Infertile goose eggs

What'stheAnser?

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Hi
I've recently, after many years started keeping geese again. Don't know why I've left it so long as they are great characters! I have 2 embden x toulouse geese who are 2.5 years old and one 2 year old dewlap toulouse gander who was introduced to the 'girls' at the end of last November. From January on Napoleon, for that is his name, looks to have been doing his duty and by mid Feb we started getting eggs and we still are.
I put a batch of 12 in the incubator at the start of March but at day ten when they were candled not one was fertile. VERY DISAPPOINTING!
They are well cared for with the run of a quarter acre orchard and garden plus corn and layers pellets as a small top.up which they rarely eat completely during the day. I've provided two children's paddling pools of water which are about 5 inches deep and regularly refilled. However most of the ganders attentions seem to take place on dry land. Is this where the problem is or could it be something else? Goslings would be great at some point but is it too late for this year?
I'd be happy to get hold of a few dewlap toulouse eggs here in Cornwall to add to some of their later eggs to try again, but can't find any locally and don t like using eggs that are posted. Had terrible trouble last year with duck eggs that came in the post and I'm reticent to do it that way again!!
Any help and advice would be much appreciated.
Cheers
Matt
 
Hi Matt :)
Sounds like they have a wonderful life.
There is an old wives tale that infertility is an issue if they don’t mate on water on a proper pond. No idea if it’s true, but the chap up the road had a similar issue.
Could you build them a small pond perhaps?
Zo
 
Hi Zo
I'm leaning towards getting them a preformed pool that's about 1.6m long, 1.2m wide and 50cm deep as I could accommodate that no problem. I'm sure it's not through lack of trying by the gander as he treads the geese everyday? From what I can see the girls are getting a bit bald at the back of their heads!?
I may have to write off this season what with everything as it is with corona virus but when things return to normal, whenever that is, I'll get a pond installed later in the summer. It's just a shame I can't source a few more eggs from elsewhere as I was really hoping for some goslings this year if not from my geese then from another breeder.
Mat
 

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