2019 Gosling Hatch-A-Long

[Percheron chick]

I started getting eggs first of February. Didn't want to waste them because of course, it's my best goose. Put 20 in the incubator. All looked different at 2 weeks so wasn't too hopeful. Total bust. Zero hatched.
About 2 weeks later the nice older goose started sitting. The younger girls started about 10 days later. No clue how many eggs are in each nest. Came home to a peeping dog house. One for sure but the gander is hyper protective so i'll try in the morning.
Had all boys last year. Due some girls.

 

[Kit-Kat]

Curious if anyone else has tried the assisted hatching (making a tiny hole in the shell over the air pocket after internal pipping) as referenced in that goose hatching thread-? From everyone else’s experience what has been the cause for failure to hatch in chicks? Curious since this is my first goose hatch and everything is looking good so far. I’m anticipating catastrophe once hatching begins.

 

[Pyxis]

Curious if anyone else has tried the assisted hatching (making a tiny hole in the shell over the air pocket after internal pipping) as referenced in that goose hatching thread-? From everyone else’s experience what has been the cause for failure to hatch in chicks? Curious since this is my first goose hatch and everything is looking good so far. I’m anticipating catastrophe once hatching begins.

I do assisted hatches all the time, if I think the baby needs help. For goose eggs I'll often just go ahead and do the safety hole once I've seen an internal pip. That's just because I've had a higher than average number of goslings turn to zip, block their own pip hole, and suffocate. So I put in the safety hole at the top of the air cell so that can't happen. But usually they don't need help and get out on their own.

 

[bluemerle]

Newbie question - is goose fertility, generally speaking, good? If one wanted to raise a small batch of babies (like 2-4) then how many eggs should you put into the incubator?

 

[Percheron chick]

Newbie question - is goose fertility, generally speaking, good? If one wanted to raise a small batch of babies (like 2-4) then how many eggs should you put into the incubator?

Very dependent upon breed. Age of parents (I don't have good luck with yearlings) and of course the quality of the incubator. You can always sell the extras.

 

[Percheron chick]

5 poking out from under mom this morning.

 

[Iain Utah]

I have 6 buff dewlap eggs on day 26 in my bator, and a few broody girls around the place. It's been a couple of years since I raised a clutch of goslings, so I'm super excited to hatch a few this weekend.

 

[Miss Lydia]

 

[Percheron chick]

Up to 7. 2 for sure girls. They were out running around when I got home. Have the incubator ready just in case they abandon the second nest. 2nd goose has moved in to help with the babies. It's a little crowded with 3 adults.

 

[Percheron chick]

9 plus one pipping. Too cute. Mom was talking to it and helping open the hole. 2 cold abandoned eggs. Put the eggs in the incubator and after an hour both are showing signs of life.