How many days do geese sit on eggs before the chicks hatch and what affects the timing?

Poultry farming » Geese

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Kira Stoletova

Humanity domesticated geese 3-4 thousand years ago and since then the birds have proven their benefits many times. They once saved Rome by waking up the sleeping guards when the Gauls were about to sneak inside. Nowadays, geese are usually bred for their eggs, meat and feathers. The business turns out to be very successful, but only on the condition that the breeders know all the nuances, and breeding geese is different from raising chickens and ducks. For example, if a businessman did not find out in advance how long the goose has been sitting on eggs, he will probably face disappointment and losses.

How many days do geese hatch eggs?

Geese are late-maturing birds. Females begin to produce eggs at 8-9 months of age. How many days a goose sits on eggs depends on their size and quantity. The incubation period for goose eggs is 28 days. In reality, this period increases to 30-32 days. In order for the goslings to be born into a friendly brood, the eggs in the nest should be regularly turned over and rearranged. This will ensure their uniform heating on all sides.

For your information! Goslings are able to swim a few hours after hatching, so you need to think in advance about a pond or a large vessel with water.

Selecting musk duck chicks

The Muscovy duck begins laying eggs in March-April. It sits on eggs very willingly; it does this twice or thrice during the season. It builds itself a downy nest in a cozy place and lays 15-20 eggs. The nest must not be touched or moved.

Towards the end of hatching, on the 33-35th day, I begin to monitor the eggs. I take the first-born from the duck until all the others hatch - only then do I return the weaned ducklings to the mother. Usually all the chicks hatch within a day. I do this because musk hens are very caring: the mother can leave the nest with the first two or three ducklings, and the remaining eggs will cool down and the unhatched chicks will die. By the way, musk ducks can hatch not only their own eggs, but also chicken, goose, and turkey eggs.

Where's my big spoon?

In the first days of life, I give the babies a chopped boiled egg, then I introduce crumbly millet porridge and fresh cottage cheese into the food. I gradually mix in the greens: chopped dandelion leaves, beets, quinoa, woodlice. I am gradually getting used to mixed feed. I don't restrict food. I make sure there is always clean water. Growing up, approximately, the chicks begin to eat the same food as adult ducks.

Related link: Slaughtering and processing of poultry at home

Features of egg production

It is believed that geese are the first birds to be domesticated by humans, and their eggs entered our diet back in the Neolithic era. For a long time, geese were unjustifiably forgotten by farmers, although their maintenance is no more difficult than chickens. Eggs are much more nutritious, rich in lutein, large - on average up to 200 grams. However, poultry farmers can say that a chicken lays eggs almost every day, but not many people know how often a goose lays eggs. And there is truth in this, since these large birds do not lay very many eggs, so their clutch is used exclusively for hatching chicks.

The period when domestic geese begin to lay eggs and the number of eggs depends on many factors. Let’s say right away that you shouldn’t expect a lot of eggs from geese, but it all depends on the breed and living conditions. If for some the norm may be 120 pieces per year, then for others - 20 pieces is already the maximum amount. The highest rates of egg production with proper feeding are shown by Kholmogory, Chinese and Toulouse geese.

When and how long do they lay?

It is important to note that on average, geese begin to lay eggs between six months and a year, but the beginning of laying is always associated with hormonal changes in the body. Unlike chickens, geese show restlessness during this period and may lose weight. Geese also have their advantages. For example, it is no secret that these birds are famous for their longevity (25 years or more), and the egg production of females, unlike chickens, only increases over the years. In females aged three years and older, the clutch is larger and the number of eggs increases by 20%. But at what age depends most on the breed.

Geese do not lay eggs all the time, but periodically, usually for two to three months with a break of one or two months. Usually this period covers the warm season, less often females can begin laying in the fall. In many ways, the time and periods of egg production are related to the ambient temperature and the balance of the diet. If there is a lack of vitamins or nutrients, the bird’s body stops or reduces egg laying.

Light mode

In geese, like other poultry, egg production is affected by light conditions. Here are some rules to know:

For first and second years, a 14-hour daylight period is established from December. Under this regime, egg laying begins in January.
The lighting intensity should be per 1 sq. meter 20 lux.
After the end of egg laying in the summer, for geese two years old, the accelerated molting method is used. To do this, the bird is transferred to a 7-hour light regime. After three weeks, they are again gradually put on a 14-hour schedule. In this way, autumn-winter egg laying is stimulated.
Three-year-old geese are transferred to the 7-hour regime in January, then, as natural daylight hours increase, they begin the spring-summer laying cycle.

Secrets of laying geese

geese rush according to a clear schedule, which is easy to recognize by observation;
As a rule, females lay eggs in the first half of the day with intervals of 1 day;
Older females are the first to sit in the nest, followed by young ones;
females lay fertilized eggs three days after mating with the male;
domestic geese instinctively love to hide their clutches, so their absence in the nest does not mean their absence in principle.

Forced incubation

As already stated, while the goose is laying eggs, it will not sit, but what to do in the case when it is already in season, but does not want to sit on the eggs? There are no specific procedures, only traditional methods.

There are other methods, and it won’t be difficult to come up with such a “trap” yourself. When the goose sits, at night, the wooden or plastic eggs are replaced with real ones and hatching of the offspring begins.

Interesting fact! The wild goose has a more developed maternal instinct. The female will never leave her nest and will always sit on her eggs on time.

We figured out how many eggs can be placed under a female and how to force a bird onto a nest. But how long should an animal sit on the nest before the goslings hatch?

When wintering in a barn in warm conditions, egg laying can begin much earlier than March. If there is a separate barn or barn, then there is nothing wrong with that; the goose can be separated from the rest of the flock until it hatches and sits on the eggs.

