guinea eggs hatching? one week and counting

[hollyk]

I bought 3 dozen guinea eggs and set them. We are now down to 7 days. I am excited and hope for a good hatch. My first and only hatch was chickens and I had great success. Now I am concerned that it was beginners luck. I have read so many posts were folk had trouble. Of course some of the instructions were so detailed and controlled, I wondered if even a hen could have hatched eggs under those conditions:/

Have any of you had any trouble hatching guinea eggs?

 

[Steve_of_sandspoultry]

Guinea eggs can have a low fertility. If you have ever watched them mate you can see why. Sharon calls it a "bump and run"

If you have them in a pen with a good male to female ratio fertility is usually pretty good.

As far as hatching in some ways they are like quail - you will see little pip and next minute they are out. They more pop out than zip around the shell.

Steve in NC

 

[hollyk]

I had no idea about the fertility rate, I am glad I got way more eggs than I need. Sounds like their mating is one more odd behavior for these birds. How do they ever make it in the wild?

 

[feathersgalore]

I've never had a problem with fertility with my own eggs but have had some low hatches with shipped eggs. Good luck with your hatch.

 

[hollyk]

Quote:
That is encouraging. I picked these eggs up locally the day they were laid. She had about 45 guineas on her 3 acres. All assorted kinds, so it will be a real surprise to see what comes out!

 

[Steve_of_sandspoultry]

Quote:
I have always wondered that myself, how they survive in the wild. But then again they are probably like other wild birds vs domesticated fowl. They do just fine in the wild. Once we take them under our wing they turn dumb..... isn't that a scary thought.

Steve