How many days does a goose sit on eggs: hatching time, how many eggs are laid

How many days do geese sit on eggs?

Here's what experts say about it:

For hatching goslings, it is best to place eggs under the goose from the end of March to mid-April. It is believed that you can put as many eggs under a goose as it can cover. There are 7-9 pieces for a small goose, and 13-15 for a large one, and there is an opinion that there must be an odd number of eggs (well, they also put a coin in the nest so that the brood is a success). Theoretically, a goose hatches eggs for 4 weeks - 28 days, but as they say, in practice, goslings often hatch on 30, and even 31 and 32 days. It is very good if the goose has the opportunity to carry out “water procedures” from time to time, since the wet plumage of the goose gives a temporary cooling effect. It is also very important to turn the eggs, this must be done at least 3 times a day. And we must remember that goose eggs have a thick, durable shell, so the goslings need to be helped during pecking, only very carefully so as not to harm the chicks.

On average, geese produce 15 eggs, from which a clutch is made. Usually, after she lays the last egg, she remains in the nest and comes out only to eat.

You can also determine the end of the clutch by molting; geese line their nests with fallen feathers. Only a gypsum egg is left in the nest during the laying period, and all eggs are added at the end of laying.

Geese from 2 to 4 years of age are used to hatch goslings.

When a goose hatches a clutch, even though it eats little, food (food with mineral supplements), water, and an ash box for bathing should always be nearby.

You can see if the chick will hatch on the 10th - 11th day, then a red dot becomes noticeable in the egg, from which red threads extend. If everything is clean, then the egg is unfertilized and the gosling will not hatch from it. There are also eggs with dead embryos, and blood rings are visible in them. All eggs that do not contain a living embryo are removed from the nest.

The eggs are examined again on day 27.

From 15-16 days from the start of laying, eggs should be sprayed with warm water (temperature 39 degrees), but this is done only if the goose does not use the pond for swimming.

How to put a goose on eggs

Geese are responsible hens, but careful selection of “candidates” should still be carried out. Individuals that are too fat will not be suitable; they will simply crush the shell. Young females, without much experience, can behave quite “frivolously”, often getting up from the nest and forgetting about it.

The optimal age when a goose should be placed on eggs is 2 years. At the beginning of April, the female is ready to hatch. This is easy to understand by her restless behavior. She stops leaving the nest and hisses aggressively when approached. Then you need to place future chicks under it.

Attention! A goose can hatch a maximum of 15 eggs; it cannot heat more than that. Placing should be done in the evening, in the dark, when the female is least worried

To do this, gently lift it and place the testicles

It is important to properly arrange the nest where you plan to lay the goose on eggs. It is recommended to build a box with only one open side and a side - protection against the eggs rolling out of the nest

Place a thick layer of straw on the bottom. It is better to fence access to the box, otherwise the nest may be “captured” by other geese. The room should be warm and dry

Placing should be done in the evening, in the dark, when the female is least worried. To do this, gently lift it and place the testicles

Place a thick layer of straw on the bottom. It is better to fence access to the box, otherwise the nest may be “captured” by other geese. The room should be warm and dry.

This is interesting: How long does an Indian duck sit on her eggs?

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.

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.

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.

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.

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?

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.

The appearance of goslings

The goose constantly cares for its offspring after hatching. Following her example, the young learn to graze, swim and interact with the outside world. But if the hen is young, then the first three weeks (the most important time in the life of goslings) should be given special attention to the brood:

if the chick has a hard time hatching during the day, you can help it by slightly removing the shell around the edges,
a newborn bird must be kept warm at all times. The temperature in the first week should not fall below 30°C. As a rule, this temperature is easily maintained by the mother, but in case of force majeure it will be necessary to heat it around the clock,
goslings should be kept in a nest on clean and dry bedding,
for the first two days, babies are fed boiled eggs, oatmeal,
from the third day you can add carrots and chopped herbs.

Geese are unpretentious birds that are easy to breed. The owners only need to prepare suitable conditions for the hen, and after a month you can observe a whole flock of small chicks.