Averages

Many novice poultry farmers have a question: the goose sat on eggs, what should I do? By and large, now most of the care lies on the wings of the mother goose. The farmer looks in only when feeding or to see if all the embryos are getting the same conditions.

The note! For young birds, the ideal clutch number would be 11 eggs.

On average, a goose sits on eggs for a month, but this number may vary. For small breeds, the incubation period can be 28 days; for large meat birds, up to 35 days are required. But these indicators may differ depending on the breed.

Geese of the Linda breed. Withdrawal on day 32.
Chinese geese begin to peal on the 28th day.
The Kholmogory breed of geese are real giants. The weight of an adult bird can reach 12 kg, and the embryo - 200 g. That is why Kholmogory geese need up to 35 days.

In terms of time, it is generally accepted that the ideal hatching period for chicks is 30 days. But what to do if the birth is delayed?

“Stitched” output of goslings

No bite on day 37, what should I do? The embryos must be checked with an ovoscope to see if there are any signs of life under the shell. If you can’t tell by eye, place the egg on a flat glass surface and watch for movement. If in both cases there is no movement, the embryo can be thrown away; it has cooled down during the incubation process. If the embryo shows signs of life, it must be moved to an incubator.

The note! A delay of 3-4 days is quite normal drying, in the case of natural incubation. Poultry down cannot provide all the necessary conditions for hatching babies. This mainly concerns the humidity control in the incubator.

No bite observed even on day 40? Feel free to throw away the embryos, they have cooled down. Now imagine how many days you wasted. To avoid such consequences, most modern farms use exclusively incubators.

The note! If the chicks do not hatch within 30 days, the embryo is transferred to an incubator. Adjusting the temperature and humidity will allow the gosling to hatch without difficulty.

To prevent wasting time, eggs should be examined regularly under an ovoscope or on a glass surface. Embryos without signs of life are immediately eliminated, and others can be added in their place.

Interesting fact! Natural incubation requires almost no human intervention, unlike artificial incubation, but the hatching rate of offspring is 50-60 percent, while in an incubator this figure can reach 80%-85%.

Wild geese can breed much earlier than domestic geese, on the 25th day of incubation. It's all about a stronger immune system and environment. It is possible to cross wild birds with domestic ones, but due to the priority genes of domestic animals, the hatching of goslings cannot be reduced below 28 days.

Now it has become known how long geese should sit on eggs, how to place eggs in a clutch, how many eggs to lay for a bird, and what to do if the goose does not sit in the nest. The domestication of geese has greatly affected their maternal instincts.

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Breeding domestic geese

Raising geese at home is quite a profitable activity. As a result, you can get nutritious meat, delicious liver, soft fluff, and fat. The female goose, the “lady,” is quite independent, hatching her offspring, and extremely rarely abandons the nest. Moreover, it actively protects the masonry with a menacing hiss, scaring away enemies.

A farmer can choose from many varieties of geese, the care of which is simple, and breeding offspring is not difficult. Among the most popular breeds:

Kholmogory;
gray;

Japanese;
Kuban

Attention! If the goal is to get a large number of testicles, the Kuban breed is perfect. With a small weight, the goose brings up to 90 pieces per year.

As for breeding goslings, there are two ways:

Naturally, a goose sits on the masonry. Typically used on small farms.
In the incubator. Basically, this method is used on an industrial scale.

In order not to get a “dummy”, eggs for future hatching by geese must be carefully selected and stored correctly. They must be fertilized - a week after collection, this must be confirmed by x-ray using a special device - an ovoscope. It should be stored for 10 days at a temperature not lower than plus 12 degrees.

Gander replacement

When geese are kept for a long time, without changing, family ties begin. Against this background, egg production, fertility, and offspring survival rates decrease.

To avoid this, it is recommended to change the gander every 3-4 years. To do this, they take an egg or new offspring from a breeder, preferably from another area.

The survival and viability of young animals is increased by mixing the genes of the two breeds. Pairs are specially selected from among individuals with a similar diet and maintenance. For example, they take a female of the egg-laying breed (Toulouse, Gorky), and a gander of the heavy variety (Shadrinskaya).

How many eggs does a goose hatch: correct selection

A goose can hatch as many eggs as its size allows: from 10 to 15 eggs. The collection of eggs for future incubation lasts on average 10 days, but no more than 20. They select medium-sized ones (160 g), since small ones will produce small chicks that will be stunted and will not gain sufficient live weight. Large eggs may end up with two yolks and none will hatch. Those with cracks, irregularities, rough shells, and various growths are subject to rejection. It is not recommended to take an egg that is too contaminated, as bacteria contained in the droppings can harm the embryo. The optimal time for collection is around 12 noon, when the geese have already laid eggs, the eggs are not damaged, not dirty and not too cold. Dirty ones (if there is a shortage) can be washed, but only before incubation.

Goose eggs

Storage conditions:

in the “sideways” position (turn over every 2 days);
air temperature 10-15°C;
humidity - from 70%;
without access to direct sunlight.

The percentage of hatchability of goslings decreases sharply with increasing storage time:

5 days - 80%;
10 days - 73%;
15 days - 54%;
20 days - 33%;
25 days - 0%.

Masonry control

Checking the eggs

Before placing the eggs in the clutch, they are checked for cracks, roughness and contamination. It is not recommended to place too large eggs under the hen, because they may contain two yolks. And also newly laid and small eggs.

To check for fertilization at home, eggs are examined with an ovoscope or a flashlight. The procedure is performed: 3-4 days after incubation, 8-10 and 29-30 days of incubation.

