Watermelon day

[R2elk]

Wow! That’s so impressive that your birds are that old!!

I lost my first entire flock to Great Horned Owls because I did not put them in the coop at night. This group gets put in every night and I have not lost any to predators. Their pen is big enough to count as free ranging and they are capable of flying out at any time during the day. We have been through this so many times that I often only need to open the door and get out of their way for them to immediately go back in.

 

[My2butterflies]

Very impressive! I hope most of mine will live long lives.

 

[R2elk]

Very impressive! I hope most of mine will live long lives.

The other thing that helps with longevity is that my guineas do not get treats.

 

[Sydney65]

I LOVE your chocolate. The tan/brown/bronze look regal to me.

 

[Sydney65]

I didn’t even know that guineas like watermelon! It’s been hot here too, but mostly hovering around 100 F with the humidity driving the heat index way up. I directed an evaporative cooler On Welch while she incubated eggs, as I worry about the broodies in the heat.

Yeah, it's supposed to be a great treat. I gave my goons 1/2 of one. After circling it for 20 minutes, they left it. I think the sparrows ate it.

 

[Sydney65]

I’ve never seen a chocolate in person. I’ve had a grand total of three coral blues, which are so gorgeous! First one: purchased as mixed group of eggs and got a surprise coral blue! Name her Mouse, and she was eaten by a bobcat (presumed) at 1 year of age while flirting with our roos because we had so few cocks...
Second: hatched by us last summer, only one out of around 100 keets! Added to group of juveniles for integration where it was killed by a black rat snake.
Third and fourth: hatched two this year! Just came home to one dead and shrink wrapped in pipped egg... Sigh. Other was sold as I’m frustrated with the integration of juveniles and so am trying to add only broody hatched keets.

Probably not what you’re asking. If you want specific colors and don’t see them advertised in your area, you probably need to mail order. Can you believe that a woman just drove from Texas to buy our royal purple keets!

https://www.google.com/url?sa=i&source=web&cd=&ved=2ahUKEwiR397urdzqAhVDF6wKHSlCBu8Qjhx6BAgBEAI&url=http://www.guineafarm.com/product/coral-blue-keet/&psig=AOvVaw2nDncgCUMT-7tkIGQXSTFc&ust=1595352641393479

Shrink wrapped- when humidity is too low and they stick to shell?

 

[R2elk]

Shrink wrapped- when humidity is too low and they stick to shell?

It seems to be more that the pip has been open too long without any zipping. The membranes dry out and prevent the hatchling from being able to move to complete the zipping and hatching process.

 

[Mixed flock enthusiast]

Shrink wrapped- when humidity is too low and they stick to shell?

Yes, they pip externally and that’s when they need high humidity to keep the membranes from drying out. If the humidity is too low, then the membrane gets hard and crusty, then the keet or chick can’t break it. I usually monitor the humidity closely at lockdown, but I was out of town and so my DD was taking care of things while we had incubator and broody eggs hatching simultaneously. When the hen abandoned several partially zipped eggs, DD moved them to the incubator, and maybe let the humidity get too low. I think the broody eggs probably shrink wrapped from all of her up and down on the nest issues when they started hatching. Experienced hens clamp down and sit tight during hatching. DD then tried to help those abandoned eggs, and that shrink wrapped the coral blue egg that was pipped in the incubator. Shrink wrap all around! Anyway, I’m just frustrated that I wasn’t here; I definitely don’t blame DD who worked to save the keets.

 

[Sydney65]

So, not anywhere close to hatching yet, but my humidity is staying right at 30% without adding to it. Is that ok?

 

[R2elk]

So, not anywhere close to hatching yet, but my humidity is staying right at 30% without adding to it. Is that ok?

That is the ideal humidity for my guinea eggs during the incubation stage. Of course the problem is knowing whether or not the hygrometer is accurate.