Goose eggs for cooking

[NevadaEmma]

So my female goose has laid probably over thirty eggs over the past few month.

I do not think she is going to sit, so I thought I would collect the eggs and use them for cooking or eating.

I took the eggs out of the nest thinking she would stop laying, but she just keeps going. I did the water test on the eggs with the assumption that goose eggs can be tested the same way as chicken eggs.

Some of the eggs stayed at the bottom, several more tipped upwards (bottoms up) but did not float out of the water and the majority floated off the top
with the bottoms fully exposed.

Are any that do not touch the bottom not good to eat? I again am assuming that the ones that touch the bottom of the bowl, but did not breach the water are good.

Any advice?

 

[Miss Lydia]

I've never done the water test so had to look it up
https://www.thekitchn.com/how-to-test-eggs-for-freshness-how-to-find-out-tips-from-the-kitchn-46368
Boy you talk about an awesome omelet goose eggs make the best.

 

[NevadaEmma]

I've never done the water test so had to look it up
https://www.thekitchn.com/how-to-test-eggs-for-freshness-how-to-find-out-tips-from-the-kitchn-46368
Boy you talk about an awesome omelet goose eggs make the best.

Thank you. I think I understand and will figure out what to do. I hate the thought of throwing away the bad eggs, but it needs to be done.

Just a couple of pictures of LP and Jamal his African Goose buddy. LP seems to have some type of deformity on the corners of his beak, long indentations. It does not seem to have bothered him so far, although when I pick him (her?) up, his breath seems impeded a bit.

The white goose is Leonard, the only one of my four geese that seems to be interested in befriending the two goslings. The father is down right nasty to them and Leonard seems to try to run interference if I am not close by.

Thanks again, Cara

 

[Miss Lydia]

They are gorgeous.

 

[The goose girl]

I've cooked with goose eggs for years now - hundreds and hundreds of them. They're exceptional for pancakes , cakes, and omelettes! I date them with a pencil and put them in the fridge right after collecting, and they're fine to use for up to about four months.

With time, some of the moisture in the egg will evaporate, and air with replace it. That is what makes the egg float, but it doesn't mean the egg has gone bad. Only if you're making meringue you may want to use the fresher eggs, as you'll get a bit less volume with an older egg.

I never do the float test. It doesn't tell you anything that the date doesn't. I just crack each one open into a separate cup or small bowl. If it's gone bad, it will look milky or smell like sulphur. That has only happened to me once, and it was due to a hairline crack in the egg that had allowed bacteria to get inside.

 

[NevadaEmma]

Thank you very much for the information. I am going to open one of the "floaters" and cook it for my chickens.
We also have chickens that supply more than enough eggs for our needs so I share with neighbors and friends. I gave very fresh goose eggs to my neighbor but have not heard any response yet.
It is just us two at home and I do not eat many eggs. I just enjoy the birds. I have three goose eggs starting to hatch in the incubator at the moment. I hatched one successfully last month so we will see what happens with this group of eight eggs.
Thanks again,

 

[NevadaEmma]

Thought I would give you an update on LP and Jamal. Both are doing well, they have been adopted by one of the Uncles and now have little to do with me! I have them of Flock Feeder because of the higher protein as Goose Baby suggested. At what age should I transition them to the regular food I give the geese which is Kalmbach Feeds Duck & Good Feed? They are about 6 weeks old. Thanks,

 

[Miss Lydia]

@Goosebaby

 

[Goosebaby]

Metzer has a good nutrition guide for geese and ducks. It has what feed for age.

https://www.metzerfarms.com/nutritional-requirements.html

The only things I disagree with it on is that geese should have higher protein when they’re molting, laying, or if it’s really cold out, the guide says their good with just 14% as a maintenance once they’re adults, that seems to low to me for a heavy breed like Toulouse or embdens.

If yours have access to pasture free ranging all day keeping them on a 22% protein feed is fine. It’s a bit too much for small breeds like romans or birds with a sedentary lifestyle but if they’re out and about excercising all day it’s fine.

My geese are fed a 20% feed “Purina flock raiser or nutrena all flock” as a maintenance feed because they are out and active, I do have two smaller girls that have a bit of a weight issue at times because of the feed but with all the bigger birds gorging on it sorts itself out.

 

[Goosebaby]

Also geese can have different metabolisms as individuals like us sometimes so sometimes you get one that’s hard to put weight on and others that have weight issues.