{"id":9608,"date":"2021-07-18T09:08:20","date_gmt":"2021-07-18T09:08:20","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/farmandanimals.com\/?p=9608"},"modified":"2021-10-12T10:40:03","modified_gmt":"2021-10-12T10:40:03","slug":"why-is-my-goose-not-sitting-on-her-eggs","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/farmandanimals.com\/why-is-my-goose-not-sitting-on-her-eggs\/","title":{"rendered":"Why Is My Goose Not Sitting On Her Eggs?"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

A goose will only sit on her eggs if she is ready to brood them. Young geese in their first year often start brooding but give up before any eggs can hatch. Geese<\/a> that are two years of age generally make much more reliable mothers. This is why your goose may not be sitting on her eggs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Do Geese Leave Their Eggs Unattended?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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Yes, broody geese do leave their eggs so they can eat, drink and bathe. It is normal behavior for them to do this for up to an hour a day. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

It\u2019s actually really important your broody goose does leave her nest for her own wellbeing. Also, when she bathes, she brings back moisture to the nest on her feathers, which creates the correct humidity level necessary for the eggs to hatch properly.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Sometimes young geese, who have become broody for the first time, refuse to leave their nest. This is very dangerous for the goose, as without eating and drinking, she may die in the nest. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you have a goose who refuses to leave her nest, you will have to force her off each day. You may need to lift her off, being careful her feet don\u2019t break the eggs. Older geese are usually much better at coming off the nest each day than younger ones.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

When you check your goose and her eggs, try to feel her weight and ensure she isn\u2019t getting too thin. If absolutely necessary, you can finish off the eggs in an incubator or under a broody Muscovy duck.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

How Do You Get a Goose to Sit On Eggs?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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You can\u2019t force a goose to sit on eggs, but you can encourage her to do so by providing a really inviting nesting area. Give her a good deep bed of shavings somewhere quiet, and protected. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

A large broody coop (nesting box) made just for the job of brooding, is the best option. It is essentially a goose house made for one. Goose like to feel safe when they are brooding eggs, so avoid the goose being able to look outside from the nest box.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

By replacing any eggs your goose lays with replicas (I use blown goose eggs filled with plaster of Paris), you can fool her into thinking she has a full clutch. When she starts to brood, simply replace the \u201cfake\u201d <\/em>eggs with some of the real ones you\u2019ve been collecting.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

How Long Does a Goose Sit On Eggs Before They Hatch?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The normal incubation period for a goose varies from 28 to 35 days. Even if you use an incubator, the time can still be very varied but from my own experience, most hatch around day 32.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

When eggs begin hatching, it can take 2 or 3 days before all of the goslings fully emerge from their shells. While they hatch out, the mother goose will chatter to her babies and keep them safe and warm under her for a few more days.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Eventually, the goslings will start coming out to view the world, and after a while, the goose will abandon the nest and any unhatched eggs. The goose then takes her young to food and water.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

It is usual for the gander to also take responsibility for the brood and often, the mother goose will leave her goslings solely in his charge.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In this video, some of the signs that a goose is nesting are shown so you know what to look for.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=zHK5qv4cOUw<\/a>