hatching problems

[white guinea333]

Okay, So my incubator is a homemade, forced air incubator. There is only one cold spot in the incubator but I don't set eggs there. I have had a chick and guinea fowl hatching in there. It is now down to 5 guinea fowl eggs and 2 chickens eggs. One of the keets started piping a hole in it two days ago, but hasn't poped out yet. the other eggs are internally piped but have not piped externally. Should I help the birds out of the shell? this is day 29 for the keets and day 25 for the two chicks and yes they are alive because they peep and move around inside the egg.

 

[TwoCrows]

Welcome to BYC!

It is never advised to help chicks out of the egg. If they can't make that arduous journey out of the egg, then chances are they are not fit to live. Natures first test on the lungs and muscular strength.

I have never hatched guineas before so you might ask this question in our Guinea section for more help with this...

https://www.backyardchickens.com/f/45/guinea-fowl

Good luck with the hatch! I hope you have lots of keets soon!

 

[Kelsie2290]

Hello and Welcome To BYC! Sorry you are having problems with the hatch. You might also want to post on the Hatching / Incubating Eggs forum www.backyardchickens.com/f/5/incubating-amp-hatching-eggs X2, you usually do not want to help chicks hatch if you can avoid it... but, not sure if you have seen the Hatching 101 article, it has a link to various articles on assisted hatching about 2/3 down the page. https://www.backyardchickens.com/a/hatching-eggs-101 Does the air cell look normal, and can you tell how they are positioned? If you are on day 25? with chicks I'd be afraid they are going to be too weak or malpositioned to get out on their own and would consider very carefully taking a look via the aircell. It sounds like your temperatures have been very low or inconsistent.

 

[drumstick diva]

If your incubator was running cooler than it should be, it could result in chicks hatching at a later date. I know it's a moot point at this time but, I wish you would post an update, so we know how things turn out.

 

[Wyandottes7]

Welcome to BYC!

We're glad to have you

 

[BantamLover21]

Glad you joined us!