Put 13 eggs in the incubator, 11 made it to lockdown. All showed movement on day 18.
Yesterday was day 21. Six chicks hatched in the first 24 hours. It now has been approximately 30 hours since hatch began. Of the remaining 5 eggs, 2 are internally pipped, 3 don't show an internal pip or signs of movement. One of the internal pips is moving and peeping, the other is pretty quiet although moving just a bit.
I know the arguments against assisted hatching, in fact I swore I wouldn't do it because my first assist, that chick was weak and died the next day by drowning in the waterer. But now I have ended up assisting lots of guinea keets for various reasons, usually mama leaving nest too early. They all were fine. So I want to try to help these chicks. I know I need to go slow and give them plenty of time though... so... when do I start assisting?
Yesterday was day 21. Six chicks hatched in the first 24 hours. It now has been approximately 30 hours since hatch began. Of the remaining 5 eggs, 2 are internally pipped, 3 don't show an internal pip or signs of movement. One of the internal pips is moving and peeping, the other is pretty quiet although moving just a bit.
I know the arguments against assisted hatching, in fact I swore I wouldn't do it because my first assist, that chick was weak and died the next day by drowning in the waterer. But now I have ended up assisting lots of guinea keets for various reasons, usually mama leaving nest too early. They all were fine. So I want to try to help these chicks. I know I need to go slow and give them plenty of time though... so... when do I start assisting?