The Accidental Smallholder Forum
Livestock => Poultry & Waterfowl => Topic started by: Dans on March 03, 2016, 10:37:13 pm
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Noticed one of our geese sitting on the nest before we went out. Checked the nest when we got back but my husband only found this. Any ideas? I'm guessing that it is an egg that hasn't formed shell for some reason? Hubby said it was like the egg sac but with all the contents drained out.
Will this cause any problems for the goose? Anyway to prevent it happening again?
Dans
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It looks like a soft shell egg that has its contents eaten. My hens lay soft shell eggs occasionally, usually with no ill effects, but I would keep an eye on her for a few days just to check she is ok.
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It can happen when they first come into lay and also if they are young. Make sure they are getting plenty grass and we give ours flaked maize (looks like cornflakes but just maize) or mixed grain, we give ours an iceberg lettuce (Tesco 49p) to share once a week (we have 6 geese) which they love, especially when there is little in the way of spring grass and a bit of brown bread now and then is good to feed them up before they start sitting. I wouldn't worry but worth keeping an eye on as Louise says.
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Thanks guys, the next couple eggs from her had a rough shell but they are smoothing out now. This is her first year laying but we've had about 15 eggs from her before this soft one.
They've eaten down the grass in the area but we're fencing a larger area this weekend.
Dans