Here we go again - I'm hatching more goslings!!

[Iain Utah]

Hi Pete! I have a funny story for you. Last night, hubby and I were talking about his set of cayuga duck eggs in the bator on day 9 that are not doing very well. I told hubby I would buy him more eggs. He said don't buy any more duck eggs. But then he cast a glance over at our goslings.... and gave me a look. I asked.... are you trying to say you want more goose eggs instead?? He breaks out into an evil grin. I replied... let's see how many eggs develop in the bator before we get more goose eggs.... then he says.... but we don't have any dewlap toulouse eggs and I want a goose like the one in Pete's picture.

So I figured I'd check prices and maybe buy a few....then discovered they are $25 an egg plus shipping!

 

[kuntrygirl]

I would love to follow along and learn. I have not had any luck with my new incubator and I want to try to hatch some goose eggs. I know that I can learn from the experts on this thread. Does anyone on this thread use Brinsea Eco 20 to incubate goose eggs?

 

[Stacykins]

For seeing inside even really dark black copper marans eggs, I use a surefire flashlight. They have very powerful beams of light, and can turn night into day. They make the inside of a light shelled egg (like a goose egg) very clear and easy to view.

I am down to four goose eggs in my incubator. Two had no development, but four have excellent development. However I am very happy with four developing eggs!

Edit: Kuntrygirl, I am using a Brinsea Eco 20 w/ auto turner for the goose eggs I am incubating right now. This is the first time I've incubated goose eggs, but I had a very successful hatch of duck eggs in them a few weeks ago, and those are similar.

 

[pete55]

Haha - he's got great taste in geese (not literally). $25 per egg is not too bad for quality Dewlap eggs but they dont ship very well and have a reputation for being difficult to hatch (usually due to inadequate moisture loss). if you go down the route of Dewlaps is well worth sourcing a local breeder and collect the eggs in person.

Saying that they are a lovely breed of goose. Im fortunate in that I didnt have to talk my partner into them and we're both just as keen on the birds. Saying that it was my partner who pushed to get the Buff Dewlaps and believe me I didnt argue

 

[kuntrygirl]

For seeing inside even really dark black copper marans eggs, I use a surefire flashlight. They have very powerful beams of light, and can turn night into day. They make the inside of a light shelled egg (like a goose egg) very clear and easy to view.

I am down to four goose eggs in my incubator. Two had no development, but four have excellent development. However I am very happy with four developing eggs!

Edit: Kuntrygirl, I am using a Brinsea Eco 20 w/ auto turner for the goose eggs I am incubating right now. This is the first time I've incubated goose eggs, but I had a very successful hatch of duck eggs in them a few weeks ago, and those are similar.

Wonderful news! What is your humidity level? What temps should be used for goose eggs? Can you take a pic of your goose eggs in your Brinsea so I can get an idea of what they will look like inside the incubator? I will definitely follow you and learn, if that's ok with you.

 

[Iain Utah]

I am down to four goose eggs in my incubator. Two had no development, but four have excellent development. However I am very happy with four developing eggs!

Great news on 4 of 6 developing!!!

 

[pete55]

Welcome Kuntrygirl

There's no reason why you wont be sucessful too. Check your temperature with at least 2 thermometers and aim for 37.2C or 99F. No need to worry too much about humidity but try to aim for about 40-50%. If possible its best to weigh your eggs and adjust the humidity during incubation to achieve a total 16% weight loss.

Here's the link to an earlier Incubation Guide which should help you;

https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/491013/goose-incubation-hatching-guide-completed

Pete

 

[Iain Utah]

Haha - he's got great taste in geese (not literally). $25 per egg is not too bad for quality Dewlap eggs but they dont ship very well and have a reputation for being difficult to hatch (usually due to inadequate moisture loss). if you go down the route of Dewlaps is well worth sourcing a local breeder and collect the eggs in person.

Saying that they are a lovely breed of goose. Im fortunate in that I didnt have to talk my partner into them and we're both just as keen on the birds. Saying that it was my partner who pushed to get the Buff Dewlaps and believe me I didnt argue

Since I'm an enabler and we have the ideal property for waterfowl, it wasn't much of a hard sell for hubby.

But there is no such thing as a local breeder where I live. The listing is on ebay and the eggs are located in California, a short plane ride away from Utah. She has both grey and buff. I also have an email sent to the seller of ancona eggs (also from California) that I have in my bator, as her website says she has limited availability of large dewlap toulouse. Her packaging and fertility are both excellent for the anconas, so I would expect the same for her toulouse.

 

[r4eboxer]

I have taken the plunge into incubation and just got an incubator last week and wouldn't you know it I'm incubating Goose eggs on my VERY FIRST try. Nothing like jumping in with both feet.

I set my eggs last night. They are on the 24 hour no turn right now. I weighed (but I need a digital because I know my weights are not good) marked and set. My temp is @99 degrees and the humidity was at 45% this morning. I will most likely do a staggered hatch. I have 4 in the bator now and if the girls lay any in the next two days I will add those.

I need to get a candler and a better scale. I hope I get a hatch.

and Duckgirl89 I hope our eggs are fertile

Keep me posted.

 

[psue]

r4eboxer...I'm doing the same thing. Starting with goose eggs, the first 2 are due to hatch this weekend, I've got 2 more hatches in the bator and I've been asking ALOT of questions and rereading all of pete's information constantly.
The grandkids are comming out the week after Easter and have sent a message to please have something hatch while they are here

I'm thinking chicken eggs for that

. As I have enough hens maybe I wont stress as much over chickens,lol