This is a first for me.
This is lockdown day for the guinea eggs in the incubator.
When I first went to check on the humidity, as I usually do first thing in the morning, I found that an egg was pipped.
As quickly as I could, I removed the turner and put all the eggs on the incubator floor.
That's when I found not 1 but 3 eggs pipped.
What else could I do but increase the humidity and hope for the best?
Early Birds
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thegawd
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Re: Early Birds
Don't sweat it, early pippers or hatchers are just from eggs that were a bit warmer than the rest. You've done all you can now keep that lid closed! I've had a couple birds completely hatch while still in the turners and fall to the floor when it was lockdown day. I just removed the birds and they were fine. But it was a bit shocking for me.
Good luck on your hatch!
Good luck on your hatch!
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Al
Home Grown Poultry
Home Grown Poultry
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thegawd
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Re: Early Birds
Most excellent! Congrats! Resist all temptation to open the lid. LOL
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Al
Home Grown Poultry
Home Grown Poultry
Re: Early Birds
Update:
There are 4 hatched chicks and 2 that are zipped. The 2 that are zipped, however, have been that way since yesterday. There is movement, though. But that means that the 4th hatched chick out pipped and zipped these other 2.
There is no sign of pipping in the other 7 eggs yet.
There are 4 hatched chicks and 2 that are zipped. The 2 that are zipped, however, have been that way since yesterday. There is movement, though. But that means that the 4th hatched chick out pipped and zipped these other 2.
There is no sign of pipping in the other 7 eggs yet.
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Killerbunny
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Re: Early Birds
Give the other 7 time.
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Beltsville Small White turkeys.
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thegawd
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Re: Early Birds
I agree with KB but at some point the chicks will have absorbed all the yolk they have inside them. I don't know when I would remove them, maybe 36 hours but have a plan to immediately raise the humidity because it will fall. I have a spray bottle that I put warm water in and spray the eggs before I close the hatcher. I don't have any experience with any other incubators than the ones I have made so what works for me, might not for you and you may not need to do anything at all. I also get help to grab all the chicks as fast as possible, the faster the better but opening the incubator or hatcher with zipped eggs is not a good idea at all. The chicks may dry out and become glued to the egg.
But at some point those chicks need to come out, I also have no experience with hatching guinea fowl.
Good luck!
But at some point those chicks need to come out, I also have no experience with hatching guinea fowl.
Good luck!
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Al
Home Grown Poultry
Home Grown Poultry
Re: Early Birds
Update #2:
There are 3 eggs left to hatch out of 13.
Of the 2 zipped eggs from the post above, one didn't make it and the other won't last much longer. This morning, I helped another non-progressing zipped egg in 3 quick stages of cracking open the lid. It is doing well, and 2 more hatched on their own shortly thereafter.
The chicks that hatched first have had a tiny sip of water from the narrow tube that I use to moisten a sponge on the incubator floor.
We'll see what happens with the last 3 eggs. The predicted hatch day is tomorrow.
There are 3 eggs left to hatch out of 13.
Of the 2 zipped eggs from the post above, one didn't make it and the other won't last much longer. This morning, I helped another non-progressing zipped egg in 3 quick stages of cracking open the lid. It is doing well, and 2 more hatched on their own shortly thereafter.
The chicks that hatched first have had a tiny sip of water from the narrow tube that I use to moisten a sponge on the incubator floor.
We'll see what happens with the last 3 eggs. The predicted hatch day is tomorrow.
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Ontario Chick
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Re: Early Birds
Great, Thanks for the update,
I guess it's not important when, as long as it happens :)
I guess it's not important when, as long as it happens :)
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Re: Early Birds
In conclusion:
16 eggs were set; 3 were not viable; that left 13 eggs incubating. Out of the 3 we helped out of the shell, 2 are doing well.
Thanks for the spritzing suggestion, @thegawd , it worked out really well.
9 out of the 13 are in the brooder; the last one that was pipped for a couple of days was helped out slowly, and is doing well.
So a 69% hatch rate is acceptable for guineas; I'm happy with that.
16 eggs were set; 3 were not viable; that left 13 eggs incubating. Out of the 3 we helped out of the shell, 2 are doing well.
Thanks for the spritzing suggestion, @thegawd , it worked out really well.
9 out of the 13 are in the brooder; the last one that was pipped for a couple of days was helped out slowly, and is doing well.
So a 69% hatch rate is acceptable for guineas; I'm happy with that.
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