First timer on goose eggs

[Kmulholland]

My name is Katie. We were given a wonderful opportunity to incubate and try to raise Pilgrim geese. We started with 6 and so far only 1 has made significant progress however knowing candling, age, fertile is all new to me!

We also just inherited 6 more! Will post pictures shortly.

 

[Pyxis]

!

When you say only one has made progress, do you mean that only one developed and the others were not fertile? If so, I hope the second set of six does better for you Are you following the excellent guide for hatching geese posted in the Geese section here?

 

[Kmulholland]

Yes, sorry. Out of the first 6, only one ended up progressing. Never saw veins though.

We are using the Janoel12 as an incubator and manually turning them. I worry when we reach 25 for lockdown. Will high humidity hurt the others?

 

[Pyxis]

The higher humidity shouldn't hurt as long as the humidity is good for the rest of the incubation period It's more of an average overall than a day-to-day thing.

I wouldn't lock down right at day 25 though, since geese have a variable hatch time and locking down that early might mean a longer period of higher humidity for the other eggs. I don't lock down goose eggs until I see them draw down.

 

[Kmulholland]

Thank you!!! Will keep updated for progress. I have read many posts that people spray them with water throughout the incubation cycle? What does this do?

 

[Percheron chick]

Spraying mimics the goose getting off the nest, taking a quick dip then resuming her sitting.