The testicle is fixed and illuminated with a powerful lamp. The method allows you to control the development of the embryo at its different stages. If the embryo is abnormal or completely absent, the egg is removed from the nest.

Signs of bad eggs:

the inside looks like a uniform light spot - there is no embryo;
dark rings appeared along the axes - the embryo was frozen;
the internal contents look like a solid dark spot - the embryos are dead.

Do I need to turn and water the eggs myself?

It is advisable that hens bathe periodically and moisten their testicles with wet feathers. If this is not possible, the clutches are sprayed with water daily throughout the entire incubation period. From 5 to 30 days, potassium permanganate is added to the water.

Usually the goose moves the clutch itself. Therefore, the farmer does not need to do this. The exception is when he is forced to transfer the eggs to an incubator. For example, if the female refused to hatch them.

Then the eggs are turned over: on day 1 - once, on days 2-29 - every 3 hours at regular intervals. The remaining requirements are described in the article “About incubating goose eggs.”

Beginning of oviposition

The low productivity of female geese, compared to other birds, is due to their large size, which is why there are few eggs, although they are impressive in size. Their number is only 30-60 eggs per year. But gradually the situation is changing and in the 2-3rd year of life, geese produce the largest number of eggs.

The main factors affecting fertility:

age of the female;
bird breed;
living conditions;
season;
feeding regimen and diet.

You can understand that a bird is ready to lay eggs by the following signs:

a clear symptom of the beginning process is a drooping tail;
the goose begins to show restlessness, does not find a place for itself, and may rush around the house;
walks unevenly, waddling from one side to the other;
is engaged in construction, plucks fluff from its breast, collects straw and blades of grass, covering the nest with them.

If eggs are needed to hatch chicks, they are collected and then placed under a laying hen so that the goslings appear at the same time. Storage of such eggs is allowed for a week in a cool place; a longer period is undesirable, since the offspring may be weak and not viable. However, you should be prepared for the fact that the chicks will appear with a gap of 1-2 days, since, no matter how much they want, the bird cannot provide uniform heating to all the eggs.

When the farmer chooses the natural birth of the chicks, the eggs are collected and placed on the hen - she incubates them for about a month. True, the bird will not be able to hatch more than 15 eggs. Artificial breeding is more appropriate for large-scale rearing of poultry and a special incubator is used for this. In this case, the owner of the herd needs to select eggs, check them with an ovoscope, clean them of dirt and place them in a device at a temperature of 37.8-38o C. With proper heating, turning, and maintaining normal humidity, the goslings hatch in 30 days.

Characteristics of males

With good maintenance and rationed nutrition, the productive capacity of ganders is maintained from February to June - throughout the entire main breeding season. The older the males become, the higher their value as breeders.

Ganders, even at a young age, should show attention to females, but if this does not happen, then it is pointless to expect healthy offspring from them. Geese can mate with a maximum of two geese; they are monogamous by nature

There are frequent cases of anxiety and excitement in males when the female rushes. Due to separation intolerance, they can stand guard near the goose barn, scream and return from walking earlier.

In the first year of life, the sexual activity of ganders is the lowest, and females lay eggs very little at this time. The situation changes with age. The mating of geese of the second, third and fourth years is considered the most successful in terms of quantity and quality. It must be taken into account that geese develop faster: they begin to lay eggs several weeks before spermatogenesis appears in ganders. This explains why the first eggs laid are often unfertilized. You can speed up the preparation of ganders for the start of the breeding season.

In the cold season, geese do not lay eggs well, so egg laying usually takes place in the spring.

Geese mate well near natural bodies of water. However, quiet walking areas where people rarely appear are also suitable. At the same time, it is necessary to provide birds with constant access to water. During the mating period, ganders are given food that has a beneficial effect on sexual activity. It includes sprout oil, sprouted grains, oats, and hay meal.

A good time to “plant” geese

The life cycle of a goose is closely related to nature. Their reproductive instinct largely depends on the time of year and occurs in the spring. At the end of March, the birds begin to molt and the females collect fallen feathers, putting them in the nest and preparing a place for incubation. The owner, when planning to hatch goslings, must carefully look at the birds, choosing suitable brood hens. Young females get nervous, mark time in one place, and sit on a nest with one egg.

How to choose a goose for hatching chicks

The bird that is assigned the role of a hen must be absolutely healthy and have a calm, kind disposition. An adult bird that already has experience in raising chicks is more suitable for hatching chicks. Such a goose behaves much more carefully and becomes a caring mother. If there are only pullets on the farm, then you should carefully observe the behavior of the birds:

good hens lay eggs less often than others;
The goose, having laid an egg, does not leave the laying site, but begins to make a nest, lining it with its down. Such birds are reluctant to leave the nest, preferring to spend most of their time in it;
having settled down in a prepared place, she does not jump up when a person approaches, but begins to hiss and flap her wings, trying to pinch, protecting her clutch;
Having noticed such behavior, you can lay the eggs collected in advance on the goose. It is important to ensure that the goose lays its first egg in the nest. Afterwards she will lay all her eggs in one place;
occasionally, in the absence of the brooding instinct, the goose has the opportunity to use a hen as a brood hen, placing no more than 5 goose eggs under it.

Important! A noisy and restless goose will not make a good hen.

How Indian ducks rush

How many eggs does a Muscovy duck lay? Egg production for this type of bird is high; they lay up to 120 eggs per year, provided there is a warm house and sufficient lighting. Ducks lay eggs early in the morning, usually by 12 o'clock; all females have already finished laying eggs.

In spring, in warm areas, adult females begin laying eggs as early as February. In the middle zone, the process occurs in April. Ducks lay eggs every day, occasionally taking a daily break. When there are about 20 birds and the ducks have stopped laying eggs, they sit down to hatch the chicks and at the same time begin to molt. How long does it last? It takes about 2 months to replace a feather, during which time the chicks have time to hatch and grow a little. Then the females lay eggs again, sometimes managing to raise a second offspring over the summer.

