Hatching Guinea Fowl

[FoxhallFarm]

Hi there. Can any one shed some light on my problem please. I have 18 guinea eggs in the incubator which are due to hatch today. Having checked them last thing last night with no signs of pipping having taken place, I checked again this morning and found 2 had pipped but only 1 showed any sign of life. I didn't like to intercede too quickly but the live one seemed to be struggling so I decided to try to zip the shell a little. When I tried this I found the shell to be incredibly hard, more so than any other breed I have so far encountered. The humidity seemed to be ok. Is this normal for guineas?If the others haven't pipped soon should I try opening the shells a little? Please advise, thanks.

 

[marytoast]

Some people help but I don't anymore. Our last 2 guinea hatches we helped and had to cull both babies.

Guinea eggs are harder than chicken eggs but the keets manage to pip and zip just fine if they are healthy.

 

[damselfish]

Guinea shells are naturally very thick and hard. They will get out just fine if they're healthy.

I had to rescue some guinea eggs that mama had abandoned last week. One was peeping, but not pipped. I popped them into a makeshift incubator, and he was pipped, zipped, and out in a total of less than six hours. His siblings took longer, but they got out too.

So I have just learned that they can get out!

Good luck!

Edited to add: Welcome to BYC!

 

[monster1]

yes, guinea eggs are extremely hard. i hatched some out last year. i helped them out when should have not. the ones to made it out on their own grew up nicely. the ones that i helped are runts. they aren't as intellegent as the healthier ones and don't fend for themselves as well. i will probably end up culling them when i get more keets as i don't want these birds to start to make inferior offspring. looking back, i wish i just left them alone and kept the bator lid closed. i was so excited i just couldn't leave the lid closed! first hatch.