Feeding a goose sitting on eggs: video

Type and characteristics of the breed

The productivity of a bird is closely related to its breed. Light birds usually lay eggs better, while heavy ones are used exclusively for meat. Romenskaya, Kholmogorskaya, Toulouse and Chinese breeds are very egg-laying, they are resistant to diseases and produce up to 15 eggs per clutch. Breeding geese begins with choosing a breed that suits your requirements and living conditions.

Poultry conditions

The quality and quantity of offspring are inextricably linked to the conditions of detention. This type of poultry does not require special housing conditions. It is only important to feed the birds well and variedly, including vitamins and juicy greens in season in their diet. Broods are more numerous in those individuals that have access to fresh air, a body of water and freely walk around the site and bask in the sun.

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.

What do you need to know about the process?

The life cycle of birds depends on the length of daylight hours. A gradual increase in its duration to 14 hours stimulates birds to breed: birds most often lay eggs in the summer. Moreover, they do not need the presence of a male - ganders can lay eggs without a gander. They are used for food along with chicken, but goslings, of course, will not hatch from them. A farmer who provides additional lighting in the goose barn and the correct temperature, observing the “summer” daylight hours, will receive a large number of eggs both in summer and autumn.

Active group oviposition of geese occurs in the first half of the day, but each bird has a personal schedule, from which it tries not to deviate.

Egg laying period at home

Young domestic geese begin laying eggs at the age of 6-12 months. It is impossible to determine the month when poultry is “ripe”: it depends not only on the breed, but also on the conditions of keeping, feeding and outside temperature. Before domestic females hatch, they begin molting. They cover the nest with the fluff that comes out. The first-year goose shows its readiness to lay by restlessly sitting down at the created hole in the bedding on the floor.

The productivity of geese does not decline for a long time. It reaches its peak at the age of 3-4 years, growing by 20%. And birds stop laying eggs at about 6 years of age: compared to chickens, this is a long time.

How many eggs does a goose lay?

An adult bird, during its period of maximum productivity, bears up to 80-90 fruits per season. Each egg weighs about 130 grams, and the best ones can reach 200 grams. A young goose brings the farmer only 40-60 pieces per year. The female begins to lay fertilized eggs about 3 days after mating with the gander.

How many days maximum does a hen incubate eggs before chick?

Chickens behave differently during laying. Some cannot sit still, others do not leave the nest for days. That is why breeders are often interested in how long a chicken can hatch eggs? If overheated, the first chicks may appear as early as 19 days. This is quite normal and even on the 18th day they can also begin to appear, you should not be afraid - this is natural, given that the egg can lie in the warmest and coldest places. On day 20, a mass hatching of chicks occurs. But on days 21-23 the last chicks appear. They are usually few in number and may be weak, but quite viable. A chicken hatches eggs for a maximum of 23 days before the chick hatches; after this period, the chances of getting chicks are zero.

Hatched chicks photo

Interesting! Chickens are able to hatch not only their own eggs, but also eggs of other breeds of chickens and even other types of poultry.

During the hatching of eggs, it is advisable to monitor the quons and young animals. Sometimes chicks have a hard time getting out of their shells. They can break it, but not remove it completely. In this case, you can help, but very carefully, with clean hands or a cloth. But if blood appears, the procedure must be stopped immediately! If not all chicks have hatched, it is worth taking those already born into the brooder. Thus, the female will not have to leave the nest to care for the young, and she will continue to incubate the eggs. And when the last chick hatches, it will be possible to return all the young to the female so that she can look after them.

What determines the number of eggs?

One of the most important factors is, of course, the breed; the “leaders” are the Toulouse, Romenskaya, Kholmogory and Chinese breeds; some of them also often produce two-yolk eggs.

It should be noted that in nature, geese are monogamous birds, unlike chickens, and live in pairs; at home, there should be no more than 2 or 3 females per gander: the rest will remain unfertilized and will not be able to lay eggs. In addition, females experience puberty earlier.

The horse knows that he must do the same as his master, and while the former hesitates and clutches the frozen grass, the latter cautiously approaches the well-known pile of driftwood and hides in it. His famous dog Nep is close to him

Now the dull gray dawn gives him a dim glance at the geese; he fires, several fall to the spot, and one, badly wounded, rises and rises at Indian Crossing. Neptune rushes after him, but as the current becomes powerful, the gunner whistles at his horse, which, with its ears stabbing, slips away.

