Two Broody Geese

Just a quick post to say it is day 27/28 tomorrow of Mrs Goose sitting on 19 eggs and now our other goose has decided to sit on quite a few of the eggs, which she has also helped lay, as you can see in the picture.

The average incubation is 30 days, so hopefully we might have a few goslings. Geese are not mature until they are 2 years old. I have 1 gander who is 2 and 2 females that are 1 year and Mrs Goose who is 2 years old. So we are waiting to see what happens. It would be good to have something hatch as although they are doing what comes naturally, it takes a lot out of them. They have to be checked to make sure they come of the nest to eat and drink although I do put food and water in their house. More fresh meadow hay has been added and now we will wait and see. She has now become a bit hissy. Today we had a buzzard flying over-head this always happens when we are due a hatch.

Hope you're having a good bank holiday weekend.

Mrs Goose

This is Mrs Goose she is a Embden about a year old. She has been happily laying eggs for over 2 months now. Usually she enjoys having a bath on her own stretching her wings, but the last few weeks she has been allowing Mr Goose to mate with her while taking her morning bath and between them making alot of waves and splashing.
She has now decided over the last few weeks to bury her eggs in a large nest which they have built together with meadow sweet hay and their tummy feathers. She is now sitting on 17 eggs which the other 2 geese help egg sit while she has a walk around the orchard and has her bath, a tasty nibble of lush green grass and the odd treat of apples and mixed corn. Walking in the orchard by the goose house a peculiar noise can be heard as she spends hours just turning her eggs.
So hopefully towards the beginning of May more babies will be arriving. I will keep you all posted if they hatch.