We have a trio of geese which we got five years ok. They are in excellent health and lay every year - starting any day now.
The first spring after we got them they laid and sat and hatched a few goslings. Every year since they have laid and sat and not hatched - although the eggs ARE fertile as we have found poor little goslings in them when we have cleared up the nest. They have a kids paddling pool of water and various buckets and dishes too.
The thing is they both sit beautifully,often for forty plus days before we take them off the nest. last year we watched them like a hawk and found that the goslings did'nt seem to be able to get out of the shells, we listened to them piping and eventually die - we tried to help some of them out of the shells (even though we have read that we shouldnt do this) - they all died....
So - what can we try this year? ANY ideas? we feel so sorry for the females as they were great Mums and we are trying to run a self sufficient smallholding and these guys are not giving us anything back!! Their days are numbered!!!
We are in Ireland.
PB