At what age do Muscovy ducks become adults? This occurs at 8 months. Young laying hens begin to lay eggs a month later, and their egg production will increase the next year.

Therefore, there is no point in laying eggs of the second stage for hatching; they can be used for your own purposes.

Sometimes the time has come, but the ducks don't lay eggs, why does this happen?

If the ducks have stopped laying eggs, it’s time to sit in the nest:
when nutrition is insufficient, the duck needs to make up for the lack of nutrients:
Indian ducks have excellent immunity and rarely get sick, but this possibility cannot be excluded, therefore, if they have stopped laying eggs, the bird must be removed, the diet strengthened, and its behavior carefully observed.
During the laying period, the musky duck is demanding of cleanliness; if the room is dirty, there are drafts, and the straw is damp, then it will not sit in the nest.

An Indian duck's nest usually contains up to 20 eggs.

Natural cycles in goose breeding

In late spring, the goose can be placed on several eggs, and soon chicks will appear in the farmer's yard. How long to wait for the goslings? For the appearance of a young bird, it is necessary to create all possible conditions, because among the eggs there may be many empty ones, from which nothing will hatch.

It is not recommended to plant a goose without preparation, because a frightened bird will damage the goose's eggs and will not hatch them. Careful preparation of the farmer for such an important task will ensure not only a healthy brood, but also comfort for the adult goose. How long will it take before the goslings hatch?

general information

Pros and cons of antibiotics

Antibiotics for chickens are special medications that have a targeted effect.

Thanks to antibiotics, you can quickly eliminate the pathogenic microflora that develops in the body of chickens. This is especially true for chickens, which are especially sensitive to pathogenic bacteria.

Despite the fact that antibiotics help rid poultry of diseases, they also have negative qualities.

Medicines have a detrimental effect on the functioning of the gastrointestinal tract and the normal functioning of other organs of chickens.

These medications are toxic and can accumulate in the body of chickens. They get into meat fibers and eggs, giving them a bitter taste.

In addition, the products of the treated chicken will contain a significant dose of medications.

Getting rid of negative consequences

To avoid the consequences of using antibiotics, you must follow these rules:

you need to strictly adhere to the dosage;
It is not recommended to use several agents at once that have an aggressive effect on pathogens;
you should not use an antibiotic if there are options to eliminate the disease in other ways;
Be sure to use antibiotics simultaneously with probiotics.

Symptoms for which antibiotics should be used

To prevent or eliminate existing diseases, it is recommended to pay attention to the following symptoms in chickens:

lethargy;
lack of coordination;
cloudiness in the eyes;
tearfulness;
greenish droppings;
whitish discharge from the nostrils;
refusal to eat;
chickens cough or sneeze;
presence of hoarseness in the voice;
diarrhea with foam.

If chickens have any of the listed signs, they need to be removed from the general flock and treated with antibiotics using an increased dose.

The rest of the chickens will need the same therapy, but the dose should be moderate, for preventive purposes.

When buying chickens or adult chickens, you need to ask the seller for a document confirming the fact of appropriate vaccination. Otherwise, there is a risk of acquiring sick birds that can infect the existing population.

Information on the topic is presented in the article “About vaccination of chickens: we vaccinate at home.” It also tells you where to give the injections.

What you need to know about the nest preparation process

The nest should be prepared in advance, before the laying period begins. They do this at the end of winter. It is important that the female independently chooses the place where she is ready to incubate the clutch. During this period, the bird needs peace and comfort. A cozy nest away from anyone’s eyes is the key to a good hatching of chicks. The goose should not see “friends” or other birds; the appearance of a person is also undesirable. All this makes the bird nervous and may even lead it to leave its home.

Important! If nests are located nearby, impenetrable partitions must be made between them.

When several birds are planned to be boarded, the number of prepared places should be larger so that the birds have a choice. The nests are placed on the ground (floor), having previously placed a durable material that is not subject to rotting (for example, polystyrene foam) and insulated the lower part. The room should be clean, free of rubbish, and the bird should not have difficulty accessing food and the nest.

The process of preparing the nest

The materials for making a nest can be very different, including improvised means: tires, boxes, boxes, pieces of furniture. For insulation, hay, straw, polystyrene foam, moss and other heat-insulating materials are used. The flow of light into the room should be limited (close the windows), and electricity should be turned on when necessary. In the poultry house where the eggs are planned to be hatched, there should be no drafts or dampness. The size of the nest corresponds to the size of the goose, as they are large birds (approximately 70 cm (width) x 60 cm (height) x 70 cm (length)).

It is advisable that there is a body of water nearby so that the bird has the opportunity to swim and go to the toilet. The reservoir will also be useful for future offspring.

Note! Geese of the large gray breed have good hen qualities, but in the Gorky breed the maternal instinct is poorly developed.

How to arrange and where to place a nest for a hen

Nests need to be prepared in advance. Ideally, a month before the start of laying (in winter). This is done so that the goose chooses a suitable place for itself. If you plan to plant several birds, then it is advisable to have more nests than birds so that they can choose the most comfortable place.

A feeling of comfort is very important for a hen. The bird, while in the nest, should not see its neighbors, so as not to be nervous and distracted

If the nests are nearby, then it is necessary to make partitions.

All kinds of materials are suitable for the nest, the only limitation will be your imagination - these can be old tires, wooden and plastic boxes, nests twisted from mesh (located horizontally) and lined with straw for warmth, knocked down from old furniture or fiberboard.

