What in the world?!?!?!

[sarah315]

I'll try to make a long story short.

Two years ago I ordered 2 female Tufted Roman goslings from Ideal. Life went along fine until one day we noticed Alfalfa mating Loosey Goosey. Then Alfalfa started acting all protective and manly, and Loosey started to lay. Oh, well. I figured there was a mix up at the goose factory and they sent a male and female. Life went on here as usual. Mating season, egg laying season, round and round we went with me taking the eggs away as we didn't want any to hatch.

Fast forward to last week. Loosey Goosey started to lay. SHe had a nest right up next to the house. In the middle of the night there was a terrible scream and comotion. We rushed out to find that a coyote had taken Loosey.

Alfalfa was a wreck. Calling and wandering around sadly.

Fast forward again to today. I went out to feed my horses and found Alfalfa had made a nest. He was very protective of it, this was the first time he seemed his old self again. Something just didn't seem right though, so I endured his biting and hissing and felt around underneath. WHAT?!?!? ALFALFA IS SITTING ON 3 EGGS!!! Eggs that weren't there before. No where near the old nest. We took all of Loosey's eggs out of there after she was killed anyways. HOw could this be??? Is Alfalfa really a girl? But we SAW them mating. Did Loosey have 2 nests and Alfala just found this one and decided to sit on them? She seemed pretty dedicated to the other nest. What in the world is going on here?

 

[spamee34]

Now I would love to hear the end of this story !!!!!!!! I wonder ?

 

[TajMaChicken]

That sounds kinda like my situation...

https://www.backyardchickens.com/forum/viewtopic.php?id=306631

Thought I had a gander and now I am not sure. If you take the eggs maybe she'll lay more or maybe he won't.

 

[Morri]

 

[Soph xo]

Wow...
It's better than a soap opera!
You must tell if you ever solve the mystery...

I'm very sorry you lost Loosey Goosey though, r.i.p

 

[La Roux]

You know, this behavior isnt out of the ordinary. I hve witnessed a gander canadian goose chase everyone away from " His" nest, and he sat on those eggs for who knows how long. I am betting u that he found an egg, and rolled it onto his nest.

 

[noahsgeese]

I do not know why this happened but it might be because he ( or she? ) has found another mate?????

 

[sarah315]

Well, the mystery has been solved. All last week Alfalfa has been laying eggs. It turns out he was a she all along. It's so amazing that Alfalfa took over the male goose role for the last 2 years. Never once did Alf try to sit or lay, he/she was always the protector, and there was ALOT of mating going on.

At least I know the eggs weren't fertile! We ordered another female from Ideal. She is an American Buff, my daughter named her "Bubbles". Here's a pic, and don't worry, our dog Ruby is very gentile and motherly to all the babies we get here on the farm.

 

[goosedragon]

Quote:
Your 2 females may have been sharing that first nest for egg laying purposes, geese even with a gander often share nest, though if true the number of eggs laid in the nest should have given you a clue..