When Should My Geese Lay

[flyinghenfarm]

I got five goslings in May 2012 and was wondering when they will lay their eggs. I have two ganders with three hens.
Thanks

 

[larkflying]

I got my 8 American Buff geese (3 ganders 5 hens) at the end of April 2011. They started laying in February 2012 but not all at the same time. I had one start laying in February, another 2 lay in March, and a third started laying in April. So, I wouldn't look for eggs till February, but it could be later, or earlier depending on climate and how the winter weather goes, and the personalities of the geese involved. We have pretty mild winters, with only a week or two of snowy conditions (and sometimes not even that). It was about a month after they started breeding activity that I saw the first eggs.

 

[CelticOaksFarm]

Geese are seasonal layers, spring of each year only. When they start will depend on where you live some as well.

We are in Florida and see first eggs in December from one breed, January from most of the other geese.

 

[Miss Lydia]

Geese are seasonal layers, spring of each year only. When they start will depend on where you live some as well.

We are in Florida and see first eggs in December from one breed, January from most of the other geese.

And how old are they when they begin to lay? My ducks are usually around 6 months but it takes longer for geese to start laying right? my new girl is 4 months old.

 

[CelticOaksFarm]

2012 hatchlings will lay in 2013, some geese don't lay as well the first year. Ganders from 2012 hatches will be ready for breeding in 2013 as well.

 

[1MrsMagoo]

And how old are they when they begin to lay? My ducks are usually around 6 months but it takes longer for geese to start laying right? my new girl is 4 months old.

I have heard that the breed, diet, and climate all help influence when they begin to lay. I looked through a lot of older threads on this subject and opinions vary greatly. The consensus seems to be that if the geese are older than 9 months the goose will probably lay at least some eggs this coming spring. However, those eggs may not be as fertile as ones from older first-year layers. Now, that is what I read and took away from the older threads.

According to the newest version of Dave Holderread's " The Book of Geese", their is not a simple yes or no answer to whether the yearling geese will provide fertile eggs. He says on page 108, "The ability of yearlings to reproduce depends on breed, strain, and the care they receive."

He also says that according to studies, the fertility of the yearling layers starts low and improves as the laying season progresses: It also seems that hatchability of eggs increases dramatically toward the middle to end of the season for young birds. He has a chart in the book that quotes fertility by yearling pilgrims, but says studies have also been done on yearling Embden, standard Toulouse, and Chinese. He suggests that at least the first 6-8 eggs may not be fertile from the new layers.

As to breeds, apparently the Dewlap Toulouse take the longest to reach sexual maturity when compared to most other domestic species: Between 2 and 3 years.

SO, Ms Lydia, I am pretty sure you are going to see some eggs from your new lady this coming spring. She may not start as early as an older girl, but I am pretty sure she will lay. At least I really hope so, since I have 5 little ladies the same age as your girl!


Disclaimer--All quotes from Holderread's "The Book of Geese- A Complete Guide to Raising the Home Flock" are the intellectual property of Mildred and David Holderread copyright 1981.

 

[Miss Lydia]

I have heard that the breed, diet, and climate all help influence when they begin to lay. I looked through a lot of older threads on this subject and opinions vary greatly. The consensus seems to be that if the geese are older than 9 months the goose will probably lay at least some eggs this coming spring. However, those eggs may not be as fertile as ones from older first-year layers. Now, that is what I read and took away from the older threads.

According to the newest version of Dave Holderread's " The Book of Geese", their is not a simple yes or no answer to whether the yearling geese will provide fertile eggs. He says on page 108, "The ability of yearlings to reproduce depends on breed, strain, and the care they receive."

He also says that according to studies, the fertility of the yearling layers starts low and improves as the laying season progresses: It also seems that hatchability of eggs increases dramatically toward the middle to end of the season for young birds. He has a chart in the book that quotes fertility by yearling pilgrims, but says studies have also been done on yearling Embden, standard Toulouse, and Chinese. He suggests that at least the first 6-8 eggs may not be fertile from the new layers.

As to breeds, apparently the Dewlap Toulouse take the longest to reach sexual maturity when compared to most other domestic species: Between 2 and 3 years.

SO, Ms Lydia, I am pretty sure you are going to see some eggs from your new lady this coming spring. She may not start as early as an older girl, but I am pretty sure she will lay. At least I really hope so, since I have 5 little ladies the same age as your girl!


Disclaimer--All quotes from Holderread's "The Book of Geese- A Complete Guide to Raising the Home Flock" are the intellectual property of Mildred and David Holderread copyright 1981.

Thanks 1, I have that book so have to be honest and say I was too lazy to walk upstairs to get it, Well at least we may have a chance to taste some goose eggs come spring time. Now i need to get the book out and reread it.

 

[1MrsMagoo]

Oh Ms. Lydia...you are too funny. If my copy had not been on the book shelf that is only 10 feet from my computer, I might not have went and got it either.

Our golden retrievers managed to find a way off our property in the middle of the night last night, so I spent the morning in hip boots walking along a creek and through a wetlands (basically swamp) calling for them: My legs hate me right now. BTW, I did find the little boogers and their escape route, which I also fixed.

Despite seeing pictures of goose eggs, I will still surprised by how large they were when I got my first one. Up till that point, I though my Pekin duck eggs were huge! My family likes the goose eggs better than any of the other eggs we have: Chicken, duck, and turkey. However, they aren't allowed to eat many since I sell or hatch most of them!

 

[Miss Lydia]

Oh Ms. Lydia...you are too funny. If my copy had not been on the book shelf that is only 10 feet from my computer, I might not have went and got it either.

Our golden retrievers managed to find a way off our property in the middle of the night last night, so I spent the morning in hip boots walking along a creek and through a wetlands (basically swamp) calling for them: My legs hate me right now. BTW, I did find the little boogers and their escape route, which I also fixed.

Despite seeing pictures of goose eggs, I will still surprised by how large they were when I got my first one. Up till that point, I though my Pekin duck eggs were huge! My family likes the goose eggs better than any of the other eggs we have: Chicken, duck, and turkey. However, they aren't allowed to eat many since I sell or hatch most of them!

Well I guess we will be eating most of ours since most folks don't want mixed breed geese or much of anything else for that matter. Have you baked with them? Glad you found your dogs, and your legs soon forgive you.

 

[1MrsMagoo]

I did try baking with them, but without a good kitchen scale was kind of winging it...lol. It was like okay, it looks like and feels like x amount of large chicken eggs. Everything turned out well, but I can say the only difference I notice when baking is with the duck eggs: They are wonderful. My family did like the scrambled goose eggs, but not fried ones: That big old egg freaked my poor son out.

Too bad nobody would want mixed geese where you are: I bet they are going to be adorable goslings. I know some people sold mixed goose eggs on eBay this past spring. The ones that sold went for only about $4-5 an egg, but it may be worth doing if you know they are fertile. If they still have the deal where you only pay if it sells (other than the .35 for gallery pictures) it may be worth a try. Also, with the big increase in feed prices geese may start looking a bit more attractive since they primarily eat grass!