hatching question?

[NancyP1]

Hi all! I am new to hatching eggs...I have a borrowed incubator that seems to work well. I had one egg hatch 3 days ago. Still have 4 in the incubator that seem to be doing nothing. I did candle them. They are full of chick. Is there a way to tell if the chicks are still alive in there. Couldn't see any movement when I candled them. Also the one hatched chick seems really lonely, I do handle it alot..seems pretty friendly for a guinea chick! Any advice on the unhatched eggs? I have another batch to go into the incubator, but dont want to give up on these yet...today is day 28, no signs of any hatching.

 

[the Pollo Loco]

day 28 seems to long for my likings... I'm sure they are goners

 

[PeepsCA]

Are the air cells slanted in the remaining eggs? And if so can you tell if the keets have pipped internally? (that's where they've gotten their beak thru the egg membrane and you can usually see the shadow of the beak in the air cell area). Usually if they have pipped internally and are alive, there's obvious movement. Gently tap the egg with your finger nail while holding it to your ear and listen for any sounds at all, you may hear faint movement or even some quiet peeping if they are alive... some people even use a stethoscope to listen. Day 28 isn't too long, that is still within the normal hatch time frame for Guinea eggs (and still air incubated hatches tend to take a little longer than circulated air), so I'd hold out until day 30 before you give up on them.

Put a mirror in the brooder for the lonely keet, it should help it feel like it's not alone.

Good luck with the rest of your eggs!

 

[corancher]

My guinea eggs normally hatch on day 25-26. If all eggs were set at the same time and one keet has hatched, it would be really unusal for the rest to hatch several days later. I don't think they will hatch. Sorry for the one lone keet.

 

[NancyP1]

Thanks everyone. I did see the slanted air pocket...I will look for beaks breaking thru..I have not heard any noise at all. I do have a stethoscope..heading for the barn to get that now! I am afraid they are gone, but just hate to give up hope yet. I will check them shortly for any changes from yesterday. The mirror for the lonley chick is a great idea! Thanks again..love this forum!