Expert: Roger Lederer - 5/16/2007

Question
QUESTION: I found a goose egg, incubated and turned 3 to 4 times a day. The temperature is 100 and I have water with sponges to keep humidity.  I have done a float test on it 2 times and it is right on a guideline I have from searching the web.  However it is days past when it should have hatched.  Not sure what to do or how long to give it to hatch. Please help I would like to know I've done everything possible.  Mother no where around.
ANSWER: Not knowing anything about when or where you got the egg and where the parents are in this picture, it's hard to tell. It could be fertile but too old to incubate. It could have been incubated and then abandoned, in which case trying to incubate it again would be fruitless as the embryo will not develop properly. Or it could be non-fertile. If you think it should have hatched by now the egg should have no more liquid in it. It's hard to know, but I think you have done the proper things so far and it's probably not your fault it is not hatching. Thanks for your concern. Roger Lederer at Ornithology.com

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QUESTION: Thank you.  The egg was laid on a busy street as the mother goose was crossing. The egg has gained weight and did float the last time I tested it.  Is it ok to candle the egg to see if I can see anything I was afraid to due to the time.  I have had the egg for about 34 days.

Answer
The egg has gained weight? That should not be. It should lose about 10% or so of its weight. Perhaps you are giving it too much humidity. You can try to candle the egg. If it is developing normally, a few minutes out of incubation temperature will not harm it. But given that it has been 34 days (normally about 24-28 days) and that she laid it in the middle of the street, I don't have much hope for it, sorry to say. Roger Lederer