Geese on a dam.

SWS · **Joined:** Wed Jun 29, 2011 9:39 pm **Posts:** 87

Ok, so I'm new and i guess this has been answered heaps before, so i will apologize now for asking it again....

My free-range geese have an island and hutches on it that they lay eggs in, i give them hay at laying time for them to build a nest.... last year eggs every where, no geese. but i did have 2 hens sharing a nest.... this year eggs all around the nest sites, but i do have 2 sites and 2 hens.....question ,,, am i best to check the eggs and incubate, or leave her to do it, or remove eggs till she sits??
hope this make sense?

Help please ....

andre · **Joined:** Tue Oct 13, 2009 5:21 pm **Posts:** 612

You can leave it up to the goose and hope for the best OR collect the eggs and hatch them yourself for more reliable results. I would not bother collecting them unless you planned to artificially incubate as collecting then returning eggs to the nest at exactly the right time is difficult to get right.

SWS · **Joined:** Wed Jun 29, 2011 9:39 pm **Posts:** 87

oh well, she is on her own then..thanks.
either that or i confuse the hell out of one of my chooks...

TooGoose · **Joined:** Wed Aug 24, 2011 7:11 am **Posts:** 1

Do you have a gander? if you do then collect up the eggs and use a chook if the goose won't sit

copperducks · **Joined:** Tue Aug 09, 2011 2:12 pm **Posts:** 5

You can collect the eggs and put fake eggs in the nest to entice her to brood it worked for a close friend of mine

SWS · **Joined:** Wed Jun 29, 2011 9:39 pm **Posts:** 87

Toogoose, i think ill pinch a few for a chook, and let her try to work out the rest.. thanks

coolgeese · **Joined:** Wed Aug 31, 2011 4:32 pm **Posts:** 2

I do about 50/50 with chooks and find they both do equal job

Geesey · **Joined:** Thu Nov 10, 2011 5:14 am **Posts:** 2

If you leave them there they will go broody they wait until they have laid all the eggs before they sit its normal and the best way to hatch and breed geese in my opinion so they can learn from mum

coolgeese · **Joined:** Wed Aug 31, 2011 4:32 pm **Posts:** 2

I see your point but I wonder how many eggs you get to hatch?

Geesey · **Joined:** Thu Nov 10, 2011 5:14 am **Posts:** 2

Around 70% but I think thats about normal in the wild and enough for the goose to handle

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