White Chinese laying at 20 weeks???

[shelleyd2008]

I know it's got to be her, my dad saw her on a nest earlier today and I found an obviously pullet-sized goose egg in that very same nest! I got her on April 4 and I believe she was only 3 or 4 weeks old. She was pretty small but she had most of her feathers, except what had been picked off from being overcrowded with who knows how many other goslings.

I know the White Chinese can lay pretty young, but 20 weeks? That seems a little too young!

This is a picture of her a week or so ago:

And here she was as a baby (smaller one on left):

 

[shelleyd2008]

I had to edit the first post because my brain was apparently not working yesterday. I've had the goose for 16-17 weeks but she was 3-4 weeks old when I got her. But is it normal for them to start laying so young?

 

[pete55]

Hi Shelley

I've not had this happen but someone told me they had a cross Chinese lay at 8 months so I suppose it could happen. Maybe the summer days are still long enough to stimulate the ovary. Sorry I cant be of more help.

Pete

 

[ironjerry]

Two years ago I got mine at about 6weeks in April and they laid eggs in late February. They are Chinese and the eggs were fertile as I hatched 3 in the hovabator that year.

 

[shelleyd2008]

I can see 8 months since they are rather small. I expected her to start laying in spring like 'normal' geese. But 5 months is a bit ridiculous, most of my ducks don't start laying that young! I doubt it's fertile since all my ganders are Embdens and are currently molting or coming out of a molt. I know it's got to be hers since the other females are an adult Embden and 4 'baby' Embdens who are a month younger than the Chinese. Plus the egg is half as big as the ones my adult Embden pops out

Yesterday's 'egg' was shell-less, so apparently she's still getting things in gear. I haven't seen one today yet but I haven't really looked either.

 

[cmcm]

I have a white Chinese that started laying at 5 months too. I got her and her mate at a feed store in the middle of March and she started laying in the middle of August. She has layed 11 eggs so far! I was not expecting any eggs at all. Pretty amazing!

 

[Rosecomb-Ryan]

Its pretty normal for Chinas.. I have 20 Brown Chinas.. and have some pullets that layed a few eggs in the middle of their pen from this years goslings...