May Hatch-a-Long!

[SunHwaKwon]

Woods guinea was attacked early this morning, though she appears unharmed. I know the general vicinity of her best now so I'm going to wait for her to go back to it so I can see if any eggs are left. It's easier to look for a clown head peering through the brush than a dirt crater filled with tan and brown eggs. I sat out for a bit to see if the predator would show its head, but no luck. Its belly is probably full, so it has no interest in my predator calls. It may have just been a snake, but I think it's a bit chilly for them right now. Daytime temps have stopped back into the 60s

I am going to candle the guinea eggs under the hens and I'll report back later.

The other guinea that lays in the chicken run seems to be hunting at going broody. She's spending more and more time on the nest. Fingers crossed it happens soon. I'm worried about some going bad, though I've hatched some that were over a month old before. I would take some out of the nest but they can be finicky and if it's near her "magic number" for going broody I don't want to mess that up.

 

[yeye5]

it happens when they pip and the humidity gets too low

Thank you for explaining.
I think that happened with a few of my chicks this week. I am thankful I was here watching and I saw what happened. The membrane was totally separated from the shell. Is that what happens?
I waited until there were no blood vessels in the membrane and helped a couple of them get out.
One ha its beak and one wing out but was stuck...came out after careful use of a flashlight and flat-edged tweezers with some membrane still stuck to it.

 

[yeye5]

Tomorrow. Ive had them stable now for an hour now at 99 degrees 68% humidity, Im praying!

Any news yet?

 

[yeye5]

Woods guinea was attacked early this morning, though she appears unharmed. I know the general vicinity of her best now so I'm going to wait for her to go back to it so I can see if any eggs are left. It's easier to look for a clown head peering through the brush than a dirt crater filled with tan and brown eggs. I sat out for a bit to see if the predator would show its head, but no luck. Its belly is probably full, so it has no interest in my predator calls. It may have just been a snake, but I think it's a bit chilly for them right now. Daytime temps have stopped back into the 60s

I am going to candle the guinea eggs under the hens and I'll report back later.

The other guinea that lays in the chicken run seems to be hunting at going broody. She's spending more and more time on the nest. Fingers crossed it happens soon. I'm worried about some going bad, though I've hatched some that were over a month old before. I would take some out of the nest but they can be finicky and if it's near her "magic number" for going broody I don't want to mess that up.

Oh my. I'm sorry the guinea in the woods encountered a problem!
Did she come in with any chicks? Or did the predator get them? I'm saying a prayer plus my fingers are crossed for her and for you!
I know nothing about guinea behaviors. I have been fascinated by them ever since I lived on a farm (in Brazil) that had what seemed like 100 guineas. The birds stayed where they lived and it was awesome.
Back stateside, over the years I've bought adults then juvie guineas. They refuse to stick around. In fact my last attempt (some years back, same place I live now) I quit when I watched the pair I had bought calmly walk down the road AWAY from my property! I don't know what I was doing wrong but they refused to stick around.
How many eggs approximately does your guinea hen wait to have before she goes broody?
Do you think she's aware of the "magic number"?
I had my most broody silkie, Mima,(in my profile pic) stack up 20+ eggs and keep them in layers in a nest without going broody. But when she's in the mood, she'll sit on a few rocks.

 

[thebyrdsx5]

Wow! That first time hatching was the most nerve wracking thing ever! I got 8/10 silkies! And 6/6 Icelandics! One Icie died last night though
They have been adopted now by two broody silkies!

This is such a fun board!

 

[yeye5]

Wow! That first time hatching was the most nerve wracking thing ever! I got 8/10 silkies! And 6/6 Icelandics! One Icie died last night though

They have been adopted now by two broody silkies!

This is such a fun board!

Congrats on your greata hatch! (and I'm very sorry to hear you lost that one Icelandic). No matter how many hatches and how many chicks, they are each precious and individuals.
I'll tell you what I tell myself--revel in the moment!
I'm going to take another look at the pic close-up.
They all look very healthy, fat and happy!
And aren't silkies just great. They'd adopt a cat if you let them.

 

[yeye5]

Wow! That first time hatching was the most nerve wracking thing ever! I got 8/10 silkies! And 6/6 Icelandics! One Icie died last night though

They have been adopted now by two broody silkies!

This is such a fun board!

I have to ask--which ones are which breeds? I think I can recognize the silkies but they look larger than the Icelandic? I have never seen an Icelandic.
This really IS a great forum. I learn new things every day!

 

[yeye5]

I waited thru the night "just in case" something unfortunate happened. But, Today I have happy news!
Antonia who went boners and smashed 2 eggs earlier this week is finally a mom!
She has one adorable fat chick! She's still on 2 more eggs (I removed the overage of eggs which I suspect bcs of their different gestational ages contributed to her melt down, maybe?). She's tucked in and looking dedicated. The chick must be healthy and cared for bcs it looks so great for its first 24 hours out of a shell!
Excuse the poor pic quality. The sun was streaming in and I didn't want to disturb anything since she was calmly letting me hold her first chick ever!

 

[thebyrdsx5]

I have to ask--which ones are which breeds? I think I can recognize the silkies but they look larger than the Icelandic? I have never seen an Icelandic.

This really IS a great forum. I learn new things every day!

Oh this pic is of the 8 silkies!
Here's one of the 5 icelandics! Oh and the Silkies are smaller then the Icelandics. When they came out of the eggs their feet were HUGE lol!

 

[thebyrdsx5]

Congrats on your greata hatch! (and I'm very sorry to hear you lost that one Icelandic). No matter how many hatches and how many chicks, they are each precious and individuals.
I'll tell you what I tell myself--revel in the moment!
I'm going to take another look at the pic close-up.
They all look very healthy, fat and happy!
And aren't silkies just great. They'd adopt a cat if you let them.

He he he adopt a cat! That had me

!
I think they do look pretty healthy!
Here's one of the two mommas