Questions about incubating.

[minifarmkat]

Hello everyone! I had a few questions about incubating goose eggs. We are trying a few different methods this year (a broody hen as well as wet and dry incubation to see which approach we prefer). Anyway, I was wondering if I could clean the shells up a bit so that I could candle them easier? Also I was wondering if anyone had pictures of what a "good" fertile egg looks like (and even a "bad" egg picture would help lol). We want to make sure are eggs are fertile. It's the first year ours have laid.

 

[Alaskan]

You won't be able to tell if they are fertile until after you have incubated them for at least 3 days.

But it also greatly depends on how good your candler is etc. i usually don't "peek" until the seventh day.

Also, as to washing, it as always my understanding that you do not want to wash eggs that you will incubate.

 

[minifarmkat]

Alright we started incubating them around the 20th or the 21st. How should they look by that point?

 

[minifarmkat]

You can see the air bubble on the bottom and then half of the egg is dark while the other is light.

 

[Alaskan]

Well, here are some pictures to give you an idea of what you might be looking at.

These are chicken eggs, but they will develop the same, but I think goose eggs take longer, so I guess will be a bit behind at each day.

https://www.backyardchickens.com/a/candling-pics-progression-through-incubation-of-chicken-eggs

 

[mominoz]

You can wash eggs. Make sure it is hotter than the egg as it draws out if warmer and sucks in if water is cooler, Under running water . some use diluted bleach , others oxine or I found Peroxidide can be used. Or you can sand the dirt off. I clean if they are nasty , but try to get eggs clean by providing enough straw.....You should lay them on sides or slightly elevate large end. I had a goose hatch from small end, so not impossible. Turn 3 times a day if possible. After a week, start misting and take eggs out for 5 min. a day to cool or take top off if in a small incubator with heat element in top. gradually addin time up to 15 min. untill lockdown, last 3-4 days, when you stop turning and misting and cooling. "Storeys guide to Geese" book , has it all spelled out in detail.