. Goslings haven't touched the food as of yet and moms are still sitting on the nest. One of the ganders was introduced and did well with the chicks. Last year when their eggs didn't hatch they just kept sitting until I forced them off after almost two months. I'm wondering if they're going to do the same if all the eggs don't hatch. How long should I just leave them be? Just want to make sure the chicks that made it are being taken care of.

 

[nobueno]

Nevermind. They're all up and about now, 48hrs later. 7 out of 11 or 12 hatched.

 

[Goosebaby]

The urge to care for their hatchlings will get them off the nest, sometimes if you have multiple females one may stay longer to hatch any remaining eggs, occasionally multiple females will abandon their eggs to fawn over someone else’s hatched babies. They can’t resist those little fuzzies.

 

[nobueno]

Hah. That's funny. The goslings finally found the water I set out for them today too. They're very good for the most part but I saw the mom standing on one for 15 seconds before she realized it haha.

 

[Percheron chick]

Did you candle the remaining4 eggs. I find with multiple girls laying in a community nest there are always a few a day or 3 away from hatching when mom gets off the nest. I always have the incubator ready to finish up the stragglers.

 

[nobueno]

Unfortunately I didn't but we don't have an incubator anyway. I'll have to get one for next time.