The nests are installed directly on the floor or ground, having previously laid bedding or polystyrene foam. The room should be dry, warm, without drafts. For the comfort of the bird, it is necessary to limit exposure to sunlight. Electric lighting should be turned off at night.

When designing a place for a hen, it is important to remember that the goose is a large bird and it needs a lot of space. Here are examples of nest parameters for an average bird:

width - 40 centimeters,
length - 60 centimeters,
height - 50 centimeters.

Do not forget that there must be free access to the masonry.

How to select and how many eggs to lay

The number of future chicks that the guska can warm is limited by its size. Depending on the parameters of the bird, from ten to fifteen eggs are laid on it. Before laying eggs, they must first be selected.

Too large ones are not suitable - they may contain two yolks. The small ones will hatch into goslings that will not grow to a large enough size.

Specimens that are too dirty need to be washed, but do this only before storing.

Preparing the premises

The poultry house for geese must be arranged in advance. It is better to have windows facing south or southeast, on the leeward side of the residential sector. Although the room should be bright, too many windows will contribute to overheating on hot summer days and excessive cooling in winter.

In addition, you cannot install a building on an area with a groundwater level more than 2 m from the ground surface, since it may be flooded during heavy rains or floods. For ease of feeding, the height of the house can reach 1.7 m.

To prepare a home for laying hens, you need to:

adjust the temperature - the most comfortable temperature for laying hens is considered to be from +20 to +25 oC;
the floor of the room should be covered with sawdust and straw in a layer of 5 cm;
usually there is one box with nests for three females; they need to be covered with warm cloth; if possible, it is better to keep the hens separately;
the nests should be 50 cm wide and high, 60 cm long, a 10 cm high side should be made in front so that litter and eggs cannot fall out of it;
It is better to whitewash the walls, external and internal;
There are several pallets of sand in the room;
it is desirable that the geese be kept in a separate building, away from other poultry;
cracks and cracks must be sealed, as drafts are unacceptable.

In warm, clear weather, geese are walked in meadows with lush, but not tall grass, where every day one adult bird eats about 2 kg of grass. If the pasture cannot provide sufficient food, the geese are fed additionally in the evening.

In hot weather, it is important to install a canopy for the birds or drive the laying hens into the shade of deciduous or fruit trees, where they can hide from birds of prey and rain. If there is no pond, the birds are given a trough up to 25 cm high and constantly ensure that the water in it is fresh.

Growing

Unpretentious to weather, living conditions and food, domestic waterfowl grow quickly and weigh 3–3.5 kg by two months. By this time, poultry meat has acquired the necessary nutritional qualities, is juicy and soft, and can be easily cooked. Has the highest market value. Mixed feeding of poultry (greens and grains) allows for later slaughter. They determine how long to raise poultry for slaughter individually, but in this case it is not worth keeping it for more than 5 months: the meat will become tough, it will be more difficult to sell it, the cost will increase, which will significantly reduce the profitability of the enterprise. The time of slaughter of a bird is determined by the absence of stumps of new feathers after natural molting. To check, you need to hold your palm against the growth of the feather, determining by touch the presence of stumps.

Did you know? The domestic goose is a long-liver and can live up to 30 years.

Caring for goslings in the first days of life

The first ten days for goslings without a hen is the most crucial period, especially for beginners.

Key points in caring for babies:

Housing arrangement. The room should be warm, without drafts. Temperature - +27°...+29°С, area at the rate of 1 m² per 10 goslings, large sawdust as bedding. Along the back wall there is a place for the chicks to rest, on the opposite wall there are feeders and drinking bowls. Heating and sufficient lighting (up to 20 hours a day) will be provided by an infrared lamp.
Nutrition. The goslings' food should be crumbly; sticky food can get into the chicks' respiratory tract. Bone meal, low-fat cottage cheese, eggs are mandatory food for early-age goslings. On the first day, babies are given only a hard-boiled egg mixed with a small amount of water. Starting from the second day, you can gradually mix in crushed grain, preferably corn, and gradually introduce crushed barley and wheat into the diet. Babies need to be fed every three hours. On the second day, greens are introduced into the food: chopped nettles, young onions, Chinese cabbage, young lettuce. Greens make up half the amount of feed. The main rule is that the grass should be juicy and fresh.
Walking and swimming. Starting from the third day, the babies are allowed to go for a walk, even if they grow up with a mother hen and the weather is sunny. In cold, windy weather, it is better to leave the goslings in the barn: the unpretentious chicks are afraid of drafts and cold. A small container of water is placed in the yard for the goslings to swim. You need to make sure that kids don’t oversupply. The mother goose knows very well how long the chicks need to stay in the water; without it, the babies need to be sent to a dry room after 30 minutes.
Vaccinations. The first vaccination is against salmonellosis: on the third day after birth, if the parents were not vaccinated; on the 10th - if the adult herd was vaccinated. A second vaccination against viral enteritis is mandatory, otherwise the entire herd may die. The vaccination is given with a live vaccine on the 28th day after birth. To prevent colibacillosis, children are given a drink instead of water for the first three days: propionic acidophilus broth culture in the proportion of 10 ml of water to 1 ml of the drug. Without vaccinations, breeding geese involves the risk of disease affecting the entire flock within a short time.

Care in the first weeks

The goslings grow quickly and adapt to their living conditions.

Did you know? The excellent hearing of geese allows them to hear within a radius of 50 m.

