What causes a gosling to be stuck in its egg? Is it humidity?

houndit

There is no H or F in Orpington!
14 Years
Jul 13, 2008
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Braymer Missouri
This is our first year hatching goslings. We are having a really hard time. Our chicks, and ducks have hatched great! So far every gosling that pips is hopelessly stuck. It has a thick membrane looking thing around it and it looks like it was vacuum-packed in it. What cause this? Is it Humidity? I have had it happen to ducks and chicks before, but never this frequently. It even happened under Muscovy one time.
Thanks for your help.
 
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Sounds like humidity is too low. Try increasing humidity or spraying more often. I have humidity problems off and on. If it rains that day then my humidity is ok. If there is no rain then I am fighting the whole day to keep it higher!
 
I deal with this all the time despite keeping the humidity at 70 - 80% plus misting them.
I have no idea what the answer is.
I wonder if putting them in a still air incubator for hatching would help.
Interested in hearing what others have to say regarding this topic.
 
I used a still air last year for hatching and the few I hatched did okay. This year, I've got no still air incubators, and the ones that have almost hatched (they died trying to get out
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) have been very dried out. So I think still air would probably work better. Definitely need to keep the humidity high and mist them at least once a day.
 
Do you have chicken eggs in with the goose eggs? I'm just curious because the humidity needs to be higher for the goose eggs.
I have my first batch (goose) in the incubator and after the first full week I started taking the top off and misting them and then letting them sit like that for 15 minutes before putting the top back on. It simulates the mother leaving the nest and then coming back. From what I have read anyway.
 
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I had 4 eggs due to hatch, and I had them hatching in my still air, but they were still stuck and needed to be helped out.

I am new at geese but so far, still air for the hatcher works best for me. I keep it at 75-90%, aiming for 85-90 if possible. I have a humidifier in the bator and spray them every time I have to open it. I started doing this after I lost the first one and also noticed that the female geese keep their eggs WET!!!
 
I would guess the humidity is too low. Try misting the eggs several times a day. I have the best results with waterfowl either under a Muscovy broody or in a still air incubator. I do take the eggs out once a day to rest, cool to room temp, mist, turn and put back in. I do turn them 3-5 times a day though I only take them out to cool/rest once per day.
 

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