Several key technical points to note in rural electric goose incubation

Because @#@232@#@ can make full use of the abundant pasture resources in rural areas, consumes little concentrated feed, grows quickly, is easy to manage, and yields good rearing benefits, rural goose farming is currently showing a momentum of vigorous development. Correspondingly, the incubation of goslings has gradually developed from the traditional kerosene lamp and beach-bed incubation of the past to electric incubation in household workshop-style incubation rooms. However, because most incubation rooms do not have a good grasp of incubation techniques, the incubation results are not very ideal, and some incubation rooms even have lower hatch rates than traditional incubation methods. In response to this situation, the author specifically proposes the following several technical points that need attention in rural household workshop-style electric incubation, for the reference of farmers.

1 Pay attention to the selection and storage of hatching eggs

For breeding geese raised on a small scale in rural areas, due to differences in technology and conditions, the quality of the hatching eggs produced also varies. The quality of hatching eggs has a great impact on the hatch rate and the quality of goslings, so the selection of hatching eggs is particularly important. Hatching eggs should come from goose flocks with normal rearing and management, an appropriate male-to-female ratio, good nutritional status, and healthy high production, and standard hatching eggs should be collected 2 weeks after the start of laying. Hatching eggs should be fresh, and the shorter the storage time the better. Generally, 1 week after laying is suitable, and 3-5 days is best. Hatching eggs should be clean and free of contamination, with normal shell color and no cracks, and the size of the eggs should be moderate. The normal egg shape is oval, with a large end and a small end. Malformed eggs that are too long or too round are not suitable for incubation, and eggs that are too large or too small are also not good. The eggshell should be dense and uniform. "Sand-shell eggs" with rough shells, "steelized eggs" with hard shells, and "waist-drum eggs" with uneven shells and ring-shaped protrusions cannot be used for incubation.

The collected hatching eggs should be placed neatly in a storage room, avoiding direct sunlight, and preferably kept upright with the small end down. The temperature of the storage room should not be too high or too low, otherwise embryonic development will be incomplete or unstable, reducing embryonic vitality and easily causing early embryonic death. The optimal storage temperature should be 10-15°C, and the relative humidity should be kept at 75%. In overly dry areas, this can be solved by spraying water indoors or covering the eggs with plastic film.

2 Pay attention to disinfection measures

Incubation rooms are the places most prone to bacterial and viral infection and transmission. Most rural incubation rooms are household-style incubation workshops built in the family's own houses and are mixed with living areas. If disinfection and sterilization measures are not done well, the goslings provided are very likely to carry diseases. Where conditions permit, the incubation room should preferably be relatively independent from the living area, and relatively strict disinfection measures should be implemented. First, maintain good environmental cleanliness and hygiene and regularly disinfect the environment. Commonly used disinfectants are quicklime and benzalkonium bromide. Second, regularly clean and disinfect incubation equipment. Commonly used disinfectants include benzalkonium bromide, etc. Third, disinfect the hatching eggs. After being laid, hatching eggs generally need to be disinfected twice. The first is fumigation disinfection before storage, using 30 ml formalin and 15 g potassium permanganate mixed per cubic meter, fumigating for 20-30 minutes at a temperature of 20-26°C. Plastic film can be used to cover them for fumigation, which can reduce the space volume and save the amount of chemicals used. The second is soaking disinfection at the time of incubation, which can also wash away dirt on the egg surface. Soak in 0.1% benzalkonium bromide or 0.03%-0.05% potassium permanganate water for 2-3 minutes, wash clean, drain, and then incubate. Note that the water temperature should not be too low, preferably around 37°C.