Egg production also depends on the amount of sunlight and a well-chosen diet. Geese begin to lay eggs especially well when carrots, beets, pumpkins, dried nettles, meadow hay and silage are added to the feed. It is useful to feed geese legumes, corn and sprouted oats. You can also give vitamin-enriched fish oil.

He instantly falls into the saddle and now sees how they plunge into the treacherous stream. The wounded game is overtaken, the dog is pulled, and finally, on the Indiana shore, the horse and his rider land. But it is not so much for the sake of the game that he endures all this labor and danger, since for the pleasure he gives his good heart to spread among his many friends in Louisville. Things are managed differently on our eastern shores. The machine gunners there shoot at geese with the prospect of winning money and go to work differently.

Preparing the bird and room for egg laying

Correctly carried out preparatory procedures will help to slightly increase the masonry. They highlight several important stages.

Changing your diet

By the spring period (starting in March), the female’s body weight should increase by 0.5-0.7 kg. To obtain results, preparation begins in winter: the amount of food consumed is increased, as is the frequency of intake - large volumes will not bring the desired results.

Fattening is carried out gradually - rapid weight gain and subsequent obesity will negatively affect egg production. If a bird is overweight, then tubercles of fatty deposits will be visible under its wings.

Ganders should also not suffer from obesity; their diet has been changed since January. The usual menu is replaced with raw or boiled vegetables: carrots, cabbage, pumpkin. It is allowed to introduce grain, oats, green hay, vitamin and mineral supplements.

Important! Experts do not recommend adding potatoes to your diet.

Poultry house conversion

There should be no drafts in the poultry house; the optimal temperature is around +18..+26 degrees. The floor is lined with straw or sawdust, and trays filled with a mixture of ash and river sand are placed there. This approach will reduce the number of parasites that prefer to live in the feathers of birds.

Nests are installed in the poultry house: you can build one large one or make them according to the number of females. The main rule is that they should not be cramped in it. This is the only way females will not express concern or experience discomfort.

Poultry house preparation

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.

How to increase egg production: proper bird care

An adult productive goose reacts to changes in temperature, pressure, daylight hours and many other factors.

Conditions of detention

In the warm season, geese are kept on open pastures with good short grass. One adult should have at least two kilograms of fresh greens per day. If there is a shortage of succulent food, they are fed in the evening. If there is no pond, be sure to place a wide container with clean water in the yard so that the birds can swim in it.

On hot days, they install a light canopy or drive the birds away under fruit trees. The floor in the poultry house is covered with dry hay. Damp bedding provokes fungal diseases of the paws; a hard floor without bedding is also not suitable for geese.

Lighting in the poultry house affects egg production. Geese are highly productive only during long daylight hours, so the birds are driven indoors at nightfall and there they are illuminated with fluorescent lamps. In order for the birds to produce a lot of food, the duration of daylight hours is increased to 12-14 hours

It is important to ventilate the room during the day while the geese are grazing. At night, the windows are closed to protect the birds from drafts

Proper nutrition

Particular attention should be paid to the winter feeding period. It is he who determines the size of spring and summer egg laying

The daily ration for each head is calculated based on the need for protein, fat, carbohydrates and minerals. They are mixed with vitamin supplements and premixes. Geese readily eat grain (160-150 g), root vegetables (500 g), steamed chaff (150 g), hay mash (70-120 g) and sauerkraut (60-120 g). Grain is fed in the evening.

At the end of January or beginning of February, animal products are introduced into the geese's diet. This includes meat and bone meal, fish waste, cottage cheese, and chicken egg yolks. The grain supply is increased to 200-230 g per day. In summer, these birds feed on succulent food. They readily eat dandelion, sow thistle, nettle, sorrel, and plantain. They need to be given plenty of water.

Raising young animals

After the goslings have appeared, the goose remains next to them. It heats them and creates the necessary microclimate for their well-being. In addition, she will teach the goslings to get food. A goose with a brood should have a separate walk, next to the nest, in order to be able to walk with the young. Thus, she teaches the goslings where the feeder is, teaches them to swim and find their way to the poultry house. Good, warm, dry weather is suitable for a walk. Rainy days during this early growth period do not suit them.

