Pomeranian Goose Egg Incubation

[PoultryFanatic22]

Hello everyone. This is my first time hatching out geese. I’ve done a lot of reading and research on goose incubation but would like to know any helpful tips or important info as it gets closer to hatching. I started off with 6 Saddleback Pomeranian eggs that I’d ordered from eBay. 2 eggs were not developing after 7 days so they were thrown away. I turn the eggs 3 times by hand. Once a day, I mist them on each side with room temp water and let them cool for 10 mins before putting them back. The temp has been a steady 99.5 and humidity has been right around 50 the whole time. These are the weights of the eggs as they’ve been developing.

Started incubation on 4/11/19
Egg 1: 162.4 g
Egg 2: 160.6 g
Egg 3: 164.5 g
Egg 4: 166.7 g
Egg 5: 164.0 g
Egg 6: 108.7 g

4/18/19 (Day 7)
Egg 3: 157.8 g
Egg 4: 162.3 g
Egg 5: 159.7 g
Egg 6: 104.1 g

4/25/19 (Day 14)
Egg 3: 152.5 g
Egg 4: 158.7 g
Egg 5: 156.2 g
Egg 6: 100.2 g

5/2/19 (Day 28)
Egg 3: 146.9 g
Egg 4: 154.7 g
Egg 5: 152.3 g
Egg 6: 95.7 g

Are the eggs losing enough weight? The air cells seem like they are normal except for Egg 3’s. It is much larger than the rest and not in a perfect circular shape. Also Egg 6 seems a lot smaller in size than the others. Is it normal for geese to have such small eggs? Thanks!

 

[FoodFreedomNow]

Have you read @pete55's comprehensive Goose Incubation & Hatching Guide? In it, he says that eggs should "lose approx. 14-17% of their fresh laid weight by External Pipping".

I monitor air cell growth, rather than weighing, to assess the need for changes to humidity. Some of the air cells in my most recent goose egg batch were asymmetrical, and of varying sizes, but all but one hatched unassisted. The eggs varied in size, too, but also hatched fine (though, unsurprisingly, the smallest egg produced the smallest gosling).

Best wishes for a great hatch!

 

[PoultryFanatic22]

Thank you. Good news! 3/4 eggs hatched. But the 4th egg is not hatched yet. It feels heavy and different than the other eggs. There is also a reddish blob above the air cells that wasn’t there a couple of days ago. I don’t see any movement. Should I make a safety air hole? Is the gosling likely alive? It’s day 30 today. I have attached a pic of the egg as well as some of the hatchlings. Thanks

 

[FoodFreedomNow]

View attachment 1770730 View attachment 1770731 View attachment 1770732 View attachment 1770733 Thank you. Good news! 3/4 eggs hatched. But the 4th egg is not hatched yet. It feels heavy and different than the other eggs. There is also a reddish blob above the air cells that wasn’t there a couple of days ago. I don’t see any movement. Should I make a safety air hole? Is the gosling likely alive? It’s day 30 today. I have attached a pic of the egg as well as some of the hatchlings. Thanks

Congrats!! And they are adorable.

Hmm...it's possible that #4 is just a bit behind the others...I usually don't make a safety hole (external pip) until I know the gosling has internally pipped. If it's behind the others developmentally, it will need additional time to absorb yolk and for blood vessels to recede. The last gosling to hatch in my group was at day 31/32 (overnight or early morning, was out the morning of day 32).

Crossing my fingers that #4 is just finishing up and will hatch soon!

 

[PoultryFanatic22]

A lot of what you said makes sense. It is the biggest egg out of the bunch. I’ll definitely leave it another few days in the incubator. I still have hope given that knowledge. Thank you!!!

 

[Court142]

View attachment 1770730 View attachment 1770731 View attachment 1770732 View attachment 1770733 Thank you. Good news! 3/4 eggs hatched. But the 4th egg is not hatched yet. It feels heavy and different than the other eggs. There is also a reddish blob above the air cells that wasn’t there a couple of days ago. I don’t see any movement. Should I make a safety air hole? Is the gosling likely alive? It’s day 30 today. I have attached a pic of the egg as well as some of the hatchlings. Thanks

When did you lockdown? Im on day 26

 

[PoultryFanatic22]

I believe it was day 26