Incubating Geese Eggs

[Justagoose_18]

I have one goose egg left viable at day 25. He looks very close to the shell and in the last two days the air cell expanded a lot and slightly dipped down. I can see him pushing on the air cell and hear a faint clicking which I believe is him breathing. I think he may internal pip in the next day or two but should I stop turning and go into lockdown? This is my first time incubating geese eggs. I have two more due to hatch a month from now so the baby is going to be alone but I’m going to try my best to get him a friend. I really don’t know what to do, there are so many methods out there. I didn’t really spray him because all my spray bottles are contaminated by things and I don’t want to risk spraying contaminants onto them so whenever I remember(barely) I just took my hand and sprayed some onto the egg and made sure it ran down. They are white Emden geese. There is still some fluid that can be seen so it’s definitely not all the way there yet. What should the humidity be for lockdown? I’ll have to go to school and leave him alone, there are others in my home but I can always put a stuffed animal? I just don’t want him to be lonely. Any advice would be greatly appreciated!(questions in bold) I’ll definitely update and post pictures asap. I may check him tomorrow when I come back from school. I’m planning to lockdown tomorrow but I won’t turn the egg anymore today. Why is it important to turn the egg an odd number of times? And at what point does the chick pip? The lowest point of the air cell that’s is drawn on the egg or the highest? Thank you!!!

 

[ChickNanny13]

This chart may help.

Any advice & Thank you in advance for any help
@Texas Kiki @WVduckchick @sylviethecochin @casportpony

 

[Justagoose_18]

This chart may help.

Any advice & Thank you in advance for any help
@Texas Kiki @WVduckchick @sylviethecochin @casportpony

View attachment 1602328

Thank you, this actually helps a lot. I put him into lockdown but didn’t raise the humidity. I don’t think I will unless I have a pip.

 

[WVduckchick]

What type of incubator are you using? How have temps and humidity been throughout incubation so far?

If the air cell is drawn down and you see it pressing against the air cell, it’s safe to stop turning now.

I’ve hatched lots of ducks, but not geese. @Pyxis

 

[Percheron chick]

A trick I've learned is to place the egg on a basket style coffee filter. Keeps things clean but more importantly, if things start to dry out just add a few tsp water right on the filter. I seem to have a few that are very slow zipping.

 

[Justagoose_18]

What type of incubator are you using? How have temps and humidity been throughout incubation so far?

If the air cell is drawn down and you see it pressing against the air cell, it’s safe to stop turning now.

I’ve hatched lots of ducks, but not geese. @Pyxis

My incubator is a farm innovator pro series digital. I’ve hatched pretty good in this one. Today the air cell has increased by another half an inch! I can see shadowing on the opposite side of the egg that it is placed? Should i turn it around? When I put it on a flat surface it rolled to it so that’s what position I placed it in. Temps are average around 99.5 and I basically ran a 30% ish humidity. I know it’s low but I tried a dry hatch and it seemed to lose the right amount. Thanks so much for the reply!

 

[Justagoose_18]

A trick I've learned is to place the egg on a basket style coffee filter. Keeps things clean but more importantly, if things start to dry out just add a few tsp water right on the filter. I seem to have a few that are very slow zipping.

Wow that is such a good idea. I think I have some! Right now all I do is lay out paper towel and then add water whenever needed but the forced air dries it out soo quickly so I may do what you say. How do you raise the humidity without opening the lid? Like do I put the egg to the side so I can add water through the side holes?

 

[WVduckchick]

My incubator is a farm innovator pro series digital. I’ve hatched pretty good in this one. Today the air cell has increased by another half an inch! I can see shadowing on the opposite side of the egg that it is placed? Should i turn it around? When I put it on a flat surface it rolled to it so that’s what position I placed it in. Temps are average around 99.5 and I basically ran a 30% ish humidity. I know it’s low but I tried a dry hatch and it seemed to lose the right amount. Thanks so much for the reply!

Sounds great!! It probably rolled into proper position. I’d just leave it that way, and be ready to crank up the humidity if you see a pip.

With that type of incubator, I connected some bendable straws and pushed them thru the vent holes and squirted the water thru the straw to the proper location. Are you planning to fill all the channels? You can also use wet sponges if you need more humidity. Just try not to get any water on any eggs. Lifting one side of the lid quickly enough to put in some sponge pieces won’t release the humidity too quickly, if necessary.

 

[WVduckchick]

This is what it should look like, just before external pip

 

[Pyxis]

From what you're describing it sounds like the egg has drawn down, meaning it's getting ready to internally pip and start to hatch. So, time to stop turning and increase the humidity Try to get the humidity up to about 65% or so, but as WV said, avoid getting any water right on the shell, since that actually increases moisture loss from the egg (that's why we mist the eggs during incubation). Also avoid having any damp materials like a paper towel or sponge right against the egg since that can chill the gosling inside.