Experienced poultry farmers advise how to raise healthy chicks without the risk of death in the first month:

after a week, reduce the number of feedings to six, increasing portions by a third. Chopped peas, boiled potatoes, carrots are introduced into the diet, mixed with yogurt or skim milk. Add fish oil. The water in the drinking bowls is constantly replenished. Chicks get the main amount of vitamins from fresh greens, which make up half of the goslings’ feed during this period.
In warm weather, the goslings are driven out into the yard for the whole day. They determine how long the goslings bathe by looking at their plumage: until the main feather appears - no more than 20 minutes without a break. The down of babies gets wet quickly, the chicks become hypothermic and get sick.

Care after the first month

Four-week-old goslings are covered with real feathers, after a month they can be driven out to a pond, their feeding schedule is morning and evening. Being in nature all day, the young animals find food on their own: greens, bugs, and midges make up the diet of adolescents and nourish the body with vitamins. On the water, geese become stronger physically, quickly gaining weight. When raised in a pen, feeding is carried out three times. 60% of the volume is greens; there should always be clean water in the drinking bowls. They dig in a large container for swimming, compensating for the lack of a natural reservoir.

Did you know? Tibetan monks consider the goose to be the incarnation of the god Shiva; the ancient Romans considered the clawed bird to be the favorite of the god of war Mars.

Features of laying geese

laying goose

Geese are bred on farms for their meat; the egg production of these birds is low and is shifted to the spring-summer period. In terms of parental qualities, geese differ from other poultry:

They are sensitive to the clutch: several eggs in the nest awaken the hen instinct in them, which the owners use to force the bird onto the nest.
adult geese (1.5-2 years) are able to lay eggs of better quality;
rising from the nest, the caring mother covers the clutch with her feathers and twigs. This should protect the eggs from thieves and keep them from getting too cold;
As long as the goose hatches the eggs, she constantly turns them over, rolls them over, changing places so that they are evenly heated on all sides. She can be helped with this by moving them from the center to the edges and vice versa;
low egg production and a well-developed maternal instinct are directly related. Such breeds of geese retain fertility longer than others (5-6 years);
Geese usually lay eggs every other day, and occasionally lay eggs daily. During the egg-laying period, the goose lays 15-30 eggs.

Note! Geese are caring mothers. Some people transfer other people's eggs into their nest, taking advantage of the temporary absence of another hen.

Variety of breeds

Arzamasskaya

This is a meat type breed. Its representatives quickly gain weight, but they produce few eggs - no more than 25 eggs are collected per year from one Arzamas goose. Accordingly, they receive 12-14 pieces per season. If you do the math, it becomes clear that these birds lay one egg less than in a week.

Kholmogorskaya

It also does not differ in egg productivity. Most often, geese of this species are bred for meat and fat. The limit of their capabilities is 30 eggs per year, respectively - 15 eggs per season. However, only 80% of the eggs laid will be fertilized.

Toulouse

It has an interesting feature - the age of the bird affects productivity. So, during the first year of life they cannot produce more than 18 eggs, in the second year - only 25, and in the third there will already be 40 eggs.

Seasonal egg production is also divided into the corresponding numbers 9, 12 and 20. In this case, the eggs are large, 170-200 grams each.

Gorkovskaya (Linda)

These geese are all-rounders. They have high-quality meat, quickly gain weight and lay a lot of eggs, from 45 to 50 per year, weighing 120-150 grams. During the season, 20-25 pieces will be collected, which is approximately 1 egg every three to four days.

The egg production of this breed directly depends on living conditions: temperature, humidity and daylight hours. In comfort, the goose will lay eggs three times a week.

Hungarian

Egg-type breed. Geese lay eggs once a week, and from 45 to 55 are collected per year. Fertility exceeds 90% - a good result compared to other breeds.

Chinese

It is rightfully considered one of the best, since its annual productivity is 50-70 eggs. Hatching of chicks - up to 80%.

Large gray

Distinguished by modest results. The gray goose lays 35-60 eggs per year, 17-30 per season. Fertility of eggs and hatchability of goslings is 60%.

Kubanskaya

The goose of this breed is notable for the fact that it begins to lay eggs from the 240th day of life. We talked about the egg production results of Kuban females above: from 75 to 85 per year, per season 36-42 pieces, 1 every two to three days.

Romenskaya

Representatives of the Romensky breed of geese have low egg characteristics: 15-20 eggs throughout the year, 7-10 eggs per season. These are small and light testicles - 160-170 grams each, from which goslings will hatch with a 60% probability.

The positive side is rapid weight gain.

Ural (Shadrinskaya)

Geese of this variety are distinguished by a developed hen instinct. They will not have to be forced to sit down to hatch the clutch. These birds bring 20-36 eggs per year, respectively 10-18 eggs per season. Theoretically, under favorable conditions, it will produce eggs every other day.

The period when geese begin to lay eggs occurs in the spring, from 275-375 days of life. When creating comfortable conditions for late broods, the laying of the first egg can occur at 5-6 months of age. The duration of the egg production stage is from 3 to 5 months.

Finding out who laid the egg, an adult goose or a pullet, is quite simple. Young geese have significantly smaller eggs.

Knowing at what age geese begin to lay eggs, you need to observe their behavior. Starting to lay eggs is stressful for the goose. Hormonal reconfiguration of the entire body occurs. A newcomer to this business is easy to distinguish from other individuals.

Geese lay eggs

Features of bird behavior before oviposition:

Birds begin to build or destroy nests.
They show concern.
They are marking time.
Tail lowered.
Uneven, ponderous gait.
They spin around and sit down near the nests, then into the nests themselves.
They bury their heads in the straw.
They start wearing pebbles.

Nutrition for good egg production

Birds begin to prepare for egg laying a month before it begins. To do this, her food includes:

oats, wheat and barley;
leguminous plants;
cake, hay and greens;
compound feed;
root vegetables - beets, potatoes, carrots;
animal feed (fish and bone meal).

