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Its a real guessing game. I do use broodies to hatch at times, but it makes you nuts worrying over it.I know exactly how you feel! My broody guinea stopped so I pulled the eggs. Out of 14 all were duds, clearly infertile.
We are up to 13 today. Tomorrow will be day four, and unless something goes horribly wrong, I will be looking for two keets under her in the morning that were pipped and zipped tonight. That would leave several more eggs and I have no idea what their status is. I had no idea it could take this long for a clutch to hatch. I just thought they'd all hatch within the same 24 hours. Glad I work from home!Its a real guessing game. I do use broodies to hatch at times, but it makes you nuts worrying over it.I know exactly how you feel! My broody guinea stopped so I pulled the eggs. Out of 14 all were duds, clearly infertile.
Thanks! They are royal purple. Dad has a few white feathers on the edge of his wings, but doesn't really look pied at all. The keets look just like mom and dad did when we brought them home, so maybe this is just their coloration...? There seems to be more evidence of this online this year, whereas last year I had no idea what kind of keets I had!
If I can figure out how to candle them, I will. I don't have an incubator, though, so I might have to give them to a friend. Would they be salvageable?
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Awesome news!!!! I use one of the cheap LED flashlights. Go into a dark room, or wait til night time outdoors to candle. turn the light on and use your thumb and finger to make a circle around the lens, set the big end on the egg on your light. if its a dud or clear you will know, a living egg has veining, or dark mass but you should see movement.. Moving liquid inside the egg means its rotten.. dont break it, most awful stench everso not kidding! I had one burst when I picked it up..eww. Usually a hen will kick out a spoiled egg. Since she is still sitting that tells me you have viable eggs under her and you betcha she knows it. Normally once they abandon a nest, the live eggs are hatched. I still check because I have found a few live eggs from broodies that were left behind.
We are up to 16 keets. She's sitting on 11 eggs still (she finally got up for water so I got a good count). Egg #12 in her clutch is a failed hatch from yesterday. Looks like she pecked it.Awesome news!!!! I use one of the cheap LED flashlights. Go into a dark room, or wait til night time outdoors to candle. turn the light on and use your thumb and finger to make a circle around the lens, set the big end on the egg on your light. if its a dud or clear you will know, a living egg has veining, or dark mass but you should see movement.. Moving liquid inside the egg means its rotten.. dont break it, most awful stench everso not kidding! I had one burst when I picked it up..eww. Usually a hen will kick out a spoiled egg. Since she is still sitting that tells me you have viable eggs under her and you betcha she knows it. Normally once they abandon a nest, the live eggs are hatched. I still check because I have found a few live eggs from broodies that were left behind.
I didn't try to fish it out just on the off chance it is still hatching. Looks kind of bloody, though. 
