Questions about new geese!

[Vineyiea]

So after having several misses with picking up a pair or trio of geese-we finally got some! Someone fairly near us decided they didn't want their three year old American Buff geese since they have a baby now-and we bought two of the three pairs they had for sale. So far we've named one pair Romeo and Juliet, and the other female Daphne... the last ganders name is still being debated

One of the females laid an egg yesterday, but not in the nest box... how can I encourage her to lay in the nest box? Also, how long should we take the eggs away until we let her sit? We do want them to raise some goslings. Apparently they normally do a community nest, but we'd rather they each sat on a nest... any way to encourage them both to make a nest?

Any help would be appreciated! Even though we've only had them for 2 days the family already has fallen in love with geese (and these four in particular)

 

[BirdsBeesTrees]

I put some hay down and then put the egg they've laid in it. Mine liked the hay I put down for them and decided they'd lay their eggs on it. I just have two females so I didn't let them keep them.

 

[Percheron chick]

If you want be able to identify which eggs were laid by which hen, the only way is to pen them separately.
I use dogloos for my geese and they make nice nesting boxes. They like hay for bedding material

 

[FoodFreedomNow]

Mine like hay, too. They also like the nest a Muscovy duck made in the barn...and commandeered it. They take turns laying eggs in it now. lol

x2 on the suggestion by @BirdsBeesTrees - I'd scrap the nest box idea and just spread a nice, thick layer of hay in the area where they're laying now and hope they decide to use it.

 

[DiYMama540]

Beautiful family of geese!! Best of luck hatching!!

 

[Vineyiea]

Beautiful family of geese!! Best of luck hatching!!

thanks!

 

[Vineyiea]

Mine like hay, too. They also like the nest a Muscovy duck made in the barn...and commandeered it. They take turns laying eggs in it now. lol

x2 on the suggestion by @BirdsBeesTrees - I'd scrap the nest box idea and just spread a nice, thick layer of hay in the area where they're laying now and hope they decide to use it.

I'll definitely think some more about this-thank!

 

[Vineyiea]

If you want be able to identify which eggs were laid by which hen, the only way is to pen them separately.
I use dogloos for my geese and they make nice nesting boxes. They like hay for bedding material

Awesome thanks! And we don't really care, the goslings are being raised for meat anyway-it's more wanting them to raise a few more goslings lol

 

[Vineyiea]

I put some hay down and then put the egg they've laid in it. Mine liked the hay I put down for them and decided they'd lay their eggs on it. I just have two females so I didn't let them keep them.

Thanks! I'm probably going to try this