When do I stop turning goose eggs?

After day 25, according to Mississippi State's incubation table. From then on leave the eggs still, raise the humidity, and keep the incubator closed so the goslings can get into position.

What temperature and humidity do goose eggs need?

Mississippi State lists 99°F in a forced-air incubator (2 to 3 degrees more in a still-air one). Humidity is a wet-bulb reading of 86 to 88°F until day 25, which works out to about 59 to 65 percent relative humidity, then 90°F wet bulb (about 71 percent) for the hatch.

When should I candle goose eggs?

Around day 10 and day 20. Those are the chicken candling days scaled to a 30-day hatch (about one-third and two-thirds of the way through), because the extension tables only list candling days for chickens.

Free tool

Goose egg incubation calculator

Goose eggs hatch in 28 to 34 days; plan on day 30. Enter the day you set them and get the whole hatch on a timeline, with the incubator settings and the source behind every number.

Date eggs were set

Goose eggs keep their own calendar: lighter breeds can pip at 28 days and heavy ones can take 34, which is why turning stops as early as day 25. Minnesota's bulletin calls goose eggs particularly difficult to hatch, so don't judge your incubator by them.

0
Set eggsTue, October 6, 2026
Eggs go in the incubator. Begin turning (or confirm the auto-turner is on).
10
First candlingFri, October 16, 2026
Look for spider-web veining. Remove clears and early quitters.
20
Second candlingMon, October 26, 2026
Embryos should fill most of the egg with a clear air cell. Remove any quitters.
25
LockdownSat, October 31, 2026
Stop turning, raise humidity, and keep the incubator closed until hatch.
30
Hatch dayThu, November 5, 2026
Pips and zips! Sources put this hatch anywhere from day 28 to day 34. Leave the goslings in until fluffy and dry.
Hatch window: Tue, Nov 3 to Mon, Nov 9

Downloads a .ics file that works with Apple, Google, and Outlook calendars.

How long do goose eggs take to hatch?

It depends on who you ask, which is why the calculator shows a window (day 28 to day 34) around its planning day of 30. Here is what each reference prints.

Source	Days to hatch	Applies to
Mississippi State University Extension	28–34	Goose
University of Kentucky Cooperative Extension	28–32	except Canada and Egyptian geese, which take 35
Minnesota Extension Service, University of Minnesota	29–31	most geese

Incubator settings for goose eggs

Temperature: 99°F forced-air (add 2–3°F in a still-air incubator)
Humidity to day 25: about 59–65% (wet bulb 86–88°F)
Humidity for the hatch: about 71% (wet bulb 90°F)
Stop turning: after day 25
Open the vents further: day 25

These come from Mississippi State's incubation table, which gives humidity as a wet-bulb temperature. We converted it to relative humidity with the same extension chart, so treat the percentages as close, not exact. Follow your incubator's manual where it differs.

Hatching something else?

Common questions

How long do goose eggs take to hatch?: Plan on 30 days, and be ready from day 28 to day 34. Mississippi State says 28 to 34, Univ. of Kentucky says 28 to 32 and Univ. of Minnesota says 29 to 31.
When do I stop turning goose eggs?: After day 25, according to Mississippi State's incubation table. From then on leave the eggs still, raise the humidity, and keep the incubator closed so the goslings can get into position.
What temperature and humidity do goose eggs need?: Mississippi State lists 99°F in a forced-air incubator (2 to 3 degrees more in a still-air one). Humidity is a wet-bulb reading of 86 to 88°F until day 25, which works out to about 59 to 65 percent relative humidity, then 90°F wet bulb (about 71 percent) for the hatch.
When should I candle goose eggs?: Around day 10 and day 20. Those are the chicken candling days scaled to a 30-day hatch (about one-third and two-thirds of the way through), because the extension tables only list candling days for chickens.

Where these numbers come from

Important Incubation Factors. Mississippi State University Extension.
Development of the Chick (ASC-195). Tony Pescatore and Jacquie Jacob, University of Kentucky Cooperative Extension. December 2012.
Hatching and Brooding Small Numbers of Chicks (AG-FO-0631). Melvin L. Hamre, Minnesota Extension Service, University of Minnesota. Reviewed 1990.
Care and Incubation of Hatching Eggs. Dr. Tom W. Smith, Mississippi State University, Poultry Science.

We read each document ourselves and last checked this page against them on October 5, 2026. Where they disagree, we show you the disagreement instead of picking a winner quietly.

Get a nudge on lockdown day

Log the hatch in PoultryPal and it counts down with you, then records how many goslings hatched and your hatch rate. Premium adds lockdown and hatch-day reminders. Free to download on iOS and Android.