sadness in the goose house

[duck walk]

where my Wilma was sitting on six eggs...something got three of her eggs, one of them just beginning to hatch so we know he was alive in there...Wilma was terribly stressed out and looking very ragged after 28 days on the eggs...we decided to take the other three eggs rather than risk loosing them...we put them under Wanda, my standard black cochin, who is sitting on a few chicken eggs...she accepted the big eggs and is deeply focused on her job...it had to be a snake...there were no holes under the wire or the building walls, no shells, no nothing...the eggs were just gone...Wilma now hates me...when I went to feed the geese this evening she came at me hissing and biting and flogging...and her guy Freddy was right behind her...how do you make this up to a goose? Neither one of them have ever shown any aggression but right now I am at the top of their poo list...I feel so bad for her...

 

[Windchyme]

Quote:
Can you give the babies back once they are hatched or nearly hatched?? I'm sure that would soothe hard feelings. Give her something vaguely the size and shape of eggs like a couple tennis balls then sneak the real thing under her (or behind her back) when it is time.

 

[Cottage Rose]

Chances are the predator will come back.
Its good that you removed the remaining eggs.
Just give her a few days and she will go back to normal.
Do you have pasture she can graze on?
Get her away from her nesting area (remove nesting material) and distracted. She'll get over it.

 

[duck walk]

thanks...I did remove the nest and put her and her three companions on a pasture area...she seems more settled today and seems to be feeling better...she has bathed, cleaned up and eaten...Fred is still making faces at me...And Wanda is sitting hard...you have to love a big fat chicken who will take on goose eggs...

 

[duck walk]

One of the eggs is in the process of hatching...Wanda is sitting hard and I am biting my nails...

 

[chickenzoo]

 

[duck walk]

bigger hole in egg this a.m. and I can see him and hear him just working away at his escape from the egg...slapping my hands and telling my self...LEAVE HIM ALONE...he knows how to get out of there and progress is being made...

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[ohiofarmgirl]

.you have to love a big fat chicken who will take on goose eggs...

yes you do, friend, yes you do!

it took about 3 days for my geese to get over the loss of the one hatchling... it was awful. they walked around screaming for 2 days. but i put them in the pond and tried to distract them as best i could. now they are back to being their feisty selves.

you'll have to check with cottage rose for sure - but you might be able to give the babies back to Wilma! my buddy took his hatchlings right as they hatched and brooded them in the house. several weeks later he took them back outside and the parents ran to them and accepted them immediately!

hope this works out - we are pulling for your big ol' fat hen and those babies!
​

 

[duck walk]

one baby three quarters out with the second one on the way beside him...opening in second egg about the size of a quarter and I can hear him and see him moving around...sooooo cool...they are going to make it...fingers crossed on the third one...

 

[ohiofarmgirl]

update for today please....