how long till eggs are dudds

[tec27]

Really....that low during incubation? What kind of incubator do you have, or does it matter? I would think following the instructions from the manufacturer would produce good results..but maybe not?

Its called a dry incubation. look it up on this site. I never follow manufacturers instructions. I base my temps and humidity off of experience. I have a brinsea.

 

[mommatomatildas]

What's the water test?

 

[mommatomatildas]

I have a hen sitting on Guinea eggs.. She got off the nest today, I guess to go out and eat.. She came back in coop and got in another nest box. So when I checked the eggs, they weren't warm. I don't know how long she was off them.. How cam I tell if they are still ok? I know most eggs had something in them.. And I think they are close to the hatching time... How can I tell if they are still viable?

 

[Shades of Blue]

I have a hen sitting on Guinea eggs.. She got off the nest today, I guess to go out and eat.. She came back in coop and got in another nest box. So when I checked the eggs, they weren't warm. I don't know how long she was off them.. How cam I tell if they are still ok? I know most eggs had something in them.. And I think they are close to the hatching time... How can I tell if they are still viable?

i had almost the same thing with my broody. My hen got off the nest since she had 2 chicks that had hatched. She had been off the nest for quite awhile with the chicks....then got back on the eggs and covered the chicks. I seen her later that day off the nest again with her chicks and this time another hen had got in and scattered her eggs around the nest. So I collected them all up expecting they were dead inside the egg. I did the water test and even though no hen had been sitting on them for 4 hours.....they were all alive. So I got out my incubator and finished the eggs that way. The hen was busy raising the 2 early hatched chicks.

 

[Shades of Blue]

What's the water test?

the water test is when you get a deep enough bowl to float the eggs in and fill it with water that is about 99-100 degrees (bator temp). then take a few eggs and put them one at a time in the water. wait for the water to settle....and watch the eggs. with in a very short time you will see the eggs with live chicks in starting to move. If I recall the eggs that are duds.....go to the bottom which i have had. The good ones stay just above the water the height of the air sac line. I have only done this on eggs that are over due.

 

[Casey207908]

Don't give up on the eggs just because the hen left them alone, even if they weren't warm when you found them. I had a hen roll an egg out from underneath her... to the other end of the cage. Because I had candled the egg several times, I knew there was a chicken in the egg she rolled out so I stuck it back under the hen. We (me and the hen) repeated this several times before she finally left the egg under her. After all that the chick hatched, I was surprised. So stick with it!

 

[mommatomatildas]

Thanks so much for all your help.. Hopefully they'll be ok.. I read that the incubation period for gunieas is 28 days.. We're there!.. So hopefully well see baby's soon!

 

[mommatomatildas]

Ok.. So my eggs hatched!! Had 10 eggs only 8 hatched but I felt that was a good amount considering .. However today I noticed one baby not walking with the group.. He's very weak, listless, eyes don't stay open long.. And he won't stand up.. When he does he's very wobbly. I put him in a small container with a lamp some water and food. I have him some water with a dropper.. He seems worn out his head falls to the side as I'm holding him. Anything else that I can do to help him??.. Anything that might make him feel btr?.. Please help..