Here a duck....there a goose....everywhere a chick-chick......

Geez!!  This "farm girl" thing can really get INTENSE at times!  I'm still learning about chickens and NOW, I've got GOOSE EGGS to contend with!!  WHAT TO DO? WHAT TO DO? WHAT TO DO?????

We have a couple of resident geese who were attempting a family.  "Something"....we're not sure what....destroyed her nest.  The eggs were scattered and one broken.  My Honey brought the remaining eggs in and gave them to me.  I'm assuming he intended for me to try and "save" them.  (I sure hope he didn't have omelets in mind!  These ARE rather large eggs!)

Immediately, I thought, well....I'll just put these in the hen house.  Maybe the hens won't notice the size difference. (yeah, right!!)  I have heard that feathered fowls would "sit" eggs of another species to hatch them.  Whew!  Problem solved, I thought.  NOT!!!!   After depositing the goose eggs in the hens nest boxes, I began doing some internet research to see how best to care for the goslings, should they actually hatch.  I mean...I wouldn't want them to think they were CHICKENS, and I don't exactly know how to teach them to be geese, ya know?? I don't swim that well, and certainly don't fly....and I have no idea what they eat!

Did you know that goose eggs have to be maintained at a temperature of 99.5 degrees Fahrenheit??  Did you know that goose eggs have to be maintained at a humidity of 86% ??????  DID YOU KNOW THAT A CHICKEN IS NOT STRONG ENOUGH TO TURN A GOOSE EGG SEVERAL TIMES A DAY????
Did you know that...........well, nevermind.  Why WOULD you know these things?  Most people never even think about "how" geese come into this world.  I know I didn't.  I mean, I knew they hatched out of eggs, but I had NO IDEA the science involved in getting those eggs to the point of becoming baby geese!

So.....after leaving the goose eggs in the chicken house for around 48 hrs, I decided that just wasn't gonna work, and I was gonna have to "hatch" them myself, under a more controlled environment.  (I think the chickens were relieved that the responsibility had been taken off their shoulders....figuratively speaking, of course, since we know chickens don't really HAVE shoulders.)  So.....(again).....here I am, trying to "mother" 4 goose eggs. 

Well, it's been a challenge right from the start! I've never even SEEN a goose's nest, let alone, BUILT ONE.  So, I'm just "winging it" (yes, pun intended...LOL)  First, I had to find a suitable container in which to "build" my nest.  Ah- ha!! I have a plastic tub that will work just fine.  It's deep enough that the eggs won't roll out, and it's water proof (for that 86% humidity thing).  I've lined the bottom with a damp towel, gently placed the eggs inside, and have hung a heat lamp a foot or so above the "nest".  For the next TWELVE HOURS.....it's like having a newborn baby in the house again.  I just couldn't sleep......kept getting up to make sure I wasn't "cooking" those eggs!  The humidity stubbornly would NOT get above 68%, and the temperature INSISTED on hovering around 102 degrees.  I raised the heat lamp a few more inches and added a second damp towel to cover the eggs.  Each time I check on them, I have to remember to give each egg a quarter turn.  Exhausted, I finally fall back into bed around 3:30 am and try to get some sleep.  It's tough having a job NOW. 

The alarm goes off at 5am & I instantly hit the floor & head straight for the 'nest'.  OMG!!!!! The humidity has dropped to 47% and the temperature has climbed to 110 degrees!!! OMG!!!  Have I cooked the little guys???!!!  I frantically move the entire tub out from under the heat lamp, and run to the faucet to wet the towels with COLD water, in an attempt to cool the eggs down some. (will it be a shock to their little systems??)  I turn the little guys over & pray I haven't killed them already!

I HAVE to get ready for work, but it is difficult to tear myself away.  I can only put it in the Lord's hands.  If HE wants these little geese to make it, He's gonna have to help.  I finish dressing for work & have time to write a long, detailed note to Honey on how he needs to handle these eggs until I get home from work.  I advise him he'll have to check on them constantly throughout the day, to make sure the temp & humidity are right, and please don't forget to turn them a 1/4 turn at least 5 times before I get home.  Oh, and use that spray bottle next to the 'nest' to mist the eggs several times today.  "Love you, Honey, and thanks for keeping an eye on them for me!!"  Off to work I go, praying the eggs are gonna be ok.

All day at work I'm worried about the eggs.  I KNOW Honey is capable of caring for them, and I know he will.....but still.....his day may get really busy & he won't have time to turn the eggs.....or he may get a call out & not be there to monitor the temp & humidity.  Worry, worry, worry!!!

Whew!  Day's finally over & I rush home to check on the eggs.  All seems well.  The humidity is down a little, but I figure that's normal, so I just mist the eggs & re-wet the towels.  I then decide that the temperature is too high, so I opt to exchange the Heat bulb for a standard 100 watt bulb.  I also decide that the humidity might be better maintained if I made the nest out of straw and built it on top of the damp towel.  For these changes....I'll need a bigger container.  I find an unused office-type plastic trash can & begin again.  Wet towel in the bottom; a nice "cush-y" layer of straw; 100 watt bulb; an old hand towel soaked in warm water & placed on TOP of the eggs to keep them moist & closer simulate a mother goose sitting on them.    Things seem a little better now. 

After caring for the "children", I go in to say thanks to Honey for taking care of them for me while I was at work.  He says, "You're welcome.  Oh, and just so you'll know.....I've ordered you an automatic incubator.  It should arrive sometime next week.  Hopefully, you can keep the eggs alive until it arrives." 

I am touched beyond description.  His generous gesture is more than what meets the eye.  I know how expensive those things are.  Buying me the incubator  means he's postponed buying that screen door he wanted (needed!) for his home office (he has no windows in that room).  I am overwhelmed by his sacrifice. 

That's LOVE..... in action!