Stoped laying

[goosebegon]

Hi everybody,

I'm not new to raising geese in fact I'm a fifteen year veteran, and I thought I had dealt with just about every scenario but this one has me scratching my head.
A few details may be helpfu.l I live in north central Wisconsin and yes this has been a long winter. My flock is predominantly American buff,sixteen birds in total four ganders eleven geese ranging in age from yearlings to five years old. They are fed a complete ration 18% protein and are allowed to range over 1/2 acre paddock at will. Normally by this time I will have multiple clutches and am looking forward to the pitter patter of tiny feet accompanied by momma and papa. This year a total of two eggs laid..............and that is all. No one is making nests, none of the ususal activities with the one normal activity of copulation carrying on as usual.
I've checked for predators, yes they were de-wormed in the fall. I've so far put it down to the miserable weather were having this spring but we've had bad springs before and still had decent clutches by this time.
Ideas anyone??

thanks
David

 

[BunkyB]

My geese are doing just the opposite this year. Mine usually start in early March. It was late march before they started. Now I have 1 nest with 17 eggs in it and they don't want to set longer than a day at a time. Long dragged out winter and still a late spring as we have snow falling today, damp and cool.

Every couple of years I get this hiccough from the geese and reason being I don't know.I blame it on the prolonged winter this year. I am scrambling now to get another incubator built so I can try to salvage this hatch. I do have a father and son goose team being bullies lately and that is the only reason I can come up with. I am trading one of those two for a dozen Welsummers from the next county.

You may have a stress situation going on if they are only giving a few eggs. It could be weather related as well. I would not give up yet.As soon as the weather breaks in Spring favor you may have more eggs being layed. Good luck tho... Steve