Embden goose setting - Ask Extension
Hi
I have a year old pair of embden geese who started laying in late February but would not sit, even after accumulating 15+ eggs. I started taking t...
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Embden goose setting #830849
Asked May 19, 2023, 12:37 AM EDT
Hi
I have a year old pair of embden geese who started laying in late February but would not sit, even after accumulating 15+ eggs. I started taking them from her, but she kept laying. I finally let her keep the last one. She has been sitting on it for 2 - 3 weeks and then broke it but is still trying to sit.
My question: should I put new, fertile eggs from a 3rd party under her even though she has been sitting 2 - 3 weeks and will need to sit 35 more days? Or will that over-extend her? And will her sitting in the hotter months (now to June) put her at risk? She does get up several times a day for food and water, then goes back to the nest. She seems in good health currently.
Lane County Oregon
Expert Response
You can add fertile eggs, make the exchange at night, she is less likely to reject the eggs and continue to brood. Remove any existing eggs as if fertile they will hatch earlier. She will probably set but may not. The incubation period for Emden eggs, and most domestic waterfowl is 28 days. She will generally set for several weeks past the incubation period. The hotter weather should not be a problem, make sure she has water easily available.
Good luck.
Good luck.
