New Incubation Questions

[Sydney65]

As far as breeds go, in the U.S. the APA lists Helmeted Guinea Fowl as one breed. They do not list any of the other breeds of Guinea Fowl since they only list the kinds that are being shown. At this time only Helmeted Guinea Fowl are being shown. They only list 3 varieties which are Lavender, Pearl and White although there are many more colors.

Wikipedia as a source is only as good as the person that contributed the information. Wikipedia on turkeys is full of lies because the person that contributed the information is a liar. Wikipedia was made aware of the lies and refused to correct the information.

my reaction was mainly seeing such misinformation in a book. But I'm a rookie, so thought I'd asked.
Thanks, @Mixed flock enthusiast
for that info, I enjoyed reading it. I had already decided one would be named Numi, now the other will be Melea - once we know which way those helmets are pointed.
Shouldn't they have digested the yolk by now? They drink well, but I haven't caught them eating. I haven't had keets not dive in to food before. It's possible/ probable that they are eating when I'm not watching, but certainly not with gusto. They are having bms, still mainly meconium. And I'm still giving vitamins. Maybe an egg?

 

[Mixed flock enthusiast]

my reaction was mainly seeing such misinformation in a book. But I'm a rookie, so thought I'd asked.
Thanks, @Mixed flock enthusiast
for that info, I enjoyed reading it. I had already decided one would be named Numi, now the other will be Melea - once we know which way those helmets are pointed.
Shouldn't they have digested the yolk by now? They drink well, but I haven't caught them eating. I haven't had keets not dive in to food before. It's possible/ probable that they are eating when I'm not watching, but certainly not with gusto. They are having bms, still mainly meconium. And I'm still giving vitamins. Maybe an egg?

Do you have Nutridrench? Are they pecking around at the floor? My brooder keets don’t actually eat much the first few days but they peck around at the floor… I smash their gamebird crumble up and make it pretty fine, then sprinkle it around on the brooder floor, not everywhere but near their food dish.

 

[Sydney65]

Do you have Nutridrench? Are they pecking around at the floor? My brooder keets don’t actually eat much the first few days but they peck around at the floor… I smash their gamebird crumble up and make it pretty fine, then sprinkle it around on the brooder floor, not everywhere but near their food dish.

Yep, still giving them a bolus of nutridrench a day and save a chick in the water. I haven't put a food bowl in yet, just put the crumbles right at entry of their MHP cave to encourage pecking. They took to the nipple waterer today.

 

[Mixed flock enthusiast]

Yep, still giving them a bolus of nutridrench a day and save a chick in the water. I haven't put a food bowl in yet, just put the crumbles right at entry of their MHP cave to encourage pecking. They took to the nipple waterer today.

I’d go with either save a chick or Nutridrench. Both have vitamins so you don’t want to overdo it. I feel like Nutridrench in water is safer as you can get a more precise dose. Ideally, they could also choose plain water if they prefer it. Did you give them the probiotics in their water too?

 

[Sydney65]

I’d go with either save a chick or Nutridrench. Both have vitamins so you don’t want to overdo it. I feel like Nutridrench in water is safer as you can get a more precise dose. Ideally, they could also choose plain water if they prefer it. Did you give them the probiotics in their water too?

I have not as of yet. I take it I should? Mixed w/nutridrench?

 

[gimmie birdies]

I have shipped eggs coming. They say if you can let rest first 24 hrs, and raise to room temp so they will not sweat. First 3 days if shipped upright and don't turn in incubator. If air cell is saddled or not connected, some people don't turn and leave in incubator for 7 days.

 

[Sydney65]

I have shipped eggs coming. They say if you can let rest first 24 hrs, and raise to room temp so they will not sweat. First 3 days if shipped upright and don't turn in incubator. If air cell is saddled or not connected, some people don't turn and leave in incubator for 7 days.

Yes, let mine settle for a little >24 hrs, kept upright for entire incubation. I didn't wait further to turn d/t risk to keet but hand turned small amts several xs a day and relocated in carton as I had 5 thermos in various areas of incubator & noted cooler/warmer spots. The air cells grew and I was very happy with that, but possibly grew too much, as I weighed the eggs weekly; some lost more wt than I was shooting for, some not as much. Some don't feel saddles are hatchable, some say they are. Good luck with your hatch!

 

[Mixed flock enthusiast]

I have not as of yet. I take it I should? Mixed w/nutridrench?

Since you had problems with your previous batch and want to do everything for these little ones, yes, I would go with probiotics in the water for a day or two. You are trying to seed the gut with good bacteria so the bad bacteria don’t take hold… I’ve used a few different brands but like the flexibility of the Savachick brand because you can mix with electrolytes or give it alone if you want. I haven’t mixed with Nutridrench water but I’m sure that’s fine as well. Unless you are offering plain water as well, you should get the keets off electrolytes as you can mess with their body’s natural balance. The other thing you can do is give electrolytes at a lower strength, like 1/4-1/2 strength. That should be weak enough not to cause problems.

 

[Sydney65]

Since you had problems with your previous batch and want to do everything for these little ones, yes, I would go with probiotics in the water for a day or two. You are trying to seed the gut with good bacteria so the bad bacteria don’t take hold… I’ve used a few different brands but like the flexibility of the Savachick brand because you can mix with electrolytes or give it alone if you want. I haven’t mixed with Nutridrench water but I’m sure that’s fine as well. Unless you are offering plain water as well, you should get the keets off electrolytes as you can mess with their body’s natural balance. The other thing you can do is give electrolytes at a lower strength, like 1/4-1/2 strength. That should be weak enough not to cause problems.

I think the package says 50:50 if mixing both save a chick formulas. But I did give them an egg this a.m. that they munched on a bit. Enough atleast that they now are stopping to snack on the crumble, and strong enough that 15 just grabbed 6's toe and proceded to drag him across the brooder until I came in. Little . Right now I have some B in the water bc 6's leg tends to slip to the side. Not all the time, but U see what's coming. He's the one that came out on his own. I had him hobbled last night, took off earlier to give him a break, need to put it back. He hates it.
It's amazing how much a few grams of keet can weigh on your chest after awhile.

 

[Mixed flock enthusiast]

I think the package says 50:50 if mixing both save a chick formulas. But I did give them an egg this a.m. that they munched on a bit. Enough atleast that they now are stopping to snack on the crumble, and strong enough that 15 just grabbed 6's toe and proceded to drag him across the brooder until I came in. Little . Right now I have some B in the water bc 6's leg tends to slip to the side. Not all the time, but U see what's coming. He's the one that came out on his own. I had him hobbled last night, took off earlier to give him a break, need to put it back. He hates it.
It's amazing how much a few grams of keet can weigh on your chest after awhile.

Oh that’s great that they are eating! I’ve had good luck fixing spraddle leg in keets with a hobble so hopefully little 6’s legs will be good in no time.

That’s funny that you are calling them by their numbers… I once had a group of iguanas that were all numbered, names written on their sides with nail polish. It didn’t take long for those numbers to stick as names. Even when they got big, their number names persisted. Which also reminds me of the freed borg “7 of 9” of Star Trek fame…