rachels.haven
Herd Master
I bet she ate them then, especially if the shells got thin or they popped. Gotta keep that nest clean or nothing will hatch.
Alaskan's Journal
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Alaskan
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Well.... it turns out that we DO have an egg eating Musvovy! First ever. Nests are not dirty, and the shells are not thin... this one duck, "Wiggy", will fish out eggs and eat them. It turns out that she prefers eggs that are close to hatch, and she eats ALL evidence, which is why it took us so long to figure this out.
Yeah.
So... she has been removed, and is in solitary. She is still breathing because everyone is busy, yes, we will be eating her.
So.....
Now that Wiggy is out of the pen, we have ducklings. Glory to God, she did not teach the other ducks this horrid habit.
The first to hatch are these, we have other ducks on nests. We have 2 ducks that were nesting next to each other, and they have decided to co-parent. They are doing well.
There were some eggs unhatched under the second mom, and son #2 candled those, and put the good ones under other moms.
10 ducklings in a nice mix of colors.
And yes, I know that one mom is a bit ratty... but no deep water pans with ducklings!
No chicks this year. I said no! One of the Chanteclers is super broody, doesn't care if her eggs are taken each day... same with my one and only silver pencilled rock. That rock is insanely broody.
Daughter-in-law had wanted more marans and Orpingtons. So bought 4 sexed pullet chicks of each this spring... those are now integrated with the chicken flock. But, only 7, one got out of their tractor earlier this summer and eaten by something. Also, only 2 look to be clear chocolate orpingtons. The other 5 are black. The marans are black marans. All the marans have feathered feet... only clear difference between them and the non-chocolate/supposed to be chocolate Orpingtons. Or maybe it is my eyes. Often, with the chickens, because they move so much, I have to take a photo, then look at the photo!
As to the geese... they never managed to hatch anything. The last time they tried, towards the end of incubation a bear tore open the nesting box, which understandably upset the mom. I do not have an incubator that would hold goose eggs... so, that was that.
Yeah.
So... she has been removed, and is in solitary. She is still breathing because everyone is busy, yes, we will be eating her.
So.....
Now that Wiggy is out of the pen, we have ducklings. Glory to God, she did not teach the other ducks this horrid habit.
The first to hatch are these, we have other ducks on nests. We have 2 ducks that were nesting next to each other, and they have decided to co-parent. They are doing well.
There were some eggs unhatched under the second mom, and son #2 candled those, and put the good ones under other moms.
10 ducklings in a nice mix of colors.
And yes, I know that one mom is a bit ratty... but no deep water pans with ducklings!
No chicks this year. I said no! One of the Chanteclers is super broody, doesn't care if her eggs are taken each day... same with my one and only silver pencilled rock. That rock is insanely broody.
Daughter-in-law had wanted more marans and Orpingtons. So bought 4 sexed pullet chicks of each this spring... those are now integrated with the chicken flock. But, only 7, one got out of their tractor earlier this summer and eaten by something. Also, only 2 look to be clear chocolate orpingtons. The other 5 are black. The marans are black marans. All the marans have feathered feet... only clear difference between them and the non-chocolate/supposed to be chocolate Orpingtons. Or maybe it is my eyes. Often, with the chickens, because they move so much, I have to take a photo, then look at the photo!
As to the geese... they never managed to hatch anything. The last time they tried, towards the end of incubation a bear tore open the nesting box, which understandably upset the mom. I do not have an incubator that would hold goose eggs... so, that was that.
Mini Horses
Herd Master
Well the ducklings are adorable! 
Maybe your broody hen could hatch a couple goose eggs ??
Ok, a bear ripping up the nest would sure upset me!!
. You have to give her a pass on that one. Will she lay again this yr? I don't know about geese, laying habits or broody tendencies. I know a few of my hens DO go broody each year. 
Love that.
This morn I had a reason to go about a mile up the road in the car. On way back I saw a turkey hen & 8 half growns with her. We have a LOT of turkey around here. Excellent hunting. Plentiful deer, too. Crops keep them well fed in my area.
Maybe your broody hen could hatch a couple goose eggs ??Ok, a bear ripping up the nest would sure upset me!!
. You have to give her a pass on that one. Will she lay again this yr? I don't know about geese, laying habits or broody tendencies. I know a few of my hens DO go broody each year. Love that.This morn I had a reason to go about a mile up the road in the car. On way back I saw a turkey hen & 8 half growns with her. We have a LOT of turkey around here. Excellent hunting. Plentiful deer, too. Crops keep them well fed in my area.
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Baymule
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I agree, a bear invasion is grounds for running for her life.
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Alaskan
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I am thinking the geese have given up for the year... and we will try for goslings next year.
How can you protect her from bears?
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Alaskan
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Ha! I'm not even going to try. That bear was not "rewarded," so it hasn't been a problem since.
So... moving on!
Finnie
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I didn’t get any goslings to hatch this year either.I have read that first year broody geese aren’t really that successful. Hopefully next year when they are 2.
Finnie
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Oh I take that back. I did hatch some in my incubator. But something killed all but one of them. I’m hoping the one left is female.
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