Guinea Eggs Day 26 - Nothing - A KEET!!!

[swampducks]

We actually had one hatch 4 days ago but alas, I forgot to tell DH to put rocks in the water dish and the poor thing drowned. Today is day 26 and there isn't a peep, wiggle, pip or anything! This is my first time trying to hatch guineas (first time with chicks is next).

Anyone have experience with how long this takes?

(edited to update title)

 

[speckledhen]

Always give them at least 28 days. They're not late yet.

 

[dancingbear]

That one was way early. Guineas take 28 days, usually. I'd give them at least 30. I've had chicks hatch 3 days late, so I wouldn't be ready to quit on guineas until day 31, except eggs that candle clear, or smell bad, or ooze.

Are you sure that wasn't a chicken egg mixed in with the guinea eggs? A keet at 22 days would be 6 days premature. A chick would only be 1 day late at 22 days.

 

[swampducks]

Quote:
DH saw it, said it was a keet, though it's possible it was part chicken, my roo is pretty amorous!

Everything I read on line said 26 days for keets but I'll keep waiting as I've had ducks hatch late.

Still, it's day 27 and nothing is peeping, shaking, etc.

*sigh*

 

[Jeff9118]

I have hatched lots and mine never seemed to do much at all until day 28 and then they all hatched real close together.

 

[swampducks]

KEET!!! I've got a KEET!!!

And two more are pipped though one isn't moving at all, but the other is rolling around like a crazy thing!!

The fluffy hatched one has white sides and a brown speckled top. SO looks like this cute little guy is pied.

Got my fingers crossed now.

I asked DH about the one that hatched early then died and he said it was big so I'm thinking it really might have been a chicken cross.

 

[TriciaHowe]

All of my keets hatch at 28 days. Glad to hear they are pipping for you!

 

[swampducks]

The first one is in the box had a couple drinks (there are now large round balls in the waterer, he hasn't a chance in drowning!) another has hatched and he wasn't the ones that had pipped! The quiet one is definitely breathing in his shell, and the other egg still rocks around. The other 37 just lay there like lumps!

 

[dancingbear]

I'd give them a couple of extra days, to make sure. Guinea eggs are so hard, the keets have to work really hard to get out. I have a theory that the reason keets are so fragile the first 24 hours or so after hatch, is because they're exhausted from breaking through those tough eggs. They will sleep for long periods while hatching, so you may still have keets on the way.

I've occasionally seen eggs hatch that I never heard a peep from, or saw any movement from. I'd check, no movement, no pips, no sounds, thought they were dead. Come back a couple hours later, and there's a live, healthy chick, out of the egg.

I don't know what web site you got your info on, the ones I've found said 28 days for keets. Maybe somebody had a typo, on the site you found.

I'm so glad you gotten some hatched already, so now you at least have a few. Better than a total loss!

 

[swampducks]

The one that was rolling around is still in his shell, the one that had a hole is breathing but not doing much else. But a second one appeared out of no where and now is with his sibling in the brooder box!