For winter, hay is prepared and dried in dark, dry rooms. The diet is also supplemented with bread, corn, boiled vegetables, beans and peas. Birds need salt, and the daily requirement per bird is about 2 g.

Geese are fattened by increasing the number of feedings up to four times a day, alternating wet and dry food. This is necessary to increase the bird’s immunity and endurance, which directly affects the formation of eggs. But obesity should not be allowed, so females are checked by feeling with their hand under their wings - there should be no tubercles of adipose tissue under them.

If geese do not lay eggs, the reason may be poor nutrition, which causes disturbances in their body, or errors in the arrangement of the poultry house - temperature, light and other parameters that are extremely important.

Useful tips

It is important to create decent living conditions for geese, as well as to know the characteristics of this bird.

Some nuances will help achieve high egg production in laying hens:

It should not be allowed that there are two males for one female - in this case, the ganders will engage in a showdown, throw each other off and prevent the goose from being trampled, and the eggs will remain unfertilized;
mating on water increases fertility significantly, so if there is no pond nearby, you can place a barrel or bathtub with water on the site;
In order for the goose to hatch all the chicks, there should be no more than 12 eggs in the nest, but during this process it needs to be well fed and walked - for this the bird needs about 20 minutes;
You can find out which bird will be a good hen by the behavior of the female - such a mother, when a person approaches, although she raises her wings, remains in the nest;
free-grazing geese lay fewer eggs;
The female can incubate eggs only in the nest in which she lays eggs, so there are frequent cases of a bird refusing to incubate when transplanted to another place;
During hatching, the ganders are not allowed near the geese, and the hens are separated by partitions so that they do not see each other.

In order for geese to lay eggs fully, they need a balanced diet, peace, warmth, and free access to food and water. Under conditions that are optimally convenient for their life, happy and healthy birds can ensure high egg production rates.

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Useful tips for fighting rats and small predators

It is easier to prevent a problem than to fight it. When building a poultry house, you should adhere to some rules:

pour a layer of crushed stone on the ground, mixing it with broken glass - a reliable remedy against rats;
in a wooden building, cover the walls below with iron sheets;
Sprinkle wood ash from the stove near the holes, as rats cannot tolerate it;

Rats
the smell of some plants will scare away gray rodents: onions, wild rosemary, legumes;
poisonous plants - nightshade, crow's eye, aconite can be thrown into holes, but at the same time make sure that poultry does not taste them;
the smell of burning wool or feathers can drive away any animal;
A hedgehog can easily cope with rats if he lives next to a poultry house.

Rats are unpleasant neighbors who can be carriers of infection, but they cannot steal eggs or goslings. Much more dangerous are small predators such as weasel, ferret, marten or ermine. These graceful representatives of mustelids easily penetrate through any cracks and cracks. Despite their small size, the animals are famous for their bloodthirsty disposition. To combat them, various traps and traps are used. To prevent entry into the house, regularly check the foundation, walls and windows for entry points. As an old folk remedy, it is suggested to keep a large dog with long hair or an uncastrated adult goat in a stable. Unexpected guests cannot stand their smell.

Hatching time

The last stage of incubation is the direct hatching of healthy and strong poultry offspring. As a rule, all the chicks hatch at about the same time, especially if you have cared for them correctly and provided good conditions. As a rule, goslings hatch on time - on days 29-31 of incubation.

To do this, you will need to expand the existing hole as carefully and carefully as possible, which the gosling managed to break through with difficulty. But at the same time, the entire shell does not need to be broken. When the hole reaches a size that will allow the baby to get out, he will do it immediately, nothing more will be needed from you.

The chicks will need to be immediately “relocated” from the incubator to a special brooder or sludge - different farmers act differently. In these devices, birds will have to be absolutely dry and warm. As soon as the young animals dry out completely, they can be fed a little.

Hatching process

The hatching process is characterized by the following features:

hens scoop up the entire masonry;
birds periodically turn over eggs, moving those located on the edges to the center;
During brooding, appetite decreases.

During hatching, it is recommended to immediately remove damaged eggs upon detection. This will help prevent the spread of infection. You should also spray the nest with water heated to 40 degrees from the 15th day, shortly before the goose returns.

Making females feel maternal feelings

In fact, the important question is not how to get a goose to hatch eggs, but why she doesn’t do it. Once the problem is identified, placing the bird on the clutch becomes a matter of technique. Brooding problems are most common in young females. It's not a matter of desire, but the fact that they don't know how to sit on the masonry.

One possible solution is to force the females onto the nests and cover them with boxes. After some time, you can see them voluntarily sitting on their clutches. How to do this is easy to see in the video.
When looking for reasons, you should once again consider the conditions of detention. A hen may refuse to hatch chicks because the coop is too dark, light, or cold.
After the eggs are laid, they are collected. They can be stored in a box with straw at a temperature of no more than 20 and no less than 15°C. Females refuse to sit on eggs if they are first collected and then laid again. At least one egg or its dummy must remain in the nest. After several days of storage, the nest can again be filled with future goslings; all that remains is to wait for their appearance.
During the incubation period, it is worth candling the eggs from time to time. A simple procedure will allow you to determine whether there is an embryo under the shell and how it feels. It happens that mold develops inside. The goose continues to sit on such eggs, pointlessly wasting her time on them and endangering the rest of the children.

