What is the best way to manage my Goose egg harvest?

[r4eboxer]

I have a plan but I'm not sure if it will work, this is my first year with Geese so I don't know how the laying season will go for sure.

My goals
1. Send a few eggs to a friend, ( I have three of the four and will have this done soon)
2. Get 9 eggs in my bator to try my hand at hatching water foul
3. Sell hatching and cooking eggs until late May
4. Get a few eggs blown out to use as Christmas Ornaments and for Art projects.
5. Allow my Geese to hatch out at least 10 Goslings.

I have two pair of Pilgrims. I want to send the goslings to freezer camp in late October. I am wondering if waiting until the last week of May to let them hatch out a clutch each is too late? Should I start earlier? I was told by the person I got the geese from that they would lay into June.

Anyone have any input?

ETA: I forgot to say that the most important thing to me is to allow the pairs to hatch out goslings. I don't want my other goals to mess up the final goal. I know that if I let them hatch out too early they will stop laying and then my other 3 goals are out the window for sure.

Timing is truly everything.

 

[Oregon Blues]

I don't know about Pilgrims, but by late May, the Greylag geese tend to be wrapping it up.

If it is important to you to have the geese hatch a clutch, I suggest that you plan on starting a bit earlier.

Yes, once they hatch a clutch of eggs, they are done laying for the year. You should be able to collect eggs for awhile before you allow them to hatch. You might get away with late May, but I think you are pushing your luck.

 

[r4eboxer]

Thanks for replying, I will let them start their clutches end of April or before if I've got my other goals met.

How many eggs do geese usually hatch at a time?

I don't know about Pilgrims, but by late May, the Greylag geese tend to be wrapping it up.

If it is important to you to have the geese hatch a clutch, I suggest that you plan on starting a bit earlier.

Yes, once they hatch a clutch of eggs, they are done laying for the year. You should be able to collect eggs for awhile before you allow them to hatch. You might get away with late May, but I think you are pushing your luck.