What to do?

[STucker]

Hey Everyone, I need to figure out how to my geese eggs from underneath their mother's. I have to female geese who have been sitting since the first of March??? There are about 17 eggs under the hens. They lay with the eggs split between them. But since it have been past the time the eggs should have hatched I am concerned about them both still sitting on rotting eyes. Does anyone have any ideas on how I can lure the girls out to get all those eggs out without being ambushed by not only the mother's but the daddy as well??? I would like to get them out of there today.

 

[STucker]

Okay Thanks for the help

 

[GarlicEater]

You might have to have one person with some sort of a large "shield" gently herd the goose off of the nest, while another person gathers the eggs.

They'll sit on rotten ol' eggs forever.

 

[nsanywhere]

Was the last egg laid on Mar. 1? If not, or not sure, I'd be inclined to give it another week.

My goose laid her eggs over a 2 week period, then 3 more while sitting on the nest. I didn't mark any, but just knew from my daily count (she lets me go under and see what's up)

So, when I thought the hatch would be around the beginning of the month, I let it go a bit longer and she managed to get all the eggs to hatch within 24 hours of each other, but ~2 weeks later than I would have expected them.

My point is, are you sure it's time to toss them?

When you can get under her, you can sometimes tell the yucky ones - they will be lighter than developed eggs.

As for getting under her, that's a tricky one. I had to be very stealth at first, watching when she went off the nest for water and a snack. It was usually late in the day after I did my chores (of course) so I started making another pass, leaving some tasty greens and scratch out away from the nest. Once I caught her off the nest I'd make a run for the goose house, nip in and close the door to keep the adults out, then do a quick egg count, check the nest, etc. I kept it short and sweet so she wasn't TOO upset.

Good luck!

 

[STucker]

Thank you both for the advice. I did manage to get both of the momma's off. After close inspection I notice a bad order coming from the next. After some candling I notice that all the eggs have been rotten. Turns out they have been dead a while. I guess Next time I will keep a better watch for the eggs and gather them as they lay them. I was told that many times the momma will take the bad egg out of the next. I guess being that all of them were bad they didn't want to get rid of them and decided they would just sit. Guess they loved their babies no matter the condition. Good Mommas' !!!

 

[Balbinka]

Quote:
Glad everything went OK!

Sorry nobody replied... but for broody birdies, you sometimes have to force them off the nest for their own health.