Cute babies. I found whiskey worked quite well for calming the old nerves! Hahahaaa.Just got done with a hatching and I'm the usual post-hatch frazzled mess. My batch of Trout runners plus one last-minute American Buff goose was due Friday, but you know how these things go. Some started pipping Thursday just to give a head-start on hatching nerves, and there was the usual at what point do I consider jail-breaking them tension which 4 allayed by behaving very much like popcorn starting Friday morning. The remaining four eggs plus goose sat there all of Saturday and didn't so much as utter a peep. Saturday night I got ready to do my usual last-minute candle before disposing of the eggs that didn't make it when - yes, that looks like the faintest of pip marks on one of the eggs. When I picked it up to candle it, the egg was as warm as a furnace and there was a furious burst of squeaking as if to say I am here, don't give up! The goose egg had a live occupant but not much of an air pocket. I didn't think it would be able to get out. The remaining three duck eggs had not survived
. Sunday the last duck egg's pipping had become more pronounced but it became obvious that this little bird was getting exhausted so I unzipped 3/4 of the egg for it and held my breath, and about two hours later it made it the rest of the way out on its own. Man, was I a lovely shade of blue! And darn it if that gosling wasn't determined to prove me completely wrong - it pipped Sunday, took a bit of a rest, and popped the rest of the way out at bout 4:30 a.m. Monday morning. I need coffee.
Can someone explain what the cooling off is supposed to do please?Wonderful hatch! Yes you do need something lol! I understand quite well as I went through the same thing a few days ago with chicks and I needed a lot of tea!Did you have to cool off the eggs everyday and spray them? I'm guessing that the goose egg needed that?
