Hatching eggs without an incubator?

[PrinceSandwich]

I have a trio of African geese. I would like to have one of there gosling imprint on me. I could easily just take an egg from them (when they start laying) and hatch it in a bator......just just one problem with that plan....I don't have an incubator

. Is there anyway I could let them sit on the eggs until 1-2 days till they hatch And then take one of the eggs and put it under a heat lamp or something? So that I could be there when it hatches and it could imprint on me?

 

[Ban seabhag]

I don't think a heat lamp could keep a constant temp, and you couldn't control humidity.

 

[Suechick]

You'd need to make sure you had a constant temp and have the humidity high around 60 or 70 percent in order for the duckling to survive. If you can maintain a temperature of close to 100 degrees and keep the humidity up you might be able to pull it off. Good luck.

 

[AngieChick]

Good constant humidity and temperature is most important in the last few days it seems. If you have a goose already hatching I wouldn't risk it unless you have an incubator.

 

[jeslewmazer]

ever thought about making your own incubator. You could get ideas off of this site, youtube, or something like that. Some are cheaper than others.

 

[smallbluejellybean]

I made my own incubator for some quail eggs that were just going to be thrown out, because my hens weren't sitting yet.
Here are a photo below.

It worked as you can see.

The main things you need are:
1 small reptile/insect aquarium.
1 carboard box a little larger than the aquarium to stuff towels in for insulation.
1 small aquarium light.
1/4 metre of small gage wire mesh
1 take away food containter to hold water to keep up the humidity (this was placed in the section under the eggs.
1 glass lid
1 $2 themometer - checks its accuracy though

Since this is a still air incubator, always let the temp go up higher than 2-3 degrees, so you wont get to many cold areas.

 

[rosaline]

Quote:
I love your incubator. Im thinking of redesigning mine.

 

[spikennipper]

It will still imprint on you if you take it shortly after it hatches and rear it yourself to adulthood, it will be too risky to take the egg before it hatches as the temp and humidity has to be precise, once hatched you can place it indoors under the heat lamp easily.

 

[PrinceSandwich]

Quote:
Unless it sees its mother first..

 

[PrinceSandwich]

Quote:
Cool!