Rules for keeping hatched goslings

Hatched goslings

Raising goslings under a hen is the cheapest method of reproduction, which is easy to practice in a small population. Geese sit on the eggs until hatching as long as necessary. The hen will independently care for the chicks and teach them all the tricks. Very little is required from the owner:

a chick that cannot come out of the egg on its own needs help by removing the stuck shells around the edges;
hatched chicks are collected in a separate box and placed in a warm place, and after hatching is completed, they are returned to their mother;
chicks are kept on dry and clean bedding;
the temperature should not be lower than 30°C, which is ensured by the female herself. In cases of a sharp drop in air temperature or unforeseen circumstances, turn on the heaters;
for 1-2 days the goslings are given a boiled egg and oatmeal, after which they are switched to chopped herbs and vegetables;
The brood can be released for a walk from the second day of life, excluding cold and rainy days, since goslings are very sensitive to changes in temperature and humidity;
a walking area is set up close to the nest, providing it with a pond or trough with water. The goose herself will teach her offspring everything, and in the evening she will take them home.

The goose is a popular bird in the home. Geese are especially often bred in settlements located on the banks of reservoirs (lakes, rivers). With minimal care, the owners have the opportunity to obtain offspring and a good yield of meat products. When planning to breed geese, you need to determine the breed and number of heads, and then equip the poultry house and walking area.

The necessary conditions

To make the incubation process more successful, farmers provide the birds with nesting conditions. To obtain fertilized eggs, up to three females are counted on one gander. He will not be able to fertilize more. You need to take care in advance of secluded and fully equipped places for expectant mothers: build nests, fence them off from each other and from the gander.

To increase the egg production of geese, it is also important to observe several conditions:

Before starting laying, fatten the geese by 500 grams, because during hatching they will lose weight.
Use high-quality feed when feeding geese. Feed for laying hens is perfect; boiled vegetables and herbs are added to it.
Regulate the number of eggs under the bird. From under the small goose, those fruits that it does not cover with its body are removed, and they are placed under large individuals.

Why did the geese stop laying eggs?

If the laying period has already arrived, but it has not yet been possible to obtain eggs from poultry, then it is worth reviewing the conditions of its keeping. Most often, masonry is missing precisely for this reason, or more precisely, because of an incorrectly selected diet. In this case, a large number of birds or the entire goose colony will not lay eggs. If one or two “tested” birds do not want to breed, this may indicate their illness. It also happens that the farmer does not notice the eggs in the nest, as the birds bury them and hide them.

The reasons why poultry do not lay eggs may be:

Lack of vitamins, succulent feed and minerals. It is necessary to include vitamin mixes in the diet, including vitamin A and fish oil. As well as fresh herbs and vegetables: nettles, clover, grated carrots.
Poor, monotonous food. A constant, stable menu every day will not benefit the geese.
Starvation. Future hens must gain the required weight in order to develop physically.
Cold. In a goose barn with a low temperature, below -15, the birds will spend a large number of calories on heating. An exhausted bird simply will not be able to begin its productive period in the spring.
Incorrect daylight hours. In order for a bird to lay eggs well, its daylight hours should be close to 14 hours.
Health problems. With diseases such as prolapse of the oviduct, vitelline peritonitis and vitamin deficiency, it is not even worth talking about creating a clutch.

FAQ

Often, beginners do not know what to do in a given situation, so they have many questions:

What to do if a goose buries eggs but does not sit down

Geese bury eggs in the litter, obeying instinct. The hen will sit on the nest when there are at least 5 eggs in it. To prevent the first ones from freezing, the female hides them and insulates them. Geese are not stupid birds. The female may hide the eggs from the hosts who collect them.

Is it possible to place chicken eggs in a nest?

If you put chicken eggs under a goose, can you expect healthy offspring? It is not recommended to do this, since a large hen can crush eggs that have a much thinner shell than a goose shell.

Why does a goose throw out eggs?

Goose throws out eggs

There are times when a mother goose rolls eggs out of the nest. The reason may be:

there is an excessive number of eggs in the clutch, and the goose instinctively understands that it will not be able to heat everything;
the bird independently identifies and removes eggs with frozen embryos, unfertilized and spoiled.

Last chance to live

Many breeders, instead of natural hatching, undertake artificial hatching - using an incubator. In this case, there is no need to invent ways to put stupid geese on nests and force them to sit on eggs. In the case of an incubator, how many goslings will be born depends entirely on the attentiveness of the poultry farmer.

First, eggs suitable for artificial hatching are selected. They must have a smooth surface and undeformed shape. Before doing anything, it is advisable to enlighten them with an ovoscope. Products that have passed all stages of selection can be sent to the incubator.

Geese hatch their chicks, burying them in warm fluff and straw. Temperature and humidity are the first necessary conditions for hatching chicks. Goose eggs need to be sprayed and turned over during all days of incubation, except the last. Incubation lasts up to 32 days, and it is important to candling the eggs throughout the process. It is up to the farmer to decide where to put the spoiled ones, but it makes no sense to keep them in the device.

Incubation is also a good backup option if the female does not sit down to hatch the chicks. Also, an incubator is an excellent solution in the winter month.

Now you know how long a goose sits on eggs at home, as well as what is the reason that the hen does not sit on the nest and how to deal with it.

Puberty period in pigeons

From a biological point of view, puberty in pigeons, regardless of species and breed, occurs approximately 6–7 months after hatching from the egg.
However, this does not mean that six-month-old chicks are ready for active birth of offspring. The fact is that young individuals are often not able to give birth to healthy offspring, since their body is still in the process of active development. Did you know? Pigeons were domesticated by humans in Ancient Egypt in the 3rd millennium BC. e.

That is why fragile organs and systems of young pigeons can have an ambiguous effect on the development of the fetus inside their body, which quite seriously affects not only the selection significance of the resulting chicks, but also their health.

The most favorable period for breeding pigeons begins at the age of 1–2 years and, depending on nutrition and living conditions, can last for 5–12 years.

We recommend that you learn about diseases of pigeons that can be dangerous to humans.