The Accidental Smallholder Forum

Livestock => Poultry & Waterfowl => Topic started by: Anke on March 21, 2015, 05:47:45 pm

Title: Goose eggs in incubator - upright or horizontal?
Post by: Anke on March 21, 2015, 05:47:45 pm

I have an Brinsea Octagon Advance 20 incubator - which way up do I put in the goose eggs?

My first hatch two years ago was horizontal (it has an automatic turning cradle) and had a good hatch rate. Last year I did them upright. We had a poor hatch rate (but most likely due to insufficient moisture loss as most of them were dead-in-the -shell, fully formed goslings, which failed to pip  :(), so not sure which way up is better?

I can fit in more upright, but I would rather a few less goslings than only one or two again...

These are pilgrim geese eggs.

Title: Re: Goose eggs in incubator - upright or horizontal?
Post by: HesterF on March 22, 2015, 01:24:15 am

Horizontal and for goose eggs you should turn them manually once or twice a day too (end over end). Not sure how you even managed to fit them in vertically? Aren't they too tall? Would have thought they'd be mighty close to the fans too. Just set my first goose eggs of the year in my Octagon (bigger one) - fingers crossed.

Title: Re: Goose eggs in incubator - upright or horizontal?
Post by: Anke on March 22, 2015, 07:01:32 am

They did fit upright last year, but have seen on youtube videos that people put them in horizontally... so will do that. Should fit 9 in... :fc:

Title: Re: Goose eggs in incubator - upright or horizontal?
Post by: HesterF on March 22, 2015, 07:36:56 am

Yep, I reckon 3 x 3 in each half of mine but it's a good think I have some smaller ones - I don't think you'd manage that with the 200g ones.

Title: Re: Goose eggs in incubator - upright or horizontal?
Post by: waddy on March 22, 2015, 11:43:04 am

Yes horizontally. I manage eight w of E in my octagon 20 although they may be slightly propped up until any clears are removed. I also turn end to end (and then back again) each day.


Good luck!
 :fc: