to wash or not to wash?

[mlktrkdvr]

Getting ready to set some more chinese goose eggs. Not had great luck so far. Hatched 7 out of about 40 and lost 3 after hatching. The 4 I do have though are really active and look good. So I have been told many different opinions. Should I wash the ones that are dirty (not terrible but not clean either) or set them with some dirt on them. If I should wash them, HOW? wipe them? totally dip them? I would sure like to have a better rate this time. thanks

 

[shelleyd2008]

Quote:
It depends on how much dirt is on them. If it is stained them I don't bother, but if there are clumps of dirt you can run the egg under warm water to soften the dirt then wipe it off with a towel.

What type of incubator are you using and what are your incubator settings if you don't mind my asking? 7 of 40 eggs is terrible, I assume these are from your own geese? The eggs that didn't hatch, did they develop at all?

 

[Balbinka]

Quote:
Wow... that is a ridiculously low hatch rate!
Sorry you had to go through all of that work for nothing!

What 'bator are you using? Temps? Humidity? What percentage were fertile to begin with?

 

[pete55]

Hi

Yes I would wash your eggs in cool running water and leave to dry. I sometimes pat them dry with kitchen paper wipes.

Dont despair as you've got 4 goslings but lets see if we can improve your hatch rate

What is your fertility like? If its poor then you must look to your stock birds and their diet.

Were these shipped eggs - if they were that would explain an awful lot

If fertility was good when did the majority of embryonic deaths occur? Early quitters may be linked to hygiene of the eggs. Late deaths that failed to internally pip may be related to inadequate moisture loss.

What was your temperature conditions????

For Chinese I would suggest Temp 37.3, humidity around 50% (Chinese seem to lose moisture faster than other breeds but watch those air cells and adjust humidity if required), a good turning regime and a daily cooling period of 10 minutes after 7 days.

I suggest you start by a thorough cleaning of your incubator in case of bacterial populations, invest in a good candler and a set of baking scales that weigh in grammes.

So in summary; clean your incubator, clean and weigh your eggs and then try to tell us a little more details before you set anymore eggs

Hope that helps you.

Pete

 

[Balbinka]

Quote:
(Celsius)

 

[mlktrkdvr]

thanks everbody for all your thought so far. First these were from my own geese. I have 11 females and 1 gander (also one that I am not real sure about but that is another story). I believe where I went wrong was jacking my humidity up to 80% on the first day of lock down. I locked down on day 27 and they did not hatch until 6 days later. I think a bunch of them drowned. All that externally piped though did hatch. I have them in an old Brower incubater still air (metal, with new wafer) at 100 degrees. It rarely fluctuates. Humidity- no matter what I do I can not get it above 50% and that was right after misting. So at lock down I moved them to a newly acquired homemade styrofoam incubator. I can hold humidity at 80% now with no problem but the temp fluctuates from 90 to 100 because of the thermostat. I sprayed it down with vinegar and let it dry in the sunshine. I have 24 more eggs that I locked down saturday morning in now. humidity 50% thoughts?

 

[mlktrkdvr]

additionaly about fertility, my gese are 13 months old. I broke and looked at 4 eggs at different times before setting and they appeared to be fertile. I do see them mating on occasion. We removed 6 eggs that were clear in at about a ten days. I am not confident enough at candling to definately cull an egg but had a friend look also. I know I could use another gander or two and my luck usually runs that I would have 11 ganders and 1 goose...

 

[shelleyd2008]

11 females with 1 gander is way too many! I think the highest recommendation is 5, but 3 is better. You probably need at least 1 more gander but I'd probably get 2 or 3 more. Actually, I plan to have mine in pairs so I'd probably get 10 more

 

[Balbinka]

Wow, what a lucky man!

But really, you should add two more males into the group... that would definitely help your flock's fertility and healthy sperm count.

 

[mlktrkdvr]

I have one that is the size and has the nose bump of a female, but she (he, it?) does not have the egg bag ( I don't know what it is called) like the rest of the girls. I know that they are all the same age so maybe it is a female and she is just not laying? Or a gander that is just immature? I know that is off the subject.