Author Topic: Goose eggs missing..what is taking them.  (Read 3709 times)

Klb

  • Joined Sep 2012
Goose eggs missing..what is taking them.
« on: March 11, 2013, 11:10:58 am »
Hi, I'm little stumped on what could be nicking the geese eggs, our goose had roughly 10 eggs, anyway long story short only two left happened within 2 day time frame, they is no sign of shell anywhere, fox hasn't had them as they where in the garden (which is a good size), and dogs alway abouts, they would not go near nest, we get the odd badger, but surely they wouldn't take on the gander?, other option is rats,magpies/ravens but would they be able to carry eggs without leaving any sign ie cracked eggs?
I have moved the pair, to another enclosed area/shed with the remaining eggs, goose is happy and sorting out new nest, but still interested in thought about what could of takens eggs so I can further prevent it, there was no egg nicking last year..

lachlanandmarcus

  • Joined Aug 2010
  • Aberdeenshire
Re: Goose eggs missing..what is taking them.
« Reply #1 on: March 11, 2013, 12:16:27 pm »
Badger would absolutely, they are a lot fiercer than foxes and we recently lost a gander to a fox.
The other option is stoats, they can roll them away and will take on anything. I have seen them with a massive rabbit 5 times their size and 10x their weight so goose egg no problem, they usually go for hens eggs here and they like the blue ones best - I thought my araucuna had stopped laying until I saw stoaty rolling a blue egg away and found a stash of over 50 blue eggshells under a tarpaulin, not one brown one!

hughesy

  • Joined Feb 2010
  • Anglesey
Re: Goose eggs missing..what is taking them.
« Reply #2 on: March 11, 2013, 01:01:10 pm »
Magpies and crows can roll eggs away I've seen them do it. Likewise rats. We lost 18 last year never really found out what was responsible though the old two legged fox was one suggestion made locally.

Klb

  • Joined Sep 2012
Re: Goose eggs missing..what is taking them.
« Reply #3 on: March 11, 2013, 02:09:24 pm »
Thank you for your reply, if something was rolling them it would of had to either had to roll in towards the garden, nest in a corner or down a 2 ft step on hard stone, but I will certainly keep my eyes open to see if anything  Seems interested in the old nest, looks like any animal can be the target.

 

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