3 Determine the incubation method

Compared with chicken eggs, goose eggs are heavier, larger in volume, larger in surface area, and higher in fat content; the eggshell is thick, the outer shell membrane is thick, and the shell is hard and not easily broken; the pores on the shell are small, and the inner shell membrane is tough. The pores are relatively tightly sealed, which is not conducive to gas exchange, water evaporation, heat conduction, and shell pecking and hatching. Therefore, incubating geese and incubating chickens must be different. In actual operation, the variable-temperature incubation method is often used for goose incubation. In the early stage of incubation, due to factors such as the weight, volume, shell thickness, and structure of the inner and outer shell membranes of goose eggs, goose eggs heat up relatively slowly, so the temperature should be increased in the early stage of incubation. In the later stage, because goose eggs have a relatively high fat content and generate a large amount of heat themselves, the temperature should be appropriately lowered. The principle of applying temperature should be: high in the early stage, level in the middle, and low in the later stage. A gradually decreasing temperature method should be adopted, preferably four-stage incubation: 38-38.5°C for days 1-9, 37-38°C for days 10-18, 36.5-37°C for days 19-28, and 36-36.5°C for days 29-31.

4 Pay attention to humidity and ventilation

The principle for controlling humidity is: high at both ends and level in the middle. High humidity in the early stage can allow the hatching eggs to receive heat well and evenly; a level middle stage is beneficial to embryonic metabolism; in the later stage and hatching stage, the purpose of increasing humidity is to dissipate excess physiological heat, make the eggshell structure loose, prevent down from sticking to the eggshell, and facilitate shell pecking and hatching. In the early stage, days 1-9, it is 65%-70%; in the middle stage, days 10-18, it is 60%-65%; in the later stage, days 19-28, it is 65%-70%; and in the hatching period, days 29-31, it is generally 72%. However, humidity should not be too high either. When it exceeds 75% and ventilation is poor, the embryo will suffer acidosis due to poor gas exchange, leading to suffocation and death of the embryo. Ventilation and air exchange are also a very important link. Ventilation and air exchange can bring in enough oxygen and are very beneficial to embryonic development, especially in the later stage of incubation when an adequate oxygen supply must be ensured. However, ventilation and air exchange should not be pursued excessively, as this will increase the difficulty and cost of temperature and humidity control. Generally speaking, it is appropriate if people in the incubation room have no adverse reaction to the air.

5 Pay attention to turning eggs, cooling eggs, and spraying water

Turning eggs can make the eggs receive heat evenly and prevent the shell membrane from sticking. Generally, turn the eggs once every 2-3 hours, with a turning angle of at least 45 degrees. Egg turning can only be stopped after 27 days of incubation. Goose eggs are large in volume, heavy, and high in fat content, and in the later stage they generate more heat themselves. In addition, the eggshell surface area is relatively small and the pores are small, so heat dissipation is slow. If excess physiological heat is not released in time, the embryo may suffocate and die in the egg. Therefore, cooling eggs in the later stage is very important. First, cooling eggs can remove accumulated heat inside the eggs. Second, it can strengthen the embryo's gas exchange and help the embryo obtain sufficient oxygen. Generally speaking, start cooling eggs when incubation reaches 19-26 days, opening the incubator lid once a day to cool the eggs; at 26-30 days, cool the eggs 3-4 times a day. The length of cooling time should be flexibly controlled according to conditions, generally based on the drop in egg temperature. When the egg temperature drops to 35°C, continue incubation.

Geese are waterfowl. Spraying water (mist) on the eggs in the later stage of incubation is a very critical measure. The main effects of spraying water are several: first, it increases humidity, and the humidity requirement increases in the later stage of incubation; second, it destroys the membrane on the shell and increases permeability; third, it promotes continuous contraction and expansion of the eggshell and shell membrane, destroying their integrity; fourth, it makes the eggshell loose and brittle, making it easier for goslings to break out of the shell. Spraying water generally begins after 19 days of incubation, once a day, and can be combined with cooling eggs. The water temperature should preferably be 37°C, and the water quality should be clean and hygienic. Warm water that has been boiled is best. It is appropriate if the entire egg is moistened. After spraying, let it dry and continue incubation.