Goose Egg Incubation Guide

First, we would like to thank you for purchasing your hatching eggs from us!

Just a few tips in case you are new to incubating shipped eggs!  (Please note, these are only recommendations based on our experience.  We suggest doing your research.)

Egg Arrival:  After your eggs arrive, please inspect the package for any damage.  Take pictures of any damage as you may need this you the USPS insurance claim.  Carefully unwrap each egg.  Candle each egg to check air cells and look for any surface cracks.  Place them in an egg carton fat side upwards in a cool location for 12-24 hours to settle!

Incubation:

We recommend forced air incubators with automatic turners.  You can also hand turn your eggs if necessary.  It is recommended to get your incubator ready at least 48 hours in advance and get all its vital measurements stabilized.  You will want to ensure temperature and humidity is stable for at least 12 hours before setting eggs.

  • Incubation time: 25 days
  • Incubator temperature: 99.5°F
  • Incubator humidity: 45-55%
  • Egg turning: 5-7 times a day
  • Candling eggs: Day 7 (remove any eggs that didn’t start developing a vascular system)

 

On day 10 we recommend removing the eggs from the incubator for 15 minutes and spaying lightly distilled water, allowing them to cool.  Don’t let the eggs dip below 86F during these periods.  This action replicates the mother leaving for food and water each day.

Lock Down:

This is the end of incubation where the eggs are prepared for hatching.  Remove the eggs from the turner and lay them on their side.  Stop turning and do not open the incubator or hatcher. 

  • Lockdown Date: Day 25
  • Lockdown temperature: 37.2°C (99.5°F)
  • Lockdown humidity: 65%

 

Hatching:

Your ducklings should hatch between days 28-35.  Goslings can survive a day or two after hatching using the nutrients absorbed from the egg yolk, so it’s important not to open the hatcher until all eggs have hatched.  Once all eggs have hatched or you’ve exceeded 48 hours, past the first egg hatching, remove the goslings and place into brooder.  Ensure their feathers have completely dried off.

Brooding:

Place goslings in a brooder with heat (lamp or heating plate, water a food.  Dip their beaks in the water and food to show them where it is.  You may have to repeat this a few times.  Brooder temperature recommendations:

Week 1

Week 2

Week 3

Week 4

Week 5

90-95F

85F

80F

75F

70F

Feed is key for goslings.  They require a high protein diet for their first 8 weeks of life.  We recommend 18-20% protein duck starter until 8 weeks of age, then 20% protein flock raiser crumbles until about 6 months of age.  NIACIN – goslings require high niacin levels not found in normal chicken feed.  Without this, goslings are prone to bowed legs and or enlarged hock joint.  If you can’t find gosling starter, use non-medicated chick starter and add in brewers yeast (Do some research on the net, you will find the ratio).  Also, peas are a great source of Niacin and your duckling will love them.

Water:  Goslings love making a mess with their water.  We recommend placing your waterer into a bit larger container, so that any spilt/splashed was stay contained.

Our goal is for you to hatch beautiful goslings!  Thank you, again & happy hatching!