Guinea zip without pip? please assist...

[lutz123]

I posted in the incubating area but haven't gotten any responses and I'm a little uneasy. My first hatch was completely unsuccessful (only one developed partway) so I'm very hopeful. This time I have four hatched out of 18 I started with. Four are still in the incubator. This morning one was pipped - just the shell. The shell is so hard it's breaking off in big chunks. I noticed a little bit later that it looked zipped almost all the way around - big cracks, not tiny pecks. But I don't see any breaks in the membrane anywhere and don't see the telltale "breathing". It is still moving. The membrane is completely opaque (white or tannish). I had to help one yesterday that had only pipped after over 2 days and it had a very hard shell and tough membrane (and pipped the narrow end). The other three hatched fine and relatively quickly, but I didn't witness it.

https://www.backyardchickens.com/forum/viewtopic.php?pid=6626937#p6626937

 

[PeepsCA]

Air still gets into the air cell thru the pores in the membrane, so the keet should be ok. Sounds like it may be a weak keet tho since it is border line late... I'd make sure your humidity level is up around 70% and stays there (you can add a wet sponge if you need to, and you can also give the eggs a quick mist with a mister bottle, but don't soak them). If you are really stressed about the membrane not being broken yet you can wet a q-tip and dab moisture on the membrane then take a small piece of shell, or a toothpick and carefully poke a little hole in the membrane in the air cell area. Try not to have the egg out of the humid incubator for very long tho. It's probably best to just let the keet do it's thing (as hard as that is to watch), it may be having a hard time hatching for a reason... (nature).

 

[lutz123]

Thanks! I really appreciate the response. I think these were the ones that started out in my LG. I wish I had marked the eggs. Humidity is around 65%. I'll bump it up a little and take the opportunity to check for any hole at all. I just really wish I could see through the membrane. I think it's too tough. I may candle the other eggs while I'm at it so I don't fret about them too.

I'm very thankful I don't have as many going as you do! I'd be a nervous wreck! (Or more calm due to the repetitive nature...)

 

[lutz123]

Poor little thing didn't make it. The membrane was rock hard where it was exposed. The other three eggs are showing no movement whatsoever. I'll leave them in another day I guess and then clean it all out. I hate having a sad ending to my first real hatch.

I do have four adorable keets that are huddled under an 8 inch tall stuffed chick holding an egg from Easter. They can't get close enough to it.

 

[PeepsCA]

The membranes are pretty tough, but so is the little egg tooth point on the keets beak. Moisture and humidity will help, that's the best you can do. As the keet pips/zips it's body is stimulated to absorb the remaining egg yolk and the blood supply that's in the internal membrane, which give it the strength it needs to break out of that tough shell and membrane. If it continues to struggle with the membrane after it has zipped all the way around you can try helping it starting at the air cell area of course, but be careful and watch for any blood, if there's blood he's not ready to hatch yet.

I used to be a nervous wreck for all my hatches, but now I just let nature take it's course and only help if I think I'm doing the right thing. Sometimes the ones I've helped have genetic or leg issues, and obviously weren't meant to hatch on their own, some were fine they just needed a little help. Its a hard choice to help or not tho, especially when you have small hatches going on or have had poor success with prior hatches.

Good luck, hope he makes it out ok and he's a healthy keet!

 

[perchie.girl]

Quote:
Peeps I am continually impressed by your wealth of knowledge. Reading these different instances of hatching Keets out explains to me why I was so flatly unsuccessful at hatching my own. (Oblivious me tried hatching a dozen Guinea eggs off Ebay about five years ago) I got rid of that incubator, vowing never to do it again. Of course never say never....

 

[PeepsCA]

LOL thanks, most of it's from trial and error tho, ugh! Luckily I've learned from my mistakes!!!