I think I'm broody...

[PeepsCA]

Yah, candling is a trip!

 

[bemba]

In some of the smaller birds I keep (budgies , finches etc) you can see the heart beating just by holding the egg up to the sun! Incredible!

 

[Mmmatt13]

So when should lockdown be? As of about half an hour ago, it is officially day 24, and I've heard guineas can be unreliable at hatching on a specific day, so I'm a little lost there. I've got fifteen that are pitch black as of last night.

 

[PeepsCA]

Are the air cells slanted? Do you see any beaks poked thru into the air cell space (internal pipping)? I wait until I see most of my eggs have internally pipped, but sometimes I get a few that are ahead of the rest and will pip their shells early... then I usually just put them all into lock-down at that point, even if it's only day 23. So it's up to you... if you see internal pipping now, go ahead and lock them down, if not wait 1 more day. Good luck!

 

[Mmmatt13]

I'll have to wait until tonight to candle, but I'm planning on just upping the humidity tonight and calling it good.I'm excited!

 

[Mmmatt13]

We have a baby!!! I was house sitting and my mom called and said there were big cracks in the eggs (is that normal? For them to crack right down the egg?) so I came home and the little booger was out before I got here. It's BEAUTIFUL. Looks like a pied, with greyish top color, we'll see for sure when she dries off but holy cow she's cute!

The cam is live now if anyone is interested.

 

[Mmmatt13]

I forgot to mention that there are 3 other eggs (2 in the Mini, 1 in the Octagon) that have "cracks" in them, not pips like I'm used to seeing, so I'm guessing it's normal for guineas? I have no idea. This first one made it out okay so I guess they'll be alright, too.

 

[PeepsCA]

Yah, those dang Guinea egg shells are so thick and tough sometimes it takes a few good pecks (and a rest in between) to get a piece to pip outward.
For some reason I can't get your live hatching am to work, but I'll keep trying...Congrats on your hatch in progress tho!

2 of the handful of Guinea eggs I set with my Turkey eggs decided to hatch yesterday... 2 Coral Blues, 2 days before lockdown lol. I already moved them to the brooder because they were fluffed dried and running around in a huge hatcher all by themselves. I have another Guinea egg zipping now, tho this one is taking it's time. I wasn't planning on locking the Turkey eggs down until tonight, or maybe tomorrow AM tho. Oh well at least the keets will be eating drinking and running around really good by the time the poults start hatching, so the poults will pick up on how to eat and drink right away (hopefully).

 

[Mmmatt13]

Thanks, I figured they were just thick shells. They all looked the same, so I wasn't too worried, just hadn't seen it before.

Right now the cam isn't working. I'm actually not home, if I were I'd fix it, because I want to watch, too! I have to house-sit until Wednesday but I can go home and check the incubators (and fix the cam) whenever, really, it's just a 30-40 minute drive that I don't want to take more than I have to. I wish my internet was reliable so the darn cam would stay on!

 

[PeepsCA]

LOL, ok at least it's not just me. Dang, you are missin' your hatch!

3rd keet just hatched here.. looks like a Blonde, maybe a Chocolate. Apparently my Coral Blue male in the flock these eggs are from has been a busy boy this season, lol (he's the only partially-pearled male in this flock so I'm 99.99% sure these keets are his babies).