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Soft Boiled Goose Egg and asparagus

Goose Eggs For Sale (Season 2022)

We have this seasons goose eggs for sale.  About 3 times the size of chickens eggs, they are a meal in themselves.

You can buy online click and collect, or from the door. Unfortunately, we do not ship.

To find out more and check availability see our website : https://chilcotts.farm/produce/local-fresh-goose-eggs/

Thank you for following!

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Goose Egg, North Devon 2022

First Goose Egg of the Season 2022

Here we are early March, a bit later than normal for the first goose egg of the year. However, for us, this is a GREAT egg. Our little goose who laid this was attacked by a fox a month ago. This perfectly formed egg is the start of the goose laying season for us and the start of Spring! Who knows, this year, apart from hatching out emu eggs …… we may hatch a few geese too. Watch this space. In a couple of weeks, we should have goose eggs for sale. Check out our website for availability: https://chilcotts.farm/produce/local-fresh-goose-eggs/

Thanks for following!

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Goose after fox attack

Lucky Escape for Lucy Goosey

In the kitchen and just considering going out to put the animals to bed, when there is a commotion in the goose field, the Geese flapping and honking at full volume.

Peering out, I could see a fox with its’ jaw tightly clamped around the rear end of our small Chinese goose.

The dog and I rushed out. We disturbed the fox which was rapidly pursued by our dog. However, the fox had a head start and this time managed to escape.

Poor Lucy Goosey, was lying low in the grass and bleeding quite badly. Fortunately, on inspection she had two puncture marks either side of her rump. She seemed quite calm (probably in shock), so we took her inside, cleaned the wounds and sprayed the wounds with disinfectant. This has a violet colouring to hide the colour of blood, birds have a response to peck at red, which we don’t want to happen!

After the attack and treatment, Lucy Goosey seemed OK, so we decided to put her away with the rest for the night. She waddled in to join the others.

Next day I let the animals out as normal, and Lucy Goosey came waddling out as if her ordeal had never happened!

I like a happy ending!

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Beautiful Mornings!

The mornings over the past few days have been crisp, bright and warm!

Letting the animals out is even more of a joy when the weather is so gorgeous. You forget what is going on in the world.

After all, they don’t have a clue and every new day is another adventure.

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First goose Egg of the year

First Goose Egg of 2020

Last year (2019) we had our first goose egg of the season on 25th February 2019, this year it was today, 26th February!

It’s amazing how nature’s clock is so accurate. It won’t be long before we have a goose eggs for sale (sorry, still local collection only).

I know what I am having for breakfast this weekend! Goose egg and soldiers….. delicious.

Soft boiled goose egg
Soft boiled goose egg. A meal in itself.
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Goose down left behind after a Fox attack in Bickington

Fox Attack & a Goose Killed

Yesterday afternoon one of our geese was killed by a local fox in Bickington.

This year we have now lost to foxes two ducks, a chicken and now a goose. We have not had loses like this for the last 7 years.

Fortunately, each time it has only been a single bird taken, and appears to be an opportunist always attacking in broad daylight in the afternoon. I suspect a young brazen fox, or a parent feeding cubs.

A warning to any other poultry keepers, or small pet owners in the Bickington or Fremington area, be vigilant!

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Decorated goose eggs

Decorating Goose Eggs

Evgger wanted to decorate an egg for Easter?

We use goose eggs, as they are large, however chicken and duck eggs can also be used following the method below:

Preserving The Egg

Eggs can be hard boiled and then decorated, however, these should then be eaten.

Goose egg shell is quite robust, so can be used to make a decorated egg that will last and keep indefinitely.  To make a decorated egg, the white and yolk need to be removed, and the inside given a little wash.  This can be done by 'blowing' the egg.

Blowing an Egg

Blowing an egg is quite straight forward, the method being applicable to most eggs.  Here's what to do:

  1. Holding the egg over a bowl, pierce a hole in both ends with a clean wood nail.
  2. This will make a pin prick hole in either end of the egg.
  3. Make sure that you push the nail deeply into the egg to make a hole in the egg membrane.
  4. At this stage,still over the bowl, pierce your lips over one hole in the egg, while keeping the other end unblocked.
  5. Give a gentle blow.
  6. The egg should start to come out the other end.
  7. If you are having difficulty, cover both the holes, give the egg a vigorous shake to try and break up the yolk and white inside.
  8. Try blowing again.
  9. Once the white and yolk has been completely removed from the egg, don't throw it away!  The egg yolk and white, can be used for cooking.
  10. Now hold one hole of the egg under a cold tap and let water fill the egg.
  11. Give the egg a shake, then let the water drain out.
  12. Leave the egg to dry.

Two goose eggs laid at the beginning of March

Geese Eggs, boiling on the stove.

Goose Eggs Blown and died ready for decorating

Basic dyeing

  • Once dried the egg can be decorated.
  • Decoration can be left to your imagination using a variety of techniques, from pens, to stickers, to paints.  We use an edible egg dye, but food colouring can be used too.
  • The advantage of the egg dye is that it is edible and can be also used on hard boiled eggs.
  • Follow the instructions on the egg dye packet, but typically this involves dissolving the dye in water and then dipping the egg.  An egg could be dipped multiple times, to get a rainbow or blend of colours.
  • In our picture, we have dyed the egg all one colour, there are a couple of eggs, that have been dipped in a marbling dye, which gives a marbled affect.

Further Decoration

If you are colouring your egg first, as described above, wait until the dye is dried, then embellish your design with transfers, and felt tip pen.

As a final layer of protection an clear lacquer or varnish can be applied.

To finish it off, why not thread a bit of ribbon through the egg, so that it can be hung up?

Decorated goose eggs swinging from a tree in spring - Easter
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