The Accidental Smallholder Forum
Livestock => Poultry & Waterfowl => Topic started by: Russpig on May 20, 2023, 06:48:19 pm
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I’ve a trio of geese.
1 of which was laying and then decided to go broody so let her sit but unfortunately the eggs were infertile (gander never seemed to mate her, he always preferred the other goose).
Now the other goose has not laid an egg at all yet this year but the gander has been mating her regularly.
My question is will she lay or I s it too late this year? If not why?
Also will the one that was broody (now not) lay again at all?
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It is now coming to the end of the breeding season for geese. They typically lay fewer eggs through May and stop completely around the middle of June. The older the goose the earlier they tend to stop laying. The one who was broody is unlikely to lay again this season. She will most likely start moulting before too long. You will start to see loose feathers drifting about the field.
Do you know for certain the other goose is not laying? If the gander is treading her then that is usually an indication she is laying - maybe you have not found the nest? Some geese like to lay into a communal nest but others prefer to make their own and can be very clever at hiding them. It doesn't necessarily mean they will go broody though.
And of course the obvious one - are you sure you have the sexes right? Dominant females will tread submissive females quite happily, which might explain the lack of fertility.
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my geese manage to hide nest VERY well. however crows , magpies, even stoats, foxes, badgers etc can find them before me.
My guess would be predators are taking them, they don't leave evidence.