Should I shoo off nest to candle?

[telandra2]

My Craiglist hens and gander are all supposed to be only a year old so I assume any eggs are infertile. However Ethel has not gotten off the nest long enough for me to attempt to candle to confirm viability. I can scoop poop right next to her and she'll give me the stink-eye and maybe hiss at the shovel so this may involve actually picking her up and moving her. Is it worth it? Egg-sitting is past the two week point -- would they have exploded by now if they are bad? Do I shoo, or do I leave her to do as nature intended?

 

[nuthatched]

Did you happen to check fertility before the started to set? You couldn't get me near a broody goose without a shovel or something either.

 

[Goosebaby]

They’re fertile at a year old.

You can shoo her off, she’ll return as soon as she gets the opportunity. 2 weeks isn’t long enough to explode, at least that’s my expierience.

 

[Goosebaby]

Also if she doesn’t shoo easily just grab her by the head (she can’t bite you if you have her head) and pull her off or pick her up and set her down a few feet away. It’s easier than it sounds believe it or not, the dragons aren’t venomous.

 

[nuthatched]

the dragons aren’t venomous.

They leave a heck of a welt though.

 

[Goosebaby]

They leave a heck of a welt though.

They do

 

[telandra2]

I have the kindest Chinese ever. She let me just pick her up and carry her outside. 14 fertile eggs at different stages of development. 2 may be dead but I don't want to risk pulling them -- they have veins but are sloshy. There was a lot of yelling for the gaggle after I put her down, which she joined for about 3 minutes then ran back when I exited the nesting zone.

1 year old ganders can do the deed after all. Or maybe he is 2 or 3 or who knows with Craigslist.