Expert: Roger Lederer - 4/24/2009

Question
A mother goose was killed during the night by a wild animal.  Two eggs were
retrieved from her nest the following afternoon--about 12 hours later.  It
was a cold day/night--40's and 50's.  Might there be any life within?  Since
then, I have kept them under a heat lamp and been turning them a couple of
times a day.  What should the temp be?  How often turned?  How long can
eggs be abandoned before the life within dies?  Thank you for your help.

Answer
It all depends on whether the mother was incubating the eggs. If they had been incubated and thus started to develop, they will probably not be viable after a cold night. But if they weren't incubated, you might be able to hatch them as they will stay viable for a couple of weeks. But if you have kept them under a heat lamp under too cold or hot a temperature (they should be about 99-100 degrees F)they might no longer be viable. Humidity should be about 88 percent as well.

P.S. Turn eggs at least twice a day. If they don't hatch in a month, they are dead.