To assist or not to assist, that is the question.

[Jmiller89]

I’m hatching guineas for the first time and all seven made cracks by yesterday morning. They had not broken through the membrane. 4 have since broken through and hatched with one needing assistance due to shrink wrapping. I have another thread with this https://www.backyardchickens.com/th...igh-for-the-humidity-during-lockdown.1486024/
I think the shrink wrapping was due to the egg getting knocked near the corner of the incubator. That being said, I still have three eggs that at this point only have cracks. Should I help them out or give them more time? All the eggs have been knocked all over the place by the hatched keets.

 

[Jmiller89]

Last three eggs still haven’t broken the membrane. At least one egg was rocking a little. I took the hatched keets out so that the others weren’t kicked about like soccer balls.

 

[Jmiller89]

 

[SpotTheCat]

Is this any help?
https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/guide-to-assisted-hatching-for-all-poultry.72886/

 

[casportpony]

Is this any help?
https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/guide-to-assisted-hatching-for-all-poultry.72886/

That is a great article!

 

[casportpony]

What day are you at?
What type of incubator?
What temp and humidity for the first 25 days?
What temp and humidity now?

 

[Jmiller89]

I’ve been looking at that article. I just opened the air cell on one of them that already had a small break in the membrane and it still has veins... I put it back in and am hoping it doesn’t dry out further. It did look pretty dry inside the egg though so I doubt it’s going to be able to get out on its own.

 

[Jmiller89]

This is day 26. 4 hatched already but obviously these are not ready yet. I thought the were since they all had breaks in the shells. Humidity is at 74% right now and temp is about 99.5. It’s a forced air incubator. I already had to assist one keet that was getting stuck (that’s the pic I posted) I helped him get some wiggle room so he could pop out. I’m wondering if the fan is too strong or something.

 

[casportpony]

What brand incubator?

 

[Jmiller89]

What brand incubator?

Jumbl