Candling turkey and duck eggs in a homemade kerosene lantern incubator

[lazy gardener]

After the eggs hatch, what then? I've heard it said that Guineas are terrible mothers. What is your take on this?

 

[HelenAbim]

After the eggs hatch, what then? I've heard it said that Guineas are terrible mothers. What is your take on this?

The young ones begin to fend for themselves. As long as the rains are not too heavy or they don't walk in the dew, they will be fine. The rains are not usually heavy in the north and the rainy season is shorter so a lot of the birds survive. Of course there will be casualties but nowhere as much as survivors else we would have run our of guinea fowl meat.
Yes guineas are bad mothers, most just lay in a cloth and leave the eggs. Even when they sit on the eggs, they don't wait for the final hatch. Once there is about 4 keets, they are off the eggs.

 

[HelenAbim]

Hi everyone, I know it's been a while and I am so sorry for not keeping in touch. I was sick with malaria and the stress of the holiday work eventually got to me.

 

[WVduckchick]

Hi everyone, I know it's been a while and I am so sorry for not keeping in touch. I was sick with malaria and the stress of the holiday work eventually got to me.

Oh wow! So sorry!! Hope you are feeling better now.
Are the eggs still incubating??

 

[HelenAbim]

Oh wow! So sorry!! Hope you are feeling better now.
Are the eggs still incubating??

Thank you so much. I feel a little better. One of the eggs pipped. I noticed it this afternoon when I went to turn them. I was surprised since it's just day 24 and a half and I have been turning them at least 3 times daily. I still turned yesterday night but didn't have time to turn this morning since I had a catering job to attend to and I went for service this morning. So I was thinking of how to calculate the time difference and make up for my not turning on time when I noticed a crack in the shell near the egg space( I am guessing it pipped correctly and I am shocked). I was so scared and didn't know what to do. I however moved the eggs and others in the batch to the second chamber of the incubator, added warm water to increase humidity and promptly shut the door. I checked later and I could distinctly hear the sound of the poult chirping in the shell although there is no further change in the shell that I can see and I have also put the others in the same batch in lockdown. I am so scared and excited as this is my first time. Am I doing the right thing? Please advise accordingly!!!!

 

[HelenAbim]

Once this hatch is done, I will be cleaning the incubator and getting ready to upgrade it to include some metal on the inside so the temperature can remain steady. I am working with two engineers to design another incubator that runs on a backup 12V battery so that power is always constant.
I don't think my duck eggs made it. They did develop to a point but I could see no further development in them but what do I know? I can be surprised so I still took them into lockdown with their turkey counterparts. I plan to start some duck egg incubation as soon as my turkeys are about 3 or 4 weeks old. I have only one brooder so I have to stagger my brooding.
For everyone who contributed with opinions, expertise and experience, thoughts, and prayers, I can't thank you enough. I am very grateful. God bless you all.

 

[R2elk]

Thank you so much. I feel a little better. One of the eggs pipped. I noticed it this afternoon when I went to turn them. I was surprised since it's just day 24 and a half and I have been turning them at least 3 times daily. I still turned yesterday night but didn't have time to turn this morning since I had a catering job to attend to and I went for service this morning. So I was thinking of how to calculate the time difference and make up for my not turning on time when I noticed a crack in the shell near the egg space( I am guessing it pipped correctly and I am shocked). I was so scared and didn't know what to do. I however moved the eggs and others in the batch to the second chamber of the incubator, added warm water to increase humidity and promptly shut the door. I checked later and I could distinctly hear the sound of the poult chirping in the shell although there is no further change in the shell that I can see and I have also put the others in the same batch in lockdown. I am so scared and excited as this is my first time. Am I doing the right thing? Please advise accordingly!!!!

You are doing fine.

 

[Fields Mountain Farm]

Hi everyone, I know it's been a while and I am so sorry for not keeping in touch. I was sick with malaria and the stress of the holiday work eventually got to me.

So sorry you've been sick! Hope your completely recovered!
Sounds like you're doing great with the eggs. Hate you lost the ducks, it happens. Will you please post pics when you have hatchlings?

 

[HelenAbim]

So sorry you've been sick! Hope your completely recovered!
Sounds like you're doing great with the eggs. Hate you lost the ducks, it happens. Will you please post pics when you have hatchlings?

Thank you so much for your kind words. I feel a bit better though I tire easily. I will post pictures as soon as anything happens. Thanks again.

 

[Fields Mountain Farm]

Thank you so much for your kind words. I feel a bit better though I tire easily. I will post pictures as soon as anything happens. Thanks again.

I'm so sorry...rest when you can. We'll be here when you're up to chatting or ready to post pics.