I need some information on how well oiling goose eggs works so they don't hatch. Or would destroying the nest be a better route to go. Will they just rebuild? Geese have been on nests for about a week now. Eleven nesting in the city park. They don't want to removed the adults just want them else where. I can see where return trips may be needed. Any one do this on a regular basis??

Never done it, but birds will lay new eggs if they haven't sat on them long enough. Mallards have layed 3 new clutches. If you just destroy the nest they will build a new one, somewhere. I've read oiling works well.

You need to get your permit from FWS or your state (based on your laws) before doing anything else. When it comes to egg addling there are three methods, shaking, oiling and poking. Regardless of the method used, you need to know what stage the egg is in development before doing anything else.

As for oiling, it is the method I prefer to use. The key is to make sure you get oil into every pore so oxygen cannot enter. This also means that the eggs build up pressure since gas cannot escape during decomp so it is common to have the eggs "explode" during removal.

Is it any type of oil, like mineral oil?

Contact bill Bunger at the IDNR. Iowa operates under it's own permit from the FWS. There is a process to go through.

Unless there has been a change, you have to use 100% corn oil.

One thing to remember when addling. If the complaint is the geese are aggressive to folks near the nest, or walking by, that behavior will continue with the addling method. Addling keeps the geese there on the nest, it just produces non recruitment, where as nest depredation may move the adults. (could take a few trips) both need permits. 2 different end results.

OK, thanks for the reply's. I know the steps that need to be taken to do this but thanks for those reminders also. Going to talk to a area DNR biologist today.

Oiling kills the eggs but the geese don't notice the difference so don't re-clutch (lay new eggs). Same for addling. Both of these must be done at a certain developmental stage of the egg.
These methods only keep the geese from reproducing; they don't remove the adult geese.

Met with the Biologist for this area & learned it was to late to do any thing this year. Can only be done at certain developmental stage of the egg as was mentioned. The state has to follow federal guide lines. They will only let you displace so many geese. Destroy so many nests or euthanize so many birds. Time frame mid March to first of May.If eggs float you can oil & if they sink you cant. So am in the saddle for next spring to start. Should be interesting as to what method will be used. Maybe more than one.