The goose facilitates the process of raising young animals, since it takes on most of the care for them. It is important for them to organize feeding and bedding indoors. Breeding goslings in an incubator is used if the number of eggs laid is too large and there are plans to produce a large number of young animals. Thus, in the incubator it is possible to organize a large hatching of young animals at once. If it is not planned to increase the number of goslings by a large number of goslings, the goose will be quite capable of reproducing a small number of goslings on its own. This method is convenient to use when organizing a small farm in your yard.

Winter egg laying

In order for the goose to lay eggs well in winter, you need to create the most comfortable conditions for wintering and introduce an appropriate winter diet.

Poultry house arrangement

To build a winter poultry house, durable wood or brick is used. In cold weather, the room temperature is maintained at least 3-5 degrees. Ideally, it is better to maintain 13-20 degrees. The fact is that geese are not afraid of the cold, and are only indoors at night, in severe frosts and windy weather, but in a warm room egg production increases. But dampness is destructive for them, so air humidity should be maintained at 30%.

Special conditions are required for winter:

the windows of the poultry house should initially be equipped with vents to close them at night in low temperatures and wind;
the roof and floor are also additionally insulated;
it will be necessary to provide artificial lighting, which should maintain the light regime for 13-15 hours a day;
You can walk birds in the yard, but first the walking area is cleared of snow;
For swimming, birds are provided with an ice hole in shallow water, which is fenced with a wooden barrier or metal mesh to prevent them from diving; a straw flooring is made around such a reservoir, where the geese can lie down.

Winter nutrition

Proper nutrition in winter is necessary, and the most important task of the farmer is to maintain the weight of the bird, since it affects the egg production of geese not only in cold weather, but also in spring and summer. Laying hens are given grain, fresh hay, boiled root vegetables, sauerkraut, steamed chaff, as well as vitamin supplements

In the evening they feed with grain. Closer to February, meat and bone meal, chicken yolks, cottage cheese and fish are introduced into the menu, and the amount of grain is doubled. In the absence of cereals, they are replaced with soaked peas in combination with boiled potatoes

Laying hens are given grain, fresh hay, boiled root vegetables, sauerkraut, steamed chaff, and vitamin supplements. In the evening they feed with grain. Closer to February, meat and bone meal, chicken yolks, cottage cheese and fish are introduced into the menu, and the amount of grain is doubled. In the absence of cereals, they are replaced with soaked peas in combination with boiled potatoes.

Meals in winter should be three times a day.

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.

How to prepare the room and birds for egg laying

About a month before the females begin laying eggs, they and the house need to be prepared. If the geese eat properly and are provided with comfortable conditions, they will begin laying eggs on time and in harmony.

Preparing the premises

In order for the bird to lay eggs comfortably, comfortable, roomy nests must be installed in the goose coop. There should be so many of them that the geese can always find free space. Approximate calculation – 1 piece. for 3 individuals. Nests can be made from low and wide wicker baskets of a size that will comfortably accommodate birds of any size, wooden boxes or boxes. Straw and soft hay are placed inside, and artificial eggs can also be placed so that the geese know where to lay eggs.

Light stimulates egg laying in poultry, so in winter it is necessary to start turning on lamps in the house every morning and evening. The total duration of daylight should be increased to 14 hours per day. The poultry house should not only be light, but also warm even in winter. Birds will not lay eggs well in a cold and damp room.

Feeding the bird

A month before laying, geese should be switched to intensive feeding: food is given more often and more. This is especially true for thin birds that must gain the required weight. It is necessary to feed with a variety of grain mixtures, but always with fresh or boiled vegetables, in the winter months - with silage or grass flour, add ready-made premixes to replenish the menu with vitamins. However, when feeding this way, you need to make sure that the geese do not become fat - a bird that is too plump will not want to lay eggs.

What eggs are laid?

You can stimulate the brooding instinct by lining the nests of dummy eggs. There is no point in leaving fresh specimens; they are taken away immediately after demolition and transferred to a prepared room. After all, conditions in poultry houses are often not suitable for storing incubation material. In addition, there is a risk that the bird may accidentally damage them.

Goose with eggs

Experienced farmers recommend proceeding according to the following scheme.

If the goose breeder does not have special plaster or plastic dummies, then you can use previously laid eggs that are no longer suitable for laying. They are marked and placed in nests to attract attention.
As soon as the female begins the process of “sitting,” the eggs are replaced with fresh ones. Replacement is carried out at the time the goose leaves the nest. Otherwise, she may refuse to hatch them.

Pledged incubation raw materials

To increase the hatchability of chicks, it is necessary to properly store the incubation material.

Storage conditions

Experts advise taking eggs from nests while they are still warm. They are taken so as not to damage the protective shell. It is best to take it with two fingers, pinching the shell so that your fingers hold the blunt and sharp end at the same time.

They are placed in a cool room. Under the influence of cold air, the contents under the shell begin to narrow, and an air chamber forms at the blunt end. Air gets in through the pores in the shell.

Storing goose eggs

Incubation material before cleaning

In the room where the incubation raw materials are stored, the temperature should be kept at a level of 8 to 15 ° C, and the humidity 75-80%. The optimal storage period is up to 10 days. The relationship between the duration of storage and the hatchability of chicks is shown in the table.

Shelf life, days	Hatchability, %
5	80
10	73
15	54
20	33
25

If you plan to store the incubation material for more than 5 days, then all eggs should be turned daily. When stored horizontally (this method is considered more preferable), each egg is turned 90-180° every 2-3 days.

To improve the hatchability of chicks from raw materials that are planned to be stored for more than 10 days, you can do this: daily the eggs are placed in an incubation chamber, heated for an hour, and then returned to storage.

Signed eggs for bookmark

Place all incubation materials for storage in one layer horizontally on soft bedding. Stacking eggs on top of each other increases the likelihood of crushing the lower eggs.

Selection rules

Before laying eggs under a goose, it is necessary to carefully select the material. You can get the maximum hatching percentage if you choose the best hatching eggs:

medium specimens weighing about 120-160 g are selected for bookmarking;
You shouldn’t take large specimens; most often they contain 2 yolks;
there should be no chips, notches, or lime deposits on the shell;
eggs of a regular oval shape with a smooth and clean surface are selected: round, flattened, elongated specimens are rejected.

Selection of raw materials for laying under the goose

When planning to replace dummy eggs with hatching eggs, it is advisable to illuminate them with an ovoscope. They do not take those specimens whose ovoscopic examination reveals:

spots under the shell of various colors and shapes (they indicate the appearance of mold colonies or bacterial lesions);
an air chamber located at the side or at the sharp end;
“marble” shell;
small scratches on the shell, cracks;
wandering yolk;
foreign inclusions inside.

Rejection at ovoscopy

Unsuitable specimens will become cuffs under favorable conditions under a brooding goose. Their shells often cannot withstand intra-egg pressure and burst. As a result, all nearby copies are contaminated

Therefore, it is important to select only the best incubation materials and understand how the hatching of goslings is organized

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.”

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.

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.

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.

Hatching offspring

Geese are naturally excellent mothers and good hens. Usually they do not have to be forced into the nest, and egg-laying ends with a period of incubation. Before sitting on the clutch, the bird begins to molt, and the female covers the nest with the fallen down. A hen in preparation is easy to distinguish from other females: she rarely leaves the nest and carefully guards the clutch. Such a preparing mother can be seen in the video of the Just Me channel.

The number of eggs depends on the size of the female: larger birds can heat about 15 eggs, small ones - no more than 9-10.

The average incubation period for brood geese is 30 days. Exactly how long they sit depends on the specific case, but fluctuations rarely exceed 1-2 days.

In order for the incubation process to be successful, it is important to create the right conditions. At this time, the hen should be protected from her relatives, and the nest should be placed in a dark, warm, well-ventilated place. There should always be a feeding trough and a drinking bowl near the hen, and from the 15th day it is also necessary to set up a swimming pool - an artificial small pond. If there are several hens, they need to be separated, preferably so that they do not intersect. It is not uncommon for females to confuse nests and both sit on the same clutch. Also, older and stronger females take eggs from the pullets and drive them away from the clutch.