Breeding poultry in an incubator is a complex and troublesome task. Without the appropriate knowledge and at least a little experience, nothing may work out. Let's consider the rules for hatching goslings in an incubator at home, the features of preparing eggs, their storage, correct incubation conditions, the sequence of the process, and the timing when goslings can hatch.
Preparing the geese
Geese from which you plan to obtain eggs for incubation need to be fed properly. The food must be rich in nutrients, minerals, vitamins, and calcium. If the feeding is incorrect and inadequate, you cannot expect the bird to lay high-quality eggs suitable for incubation. They will produce weak and non-viable goslings, despite the fact that everything was done correctly.
Geese should lay eggs in clean nests, where they will be comfortable and free. They need to be covered with straw or hay. You should choose eggs every day. Geese lay eggs mainly in the morning, during the day you need to check the nests and select eggs, and in the evening check to make sure nothing is left. Geese often hide eggs under a layer of down, so you need to check everything carefully. You need to pick up raw materials every day, since only in this case the geese continue to lay eggs. If the eggs are left in the nest, the female may sit on them on her own.
How to choose eggs?
Immediately after collection, you need to sort the material. For the incubator, select large and medium-sized eggs of the correct shape. With a dense, solid shell, which should not have sagging, stains, or cracks. Too small, with defects, old ones are not suitable for laying, they will produce weak goslings that will be sick. Or the chicks will not hatch at all.
Using an ovoscope
All material that has passed the first stage of selection must be illuminated using an ovoscope. There should be no dark spots or inclusions inside, the yolk should be located in the center. All eggs with defects are not suitable for incubation.
Disinfection of raw materials
Disinfection increases the hatch rate of chicks and maintains their health.The need for this procedure is explained by the fact that viruses and bacteria remain on the surface of the shell, which during incubation can penetrate into the middle and destroy the embryo. The material can be disinfected in 3 ways: a solution of hydrogen peroxide, potassium permanganate or vinegar.
The incubator also needs to be disinfected. First, wash all removable parts, wipe them with peroxide or potassium permanganate solution, wipe again with clean water and dry well. After each laying of a new batch of eggs, the incubator must be cleaned and disinfected, otherwise it will become a breeding ground for infections.
Storing eggs during the period of accumulation of raw materials
The shelf life of incubation material is no more than 7 days. They should be stored at a temperature of 6-12˚C and a humidity of 70%, spread out in 1 layer. It cannot be stored in the refrigerator; it is better to choose a cool room for this.
How to incubate eggs
For everything to go smoothly, you need to follow the incubation rules. And also avoid basic mistakes that can lead to the death of embryos.
Basic mistakes
If incubation occurs at a temperature that exceeds the permissible temperature, the goslings hatch earlier than necessary. They have thin legs and slight pubescence. If overheating is severe, the chicks may not hatch at all. At low temperatures, goslings hatch later than expected; some of them hatch, but do not emerge from the egg. Those that have appeared have thick legs and long fluff. This means that they are more developed than necessary.
Due to lack of moisture, the chicks hatch weak and cannot peck the shell and leave the egg.And due to the irregular turning of eggs during incubation, the embryo may not develop because it is stuck to one of the walls. To hatch goslings without loss, it is necessary to constantly monitor the temperature, humidity, turn them over and cool them.
How to lay eggs
Before laying, eggs must be properly warmed up - kept in the room for 8 hours. Cold eggs cannot be laid, they become covered with condensation, which clogs the pores, and the embryo suffocates. If the material is not the same size, then first you need to lay large eggs, medium in size after 4 hours. This is due to the fact that in large eggs the development of goslings takes longer. The time difference is necessary to ensure that the removal is simultaneous. Goose eggs are placed horizontally in the incubator.
Incubation periods
The incubation period is divided into 5 parts. During each process, it is necessary to maintain a certain temperature and humidity, turn over and cool the material.
| Period (in days) | Temperature | Humidity | Cooling | Spraying | Turn |
| 1-8 | 37.7°C | 55% | No | No | 5 times |
| 9-15 | 37.7°C | 47% | No | No | 4 times |
| 16-27 | 37.7°C | 47% | 2 times a day for 15-20 minutes | 2 times a day | 4 times |
| 28 | 37°С | 85% | 2 times a day for 15-20 minutes | 2 times a day | No |
| 29-30 | 37°С | 85% | 2 times a day for 15-20 minutes | 2 times a day | No |
Turning over and spraying masonry
It is necessary to turn goose eggs over so that the embryos do not stick to the shell. In the first week, this should be done often - 5 times a day, then the number of inversions should be reduced to 4 times. Before hatching, starting from the 28th day, there is no need to turn over.
To hatch goslings without loss, they should be cooled and sprayed starting from the 16th day of incubation. Cool for 20 minutes 2 times a day, spray also 2 times. Spray with cool water, not cold.
Temperature, ventilation and humidity
The temperature regime during the incubation of goslings remains almost the same - from the 1st to the 28th day the temperature is 37.7°C, from the 28th to hatching - 37°C. With humidity it's not so simple. In the first week it is 55%, from the 9th to the 28th day - 47%. During the last 3 days of incubation, the humidity should be maintained at 85%.
It is important to strictly adhere to the incubation parameters; if any of them is violated, the embryos may die.
Hatching time
Hatching of goslings occurs on days 29-31 of incubation. Usually they themselves peck through the walls of the shell and emerge from the egg. This happens with the majority of chicks, but some are in no hurry to be born. There is no need to help the chicks until the 31st day; if the hatching is accelerated artificially, they may die.
If the deadline has passed and the goslings have not hatched, you need to help them: carefully pierce the shell so that air can penetrate to the chicks. The shell cannot be completely removed. Then they will do everything themselves. Breeding goslings in an incubator can only be successful if the rules are followed. It is necessary not only to prepare the material and store it until laying, but also to maintain the correct temperature and humidity in the incubator. Errors will lead to the death of embryos and a decrease in the percentage of hatchability of goslings.
