Understand broodiness

Watch for broodiness signs: a goose sitting tightly on the nest, refusing to leave, hissing when approached, and plucking breast feathers to line the nest. If you do not want goslings, intervene promptly by collecting eggs daily and removing the goose from the nest 2-3 times per day.

Why It Works

Broodiness is triggered when a goose accumulates a clutch of 8-12 eggs. Once broody, she stops laying entirely for 28-35 days (the incubation period) plus weeks of gosling rearing. Daily egg removal prevents clutch accumulation and keeps the goose in laying mode longer.

Tips

• Confine a persistently broody goose in a separate pen without nesting material for 3-5 days to break the cycle
• Some breeds (Chinese, African) are less prone to broodiness than Toulouse or Sebastopol
• A broody goose loses significant body weight; if you let her sit, ensure food and water are within reach