Setting Geese.

[TheRealDane]

I have some geese that are laying. They have a gander, too. I'm not sure what breed. They look like several. I got them from the feed store at least a year ago, so who knows the breed. They look sort of African and sort of Chinese. One gander is white, so I'm pretty sure he's a Chinese, right?
I have no idea what I'm doing with geese, but I'm pretty schnazzy with ducks, guinea, turkeys, and chickens. I incubate my chicken, turkey, Pekin, and guinea, but my geese have made a nest.
Each day they add at least one egg.

Now, with my Muscovy, they eventually down the nest and start setting. These geese have been adding to the nest every day, and then covering it again with straw to the point that you can't even see the eggs. The nest probably has 10 eggs in it right now, but I have several geese.

I never see a goose setting the next like my ducks set, but they keep adding to it.
My Muscovy will sometimes go for a week adding to a nest before setting it. I can tell they're about to set because they will start to down the next.

Do geese follow this same basic format?
Like I said, they keep adding eggs to the same nest and it looks very organized and normal.
Still, they aren't downing the nest or setting it.

If the geese follow the same format as the Muscovy and will eventually set----- how long does that usually take.
With the Muscoby, it's sometimes a week or so before they'll take up residence on their nest.

Do Geese do this also, or should I raid the next and incubate?

I prefer natural setting although it returns lower hatch rates usually, but I don't want to lose the goose eggs.

 

[Miss Lydia]

I have some geese that are laying. They have a gander, too. I'm not sure what breed. They look like several. I got them from the feed store at least a year ago, so who knows the breed. They look sort of African and sort of Chinese. One gander is white, so I'm pretty sure he's a Chinese, right?
I have no idea what I'm doing with geese, but I'm pretty schnazzy with ducks, guinea, turkeys, and chickens. I incubate my chicken, turkey, Pekin, and guinea, but my geese have made a nest.
Each day they add at least one egg.

Now, with my Muscovy, they eventually down the nest and start setting. These geese have been adding to the nest every day, and then covering it again with straw to the point that you can't even see the eggs. The nest probably has 10 eggs in it right now, but I have several geese.

I never see a goose setting the next like my ducks set, but they keep adding to it.
My Muscovy will sometimes go for a week adding to a nest before setting it. I can tell they're about to set because they will start to down the next.

Do geese follow this same basic format?
Like I said, they keep adding eggs to the same nest and it looks very organized and normal.
Still, they aren't downing the nest or setting it.

If the geese follow the same format as the Muscovy and will eventually set----- how long does that usually take.
With the Muscoby, it's sometimes a week or so before they'll take up residence on their nest.

Do Geese do this also, or should I raid the next and incubate?

I prefer natural setting although it returns lower hatch rates usually, but I don't want to lose the goose eggs.

Geese aren't like ducks or mine aren't no down in the nest and most likely they haven't come to that magic number yet to start sitting having more than one goose laying in the nest you may end up with 20 or more eggs before someone goes broody if that happens I think I'd go in a day or 2 after one makes the commitment and she goes out to eat, I'd go in and remove all the really dirty ones and toss them most likely they will be the oldest too. Give her a nice number for her first brood so she has a good hatch and believe me all the flock will take care of the goslings. It takes 28-30 days from day one of brooding till hatch Geese lay every other day.

 

[TheRealDane]

Thank you Miss Lydia!
I was h oping that was the case because they cover them with straw nicely. The ducks don't do that. They just leave the nest open until they down it.
There are two geese who are very protective when we get near the nest, so I assume they're their eggs.
I have 3 geese and 2 ganders, but one gander s separated.
Should I separate the geese from this one nest?

 

[Miss Lydia]

Thank you Miss Lydia!
I was h oping that was the case because they cover them with straw nicely. The ducks don't do that. They just leave the nest open until they down it.
There are two geese who are very protective when we get near the nest, so I assume they're their eggs.
I have 3 geese and 2 ganders, but one gander s separated.
Should I separate the geese from this one nest?

I think it will work out eventually one goose will decide to brood the others will be aunts to the goslings. If 2 of the geese decide to sit and brood then give each goose some of the eggs, and a separate nesting place Last year both my females laid in the same spot but only 1 went broody. I didn't let them hatch any goslings but it was interesting to see how they worked it out with brooding.
Can i ask a question why is one gander separated? and you have 3 geese? couldn't he have 1?

 

[TheRealDane]

Well, again, I'm not a g goose person. With chickens, ducks, and turkeys too many roosters, drakes, and Toms is unhealthy for the hens.
Isn't this an issue with the Geese?

 

[Miss Lydia]

Well, again, I'm not a g goose person. With chickens, ducks, and turkeys too many roosters, drakes, and Toms is unhealthy for the hens.
Isn't this an issue with the Geese?

Geese pair usually with 1 -2 females sometimes only 1. It isn't the same as drakes and I'm not sure on Toms since I've never had turkeys just chickens ducks geese.Drakes rape and gang rape ganders are more like gentlemen. Although ganders that out numbered females could still injure her but usually once a pair bond the bonded gander isn't going to put up with any other gander making a move on his mate.

 

[TheRealDane]

OH, I see. Thank you.

 

[TheRealDane]

Today's count is 13 eggs, and one is setting the nest.

 

[Miss Lydia]

Today's count is 13 eggs, and one is setting the nest.

Okay now is when you come into it. You'll have to go out and mark each egg using a washable marker put and X or date on them then if anyone lays in there after she has gone broody it will be best to remove the eggs that aren't marked because you don't want a staggered hatch, once first set of goslings hatch mama goose will stay on the nest only a few days after that any eggs left in the nest that maybe developing will die.Or you'll have to Have an incubator ready.

Looks like your going to have goslings in 28-30 days hope your weather will be warm.