Easter Peeps (but not the Marshmallow kind)
Easter Goslings on the Farm
This week I hatched my first goslings. While I have hatched many chicks in the last couple of years of being a “crazy chicken lady,” this was the first time for geese. It was much harder and, therefore, even more, rewarding than prior hatches. My geese only lay eggs from February to April, and my first attempt at incubating was not successful. Turns out that perfect temperature and humidity are a must for the goose eggs. You also have to hand-turn them end over end a few times a day. I misted them with water a few times a day to mimic mama goose taking a dip in the water and then coming back with wet feathers to sit on her clutch of eggs. I was concerned I would not have any luck incubating goose eggs this year, but as the days progressed, I candled the eggs. They were developing perfectly this time, and all appeared nearly ready to hatch.
Goose eggs take 30-34 days to hatch, vs. chicken eggs that hatch around day 21. To my surprise, on day 27, when I went to turn and mist the eggs, I heard a little peeping from my incubator and noticed my first egg had been pipped. I quickly removed the turner and closed the incubator to keep the humidity in for hatching. My first little gosling hatched that afternoon and another that evening. Four more adorable goslings hatched the following day, and the lone gosling hatched on the 3rd day. I was given 7 sweet and fluffy balls of cuteness just in time for Easter.
Since I will be selling the goslings as part of the farm’s rare breed poultry program, I will have to soak up as much cuteness as I can until these babies head to their forever homes.
Goslings just hatched in the incubator
Making